LEESBURG, Fla.—A Leesburg man has been released on $25,000 bond following an arrest by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) for possession of child pornography.
FDLE began its investigation in November 2024 after receiving a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Endangered Children (NCMEC) regarding an individual uploading child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) to a Snapchat account. The investigation identified Bautista as the owner of the email address attached to the account, according to FDLE.
FDLE agents executed a search warrant at Bautista’s Leesburg home and seized multiple electronic devices. A consequent forensic analysis of the phone revealed multiple files containing CSAM and a warrant was issued for Bautista’s arrest. He was picked up on the warrant Wednesday and transported to the Lake county Jail, where he was released on $25,000 bond.
TAVARES, Fla.— A local cleaning company is continuing its mission of giving back to residents who are fighting cancer—and to them, the mission is personal.
For the third year running, Bright Side Services Inc. of Tavares has partnered with Cleaning for a Reason, a non-profit organization that pairs residents who are undergoing cancer treatment with local cleaning companies that donate two free house cleaning sessions. Founded by Debbie Sardone of Buckets & Bows Maid Service in Texas, cleaning companies from across the country participate, including Tavares-based Bright Side Services Inc., owned by Michelle and Mike Krueger. They have participated in the program since 2022 and the mission has a deep personal meaning to them, Michelle Krueger said.
Michelle and Mike Krueger
“This cause is close to my heart,” she said. “I clean in memory of two extraordinary individuals, Judy Weikel and John Brian Kaup—who showed me what strength and generosity really look like.”
Krueger shared why Weikel and Kaup are so important to her.
“Judy was one of my earliest supporters, always lifting me up and sharing my business with others. I remember confiding in her once about a slow week on the schedule, and she simply said, ‘There will come a day when you wish for a day off.’ She was right—and her faith in me carried me through.”
“John is a fellow cleaning business owner whose positivity is unmatched. Even after being diagnosed with cancer, he continued to serve others with grace and grit. His resilience is a reminder of why this work matters. Thankfully, he has since recovered, and I’m honored to recognize his journey through this effort.”
Serving the community since 2007, Bright Side Services Inc. donates two cleanings for each cancer patient, and donates services to two patients each month. This service is available to residents fighting cancer in Tavares, Mount Dora, Eustis, Leesburg, Howey in the Hills, and Yalaha. Anyone undergoing cancer treatment—regardless of age, gender, or cancer type—can apply for free house cleaning services. To date, 30 cancer patients have received free cleanings from Bright Side Services Inc. Krueger said. Patients in need of services can apply here.
“Cleaning for a Reason understands the impact that a clean home has on a cancer patient’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. When cancer makes life at home difficult, our network of residential cleaners and volunteers support are here to support you or your loved ones battling cancer,” according to its website.
“When someone you care about is facing cancer, you want to do something—anything—to help,” said Krueger. “Offering a clean, peaceful home is one small way we can lighten their load. It’s a heartfelt tribute to Judy and John, and a promise to keep showing up for those who need it most.”
MINNEOLA, Fla.—The Florida Highway Patrol is looking for the driver of a Chevy Tahoe that killed a motorcyclist late Saturday night and fled the scene, FHP said Sunday morning.
Just before 10:45 p.m., a 36-year Leesburg woman on a 2009 Yamaha motorcycle was stopped at the traffic light in the inside lane at U.S. Highway 27 and Citrus Grove Road and a 2024 Honda HR-V, was southbound approaching the light, according to FHP. The light turned green, and the motorcycle started to proceed forward and the Honda swerved into the outside lane to avoid the motorcycle. A 2001 Chevy Tahoe traveling behind the Honda failed to see the motorcycle and collided with it; the impact then caused the front right of the Chevy to strike the rear left of the Honda.
The Chevy fled the area and was later found abandoned in the median of U.S. Highway 27, approximately three miles north of the crash scene.
The Leesburg woman was transported to South Lake Hospital and pronounced deceased; the driver of the Honda, a 42-year-old woman, and her passengers, a 47-year-old male and a 6-year-old boy, all of Polk City, were not injured, FHP said.
If you have information on the crash, or the driver of the Chevy, call *FHP on your cell phone, or Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS.
TAVARES, Fla.—For the sixth year running, public safety and its supporters will join forces for the annual Lake County Back the Blue & Red Walk.
Scheduled for 9 a.m. Saturday at Wooton Park in Tavares, this is one of many law enforcement-related events around Lake County held in May during Law Enforcement Appreciation Month and last year, Organizer Shannon Cook added firefighters to the appreciation walk.
The walk began in 2019 to show support for law enforcement during a time when the “defund the police” movement was making its way across the country, Cook said, representatives from several law enforcement agencies and numerous public officials are expected to be in attendance.
“The good ones needed to know they were appreciated,” Cook said in an earlier interview, and this year the walk is especially important to Cook for several reasons – remembering Lake County Sheriff’s Office Master Deputy Bradley Link who was killed in an ambush attack in August 2024, and honoring Master Deputy Harold Howell and Deputy Stefano Gargano who were shot in the same attack. This year also marks 20 years since Deputy Wayne Koester was killed in a separate ambush attack 20 years ago.
PHOTOS: Bonnie Whicher/Inside Lake
Koester was Cook’s close friend, and was killed in the line of duty Feb. 9, 2005. Koester, who was 33 at the time, and two other deputies were ambushed while responding to a domestic violence call. All three deputies were shot, and Koester succumbed to his injuries; the other two deputies recovered. Jason Wheeler was shot and paralyzed during his capture and convicted in Koester’s death. Cook was also close to Chris Daniels, who was serving as Lake County Sheriff when he was tragically killed in a charity bus race in 2006, on his birthday.
Participants will meet at 9 a.m. at Wooton Park, 100 East Ruby Street, Tavares. The first stop will be the Lake County Administration Building, then a stop at the Tavares Public Safety Complex and the walk will end at Kalua Beach Bar with lunch, provided by owner Randy Connor; come a little early to enjoy donuts and coffee.
Shirts, provided by every year by Turf Tech Professional Lawn Maintenance, will be for sale for $10 each at the walk. The money will be used for Lake County Back the Blue & Red’s quest to become a non-profit organization.
GROVELAND, Fla.—A woman driving the wrong way down U.S. Highway 27 was killed Wednesday and two other women were injured, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Around 9:45 p.m., a 30-year-old Altamonte Springs woman was driving a 2017 Dodge Charger southbound in the northbound inside lane north of Adkins Lane near Groveland when she struck a 2017 Toyota Corolla head-on. The Charger rotated clockwise, causing a 2016 Jeep Renegade to collide with the left side of the Charger.
The driver of the Charger was pronounced deceased on the scene, the driver of the Corolla, a 45-year-old Leesburg woman, suffered minor injuries and was transported to Orlando Health – South Lake Hospital. The driver of the Renegade, a 27-year-old woman, also of Leesburg, was seriously injured and transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center. The crash remains under investigation.
LEESBURG, Fla.—Leesburg Police Department has made another arrest in the murder of a 20-year-old man last year.
Neville G. Muirhead, 22, was arrested on Jacaranda Drive in Lady Lake by Leesburg Police Department with the assistance of Lady Lake Police Department and Mid Florida SWAT around 2 p.m. Tuesday, LPD Lt. Shannon Walsh said.
“Detectives from the Leesburg Police Department have been diligently investigating this case, focusing on locating additional evidence and collaborating with the State Attorney’s Office,” Walsh said in an email. “Our detective division will continue to investigate this case and encourages the public to come forward with any information.”
Muirhead is facing additional charges of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer and fleeing and eluding from Lady Lake Police Department stemming from when officers took him into custody. Inside Lake is working on getting details on those charges.
This is the second arrest made in the murder of James Jordan. Jordan was found lying in the yard of a home in the 2200 block of Aitken Loop in Overlook at Lake Griffin around 2:30 p.m. July 8, 2024 suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to UF Health Hospital Leesburg, where he died from his injuries, Walsh said last year. In August 2024, Ondrique D. Mosely, 18, of Lady Lake was arrested after LPD detectives connected the car used in the crime to him, according to a probable cause affidavit. Mosely is facing a charge of principal to first degree murder and has been held in the Lake County Jail on no bond since his arrest. Muirhead is also being held on no bond.
Jordan’s murder investigation continues to be open and active and police believe more suspects are involved. If you have information, call LPD at 352-787-2121 or Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS; Crimeline callers may be eligible for a reward.
LEESBURG, Fla.—A Leesburg man has been arrested in the death of a 94-year-old man killed in a crash in December 2023.
Donald Urban Jass, also of Leesburg, was driving a 2015 Subaru Forester eastbound on Plantation Boulevard when a 2017 Chevy Malibu slammed into him at the intersection of U.S. Highway 27. The Malibu was traveling between 62 and 74 miles per hour at impact, and was traveling at 81 miles per hour just 1.5 seconds before the crash, the vehicle’s data later showed. The Malibu’s driver, Graedonn Humphrey, was southbound on U.S. Highway 27 when he ran the light and hit Jass, according to a probable cause affidavit. The speed limit in that area is 55 miles per hour
Jass, an Army Bronze Star Medal recipient for his service in Vietnam, was transported to South Lake-Blue Cedar Hospital where he was pronounced dead less than an hour after the crash.
Humphrey, who does not have a driver license, was transported to UF Health Leesburg Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and released the same day. After clearing the crash, a Florida Highway Patrol traffic homicide investigator went to the address listed on his identification card and found the home vacant.
Four days later the investigator was able to contact Humphrey at an apartment on Bentley Road in Leesburg. Humphrey said he was aware he was driving without a license and when the light turned yellow, he attempted to stop, but the brakes “were not working properly,” the affidavit states. A later inspection of the brakes showed they were functioning properly and the pads appeared new and recently replaced.
DNA collected from the Malibu’s deployed airbag matched Humphrey, who is on probation currently, and was at the time of the crash. A warrant was issued for his arrest for vehicular homicide and operating a vehicle without a driver’s license causing a death late last week, and troopers arrested him at his Leesburg home Monday. He is being held in the Lake county Jail on no bond.
LEESBURG, Fla.—A pedestrian walking in the road was killed after a car hit her early Thursday morning, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The 40-year-old Wildwood woman was walking in the eastbound lane of County Road 44 near Cypress Drive, outside of Leesburg, and was struck by a 2015 Ford Focus being driven by 69-year-old Leesburg man around 4:10 a.m.. The woman was transported to UF Health Leesburg Hospital, where she was pronounced deceased. The Leesburg man was not injured.
LEESBURG, Fla.—Leesburg Police Department is searching for a man it says robbed and shot someone Sunday night.
Around 8 p.m., LPD responded to the 100 block of Truitt Street on a report of a shooting and found the 51-year-old victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper body, LPD Lt. Shannon Walsh said. Police have not released the victim’s name or gender.
The suspect fled the scene and police searched the area; Eagle One, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office helicopter, assisted in the search, but law enforcement was unable to locate him.
The victim was transported to an area hospital and is in stable condition, Walsh said. LPD detectives have identified the suspect as Henry Demetria Darity, 36, and he’s wanted for attempted homicide, armed robbery and armed trespassing.
Darity was arrested Jan. 6 for possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia; he was released from the Lake County Jail Jan. 30.
If you have information on Darity’s whereabouts, call LPD at 352-787-2121 or Crimeline at 1-800-423-8477; Crimeline line callers may be eligible for a reward.
LEESBURG, Fla.—A man on the run for nearly a year is in custody facing murder charges in the deaths of his intended home invasion victim – and his alleged accomplice.
Dieuseul Charlemon, 22, was taken into custody on multiple warrants including first- and second-degree murder on Jan. 31 by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Ocala Police Department and US Marshals at 10131 SE 169th Lane, Summerfield after a months-long investigation, MCSO said.
On Feb. 16, 2022, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded to 804 Montclair Road in unincorporated Leesburg on a report of a shooting around 4:30 a.m. There were signs of forced entry at the front door, LCSO Lt. John Herrell said in 2022, and no details were released about what may have happened, but Herrell said a home invasion had not been ruled out.
On Wednesday, Assistant State Attorney Nick Camuccio confirmed to Inside Lake, detectives believe Charlemon and his alleged accomplice, Jamari DeAndre Jones, 20 years old at the time of the crime, invaded Jammy Casteel’s home and a “firefight” ensued. Casteel, 41, was found shot on the front porch and transported to UF Health Leesburg hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries, and Jones was found dead inside the home, Herrell said in 2022.
Jammy Casteel was murdered during a 2022 home invasion. PHOTO: Jammy Casteel/Facebook
Charlemon was indicted for the first-degree murder of Casteel and the second-degree murder of Jones in March 2024, Camuccio said, “He’s been on the run for awhile.”
After being taken into custody, Charlemon was found to be in possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. In addition to the Lake County murder charges, he is facing an armed burglary charge in Sumter County, and failure to appear for aggravated fleeing to elude, fleeing to elude a law enforcement officer, grand theft of a firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, resisting arrest and driving on a suspended license in Marion County. He is being held in the Marion County Jail on no bond.
