MOUNT DORA, Fla.—Multiple law enforcement agencies could be seen Friday searching multiple bodies of water in the neighborhood where Mount Dora mom Nicole Baldwin was reported missing in November 2023.
Dive teams from several Central Florida sheriff’s offices converged on Lancaster at Loch Leven beginning around 8 a.m. Friday and searched multiple bodies of water and retention ponds near Strathmore Circle where Baldwin was reported missing by her daughter Alisha Baldwin in early November 2023, Mount Dora Police Department Spokesperson Misty Sommer told Inside Lake Friday. Dive teams from Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, Groveland Fire Department, and Search and Rescue of Central Florida, according to LCSO.
Courtesy photo
Numerous residents reached out to Inside Lake Friday morning concerned about the large law enforcement presence in their neighborhood. This search comes less than week after another large-scale ground search was conducted Saturday in east Eustis, also with multiple agencies, Sommer told Inside Lake last week.
Baldwin, 41, who has been missing for nearly six months, is described as 5 feet, 5 inches tall, 135 pounds, with brown and dyed blonde hair and hazel eyes. If you have information on Baldwin’s disappearance, call Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS. Crimeline callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward.
EUSTIS, Fla.—Only Inside Lake was on the scene as a large search was conducted Saturday by multiple law enforcement agencies for Mount Dora missing mom Nicole Baldwin.
Law enforcement officers and volunteers searched areas near the east side of Eustis for Baldwin, who has been missing since early November 2023. Inside Lake witnessed searchers on foot, along with additional searchers on ATVs and horses. The search spanned several hours and ended early in the afternoon Saturday.
PHOTO: Marilyn M. Aciego/Inside Lake
The search was planned for at least several weeks and a search of that magnitude involves a lot of preparation to coordinate with multiple agencies and units, MDPD Spokesperson Misty Sommer told Inside Lake.
“At this point in the investigation, Mount Dora Police Department is looking into all possible scenarios related to the search of Nicole Baldwin. This included a search, with our partner agencies, of nearby vacant lands that are in close proximity to her last known residence,” Sommer said.
Baldwin was last seen Nov. 2, 2023, at her Strathmore Circle home in Mount Dora and reported missing on Nov. 5, 2023. She was originally classified as “missing and endangered,” but a search warrant later stated police were looking for evidence in a second-degree murder investigation.
PHOTO: Marilyn M. Aciego/Inside Lake
This is the latest in a case that has seen many twists and turns; Baldwin’s husband, Brett, was arrested Dec.14, 2023 on federal child pornography charges and has been held on no bond in the Marion County Jail since his arrest. In January, investigators with MDPD and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement executed an electronics search warrant at the home of Terri Rogers, a volunteer and missing persons advocate who led several public searches for Baldwin. Rogers, who spoke exclusively with Inside Lake following the search, said investigators seized her phone, home security cameras, laptops and Amazon Alexa devices, among other electronics. Rogers has never been charged with a crime in this case.
Baldwin, 41, is described as a white female, 5 feet, 5 inches tall, 135 pounds with brown and dyed blonde hair, and hazel eyes. If you have information on Baldwin’s disappearance, call Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS. Crimeline callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward.
TAVARES, Fla.—There has been another twist in the case of missing Mount Dora mom Nicole Baldwin.
Early Friday morning, Mount Dora Police Department and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement executed a search warrant for electronics at the Tavares home of Terri Rogers, the woman who has organized search parties for Baldwin and gathered information in the case.
Rogers’ involvement in the case began about a week after Baldwin went missing, partially because Baldwin’s case is what Rogers calls “eerily similar” to her missing niece’s case. Rogers is the aunt of Tonya Whipp, a woman who has been missing in Polk County since last summer and told Inside Lake she was compelled to get involved in Baldwin’s case. Baldwin, who is from Germany, does not have family in the United States, other than her children and husband, and Rogers said she advocated for Baldwin because she did not have anyone else to do it for her. Soon after Inside Lake published its first article on the case, Rogers reached out to Baldwin’s oldest daughter Alisha to get flyers out and get her face out to the public, she told Inside Lake.
Rogers developed a relationship with Alisha and has spoken to her sporadically and even helped her move some things out of a storage unit. Rogers said Alisha has never told her she is involved in any way or given her any clue as to what may have happened to Baldwin.
Nicole Baldwin, left, and her daughter, Alisha, right are seen here in this undated photo,. Photo courtesy of Alisha Baldwin
Baldwin vanished in early November and was reported missing to MDPD. MDPD has remained tight-lipped throughout its investigation, leaving many questions unanswered. Inside Lake has asked numerous questions about the case but MDPD has revealed very little. The home where Baldwin lived on Strathmore Circle was searched by MDPD, FDLE and Lake County Sheriff’s Office crime scene investigators on Nov. 28 and has been searched several times since.
On Dec. 14, Baldwin’s husband, Brett, was arrested on federal child pornography charges as investigators found child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on a phone that was seized during the investigation. He continues to be held in the Marion County Jail on those charges.
In addition to the four community searches Rogers has organized, she has spent hours each day searching for Baldwin on her own or with a smaller team of two to three people. She has walked miles in wooded areas from Leesburg to Mount Dora looking for any trace of the mom of three.
Rogers provided a copy of the search warrant to Inside Lake and law enforcement apparently believes Baldwin is dead, as the warrant states Rogers’ electronics may be “evidence of or evidence relevant to proving” second degree murder.
Inside Lake asked MDPD why they would execute a search warrant on someone who has seemingly been forthcoming and helpful to its investigation and the city’s spokesperson responded with this text, “Court orders are approved by the State Attorney and the Court of Law. MDPD executed a lawful search warrant to continue the search for missing person Nicole Baldwin. The status of the investigation is ongoing.”
Rogers said an agent with FDLE told her they were confiscating her electronics because they believed she was hiding something and “protecting Alisha.” Rogers said she has been communicating with this agent for months and has always given her any information Rogers believes is pertinent to finding Baldwin. Rogers has screenshots of text messages she said were between her and the agent showing the agent gave her particular areas to search and a message stating Alisha had been “cleared,” she said
Rogers said she thought there was a trusting relationship between her and the agent, but after being surprised with the search warrant, she is upset and angry.
“All they had to do was ask and I would have given them my phone. I’m not hiding anything,” she told Inside Lake. “Hook me up to a lie detector test!”
Just before Christmas 2021, Rogers was the victim of a house fire and lost three dogs to smoke inhalation and the experience was extremely traumatic for Rogers. After the fire she rescued more dogs and purchased indoor cameras so she could keep an eye on them when she left her home.
“They have taken that ability from me; I feel like a prisoner in my own house. I’m not comfortable leaving my home if I can’t check on my rescue dogs,” Rogers told Inside Lake.
This forced Rogers to cancel a community search for Baldwin scheduled for Sunday.
She told Inside Lake her anxiety is off the charts now and she is in fear of law enforcement. Rogers feels she now needs legal counsel and her best friend has started a fundraising campaign to help with legal fees, to donate to the fundraising campaign, click here Missing Person Advocate Unjustly Targeted.
OCALA, Fla.—A cell phone seized from Brett Baldwin in the case of his missing wife Nicole Baldwin contained 31 images and videos of naked children and children being sexually abused, according to a federal criminal complaint obtained by Inside Lake.
Neighbors awoke to the sound of flashbangs before daybreak Thursday morning as authorities swooped in on his mother’s house on County Road 134B near Wildwood in Sumter County and took him into custody on a federal warrant for possession of child pornography. He was later booked into the Marion County Jail, where he is being held on no bond.
Marion County Sheriff’s Office
According to the complaint, “On November 28, 2023, detectives with the Mount Dora Police Department seized an iPhone 14 cell phone…from the person of its owner Brett Baldwin while executing a search warrant at his residence in Mount Dora, Lake County, Florida. The phone was seized in furtherance of a missing person investigation.”
Numerous agencies have been involved in the case of Baldwin’s missing wife, including Mount Dora Police Department (MDPD), Lake County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO,) Seminole County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE.)
Upon searching the phone, FDLE found 31 files containing child pornography that included children described as “less than 2 years old and less than 3 years old.” DHS took over the case and warrant for Baldwin’s arrest was issued.
MDPD has not commented on Baldwin’s arrest and has remained tight-lipped about its investigation into Nicole Baldwin’s disappearance. DHS believes he was preparing to flee Florida.
The DHS complaint states, “Baldwin has made it known that he is moving to Waynesville, North Carolina in the very near future. Baldwin has recently moved from Mount Dora, FL to his mother’s home in Wildwood, FL with his 11-year-old daughter and his 13-year-old son. He has yet to enroll his children in a school making it evident that this move out of the state of Florida will take place.”
Nicole Baldwin, 41, was last seen Nov. 2 and reported missing Nov. 5 from her home in Mount Dora. She is considered “missing endangered” and is described as a white female, 5 feet, 5 inches tall, 135 pounds, with brown and (dyed) blonde hair, and hazel eyes. If you have information on Baldwin’s disappearance, call Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS. Crimeline callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward.
WILDWOOD, Fla.—The husband of missing Mount Dora mom Nicole Baldwin is in the Marion County Jail on a federal hold, according to information obtained by Inside Lake.
Brett Baldwin, 43, was booked into the Marion County Jail at 12:19 p.m. Thursday on a federal hold for possessing obscene material and is being held on no bond. Inside Lake is working on getting details about his charges.
Baldwin’s wife, Nicole, has been missing for more than a month and it is unclear if these charges are related to her disappearance; Mount Dora Police Department has not commented on the arrest.
Brett Baldwin was taken into custody early Thursday morning after a search warrant was executed at his mother’s house near Wildwood, sources told Inside Lake. Sumter County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Michelle Keszey told Inside Lake SCSO assisted Mount Dora Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security with a search warrant Thursday morning, but it was not SCSO’s case.
Law enforcement converged at a home on County Road 134B, Wildwood before daybreak Thursday and three flash bangs could be heard along with the announcement of the search warrant, according to sources. Brett Baldwin was taken from the scene in handcuffs and later booked into the Marion County Jail.
WILDWOOD, Fla.—The husband of missing Mount Dora woman Nicole Baldwin was taken into custody early Thursday morning after a search warrant was executed at his mother’s house near Wildwood, sources told Inside Lake.
Sumter County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Michelle Keszey told Inside Lake SCSO assisted Mount Dora Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security with a search warrant Thursday morning, but it was not SCSO’s case.
Sources told Inside Lake law enforcement converged at a home on County Road 134B, Wildwood before daybreak Thursday and three flash bangs could be heard along with the announcement of the search warrant. A busted window at the home could be seen from the street following the search. Sources also said Brett Baldwin was taken from the scene in handcuffs.
It is unclear if he has been arrested or if this search warrant is related to his missing wife. At press time, he was not booked into the Lake County Jail or the Sumter County Jail.
MOUNT DORA, Fla.—A reward is now being offered for information leading to the whereabouts of missing mother Nicole Baldwin.
Mount Dora Police Department announced the reward of up to $5,000 on its social media pages Tuesday morning; Baldwin, 41, was reported missing Nov. 5 and was last seen Nov. 2 at her home on Strathmore Circle in Lancaster at Loch Leven in Mount Dora. MDPD detectives have remained guarded about their investigation into the disappearance of the mom of three, but there has been a flurry of law enforcement activity at the home since Nov. 28. MDPD detectives, uniformed officers and Lake County Sheriff’s Office crime scene investigators have been at the home several times removing items and multiple sources have told Inside Lake vehicles and electronics have also been taken as possible evidence in the case. The Baldwin family has since moved out of the home, because their lease was up, Baldwin’s oldest daughter, Alisha told Inside Lake.
Two community searches, spearheaded by Terri Rogers, have been conducted since Baldwin went missing, but neither search turned up anything, Rogers told Inside Lake. The most recent search was Sunday afternoon, followed by a candlelight vigil. Only Inside Lake has been covering the case for nearly a month and was the first to interview Alisha nearly a month ago. Alisha attended both searches and the vigil Sunday and told Inside Lake she just wants her mom home.
Alisha Baldwin, right, preparing candles for a vigil held for her mother, Nicole Baldwin, 41, Sunday. Baldwin has been missing since Nov. 2. PHOTO: Marilyn M. Aciego/Inside Lake
Baldwin, 41, is considered “missing endangered” and is described as a white female, 5 feet, 5 inches tall, 135 pounds, with brown and (dyed) blonde hair, and hazel eyes. If you have information on Baldwin’s disappearance, call Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS. Crimeline callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for the reward.
MOUNT DORA, Fla.—Saturday marks one month since anyone has seen missing Mount Dora mom Nicole Baldwin and a community search and candlelight vigil are planned for Sunday.
Baldwin was last seen Nov. 2 at her home on Strathmore Circle in Mount Dora after celebrating her oldest daughter Alisha’s 20th birthday, Alisha told Inside Lake last month. Alisha was on the scene Tuesday as investigators searched the home nearly all day and removed what may be evidence in the disappearance of the mother of three.
Sources told Inside Lake Mount Dora Police Department towed Baldwin’s husband’s car Tuesday as possible evidence, and took electronics, including multiple cell phones before the Baldwin family moved out of the home on Strathmore Circle in Lancaster at Loch Leven this week, and investigators were back at the home Friday after the family moved out.
On Friday, investigators with Mount Dora Police Department were back at the home where Nicole Baldwin was last seen. COURTESY PHOTO
Tipsters have reached out to Inside Lake with theories and suspicions about people close to Baldwin and Inside Lake asked MDPD about some of the tips, but MDPD has remained tight-lipped and not released many details, citing an “active and ongoing investigation.”
MDPD began investigating Baldwin’s disappearance Nov. 5 when she was reported missing and multiple personal items of Baldwin’s were left at the home when she disappeared, including her phone, Apple watch, purse, debit card and all her shoes and she did not have her car, Alisha told Inside Lake earlier this month. A man Baldwin was dating was in possession of her car after her disappearance and he brought the white Chevy Cruze back to Alisha when she demanded he return it, Alisha said. Last month, the Cruze was seen in the driveway of the home on Strathmore Circle with what appeared to be evidence tape on the trunk and doors.
There has been no activity on Baldwin’s social media accounts and loved ones have not heard from her since Nov. 2.
A Facebook group, Help Find Nicole Baldwin started by Terri Rogers has grown to more than 400 members and Rogers is organizing the search and candlelight vigil planned for Sunday. Rogers never met Baldwin but was compelled to help as she continues to agonize with unanswered questions about the disappearance of her niece, Tonya Lee Whipp in Polk County. Whipp, 38, was last seen in Auburndale sometime between May 28 and June 1, but she was not reported missing until June 29, according to Auburndale Police Department.
A community search organized by Rogers is planned for 2 p.m. Sunday and searchers are being asked to meet at La Gracia Baptist Church, 19650 State Road 44, Eustis. Participants may encounter rough terrain and should wear appropriate clothing and shoes to join in the search. A candlelight vigil is scheduled to be held following the search, and Rogers has been working all week gathering milk jugs that will hold candles and feature a photo of Nicole. She plans on using the jugs to line the sidewalks leading to the Strathmore Circle home to symbolize lighting a path, “so she can find her way home,” Rogers told Inside Lake.
Baldwin, 41, is considered “missing endangered” and is described as a white female, 5 feet, 5 inches tall, 135 pounds, with brown and (dyed) blonde hair, and hazel eyes. If you have information on Baldwin’s disappearance, call MDPD at 352-735-7130.
