Tavares Archives - Inside Lake

Man accused of syphoning gas in Eustis gets free ride to Tavares Thursday night

Eustis, Inside Scoop, Tavares, Unincorporated Lake / By Marilyn M. Aciego

EUSTIS, Fla.—A boat owner timed a trip to get dinner just right when he spotted a man syphoning gas out of his boat as he drove by a Eustis storage facility Thursday night.

Around 5:15 p.m. Thursday, the boat owner was driving by Campus Storage, 36622 County Road 19A when he saw a man at the rear of his boat syphoning gas. He circled back around to the storage facility and the man was gone, he told Eustis Police Department. He checked his boat and found the motor cover lifted and the fuel line removed and dripping gas, according to an arrest affidavit.

The victim pulled out of the storage facility and spotted the man walking on County Road 19A, snapped his photo and called police. EPD arrived on scene and began looking for the suspect and found a tan Toyota Camry pulled off on the side of the road with its hazard lights and a handwritten tag that stated, “LOST TAG” and had some letters, numbers and a name on it. An officer spoke with a woman sitting in the passenger seat and she agreed to answer his questions, according to the affidavit.

The officer asked the woman about the syphoned gas and she told the officer she did not steal the gas and a man named “John,” later identified as John James Kerr, 45, had brought gas to her car after they ran out and then started walking toward 7-Eleven, at the corner of State Road 19 and County Road 44. She said John was her neighbor in Marion County and she would give him rides to the “scrapyard,” the affidavit states.

EPD set up a perimeter in the area with the assistance of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and spent more than an hour searching for Kerr. While searching, they received a call about a suspicious male attempting to flag down vehicles near Raintree Boulevard and County Road 452. EPD responded to the area, found Kerr, took him into custody. Kerr, of Bellview, is facing charges of burglary, criminal mischief and petit theft. His mugshot and bond information were not available at press time.

Man accused of syphoning gas in Eustis gets free ride to Tavares Thursday night Read More »

2 Paisley residents killed after speeding car slams into them on CR 42 Friday night

Inside Scoop, Tavares, Unincorporated Lake / By Marilyn M. Aciego

LAKE COUNTY, Fla.—A Paisley man and woman were killed Friday night after a speeding Mustang slammed into them head-on, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The 46-year-old Paisley man was driving a 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 westbound on County Road 42 approaching Lazy Lake Road, near Paisley, when a 2015 Ford Mustang traveling eastbound attempted to pass another vehicle in a curve, shortly after 7 p.m., FHP said. The Mustang hit the Mirage head-on, killing the driver of the Mirage, and his passenger, a 56-year-old Paisley woman.

The Mustang left the roadway and entered the tree line and the driver, a 26-year-old Tavares man, was seriously injured and airlifted to HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital in Sanford. The crash closed County Road 42 for several hours and remains under investigation.

Previous story:

2 killed, Tavares man airlifted following head-on crash in no-passing zone near Paisley Friday

2 Paisley residents killed after speeding car slams into them on CR 42 Friday night Read More »

2 killed, Tavares man airlifted following head-on crash in no-passing zone near Paisley Friday

Inside Scoop, Tavares / By Marilyn M. Aciego

LAKE COUNTY, Fla.—Two people are dead after a speeding car crashed into them head-on in a no-passing zone near Paisley Friday night, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Shortly after 7 p.m., a 26-year-old Tavares man was speeding eastbound in a 2015 Ford Mustang on County Road 42 when he attempted to pass another vehicle in a no-passing zone near Lazy Lake Road, FHP said.

He crashed into a 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 traveling westbound on County Road 42, killing the driver and a passenger. The pair had not been identified at press time and County Road 42 remains closed as FHP investigates. The Tavares man was airlifted to HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital in Sanford with serious injuries.

2 killed, Tavares man airlifted following head-on crash in no-passing zone near Paisley Friday Read More »

Darryl and Sharon Getman were found murdered in their home Dec. 31, 2022.

Mount Dora double-slaying suspect competent to proceed, judge orders

Inside Scoop, Mount Dora, Tavares / By Marilyn M. Aciego

TAVARES, Fla.—The suspect in a brutal 2022 Mount Dora double murder is now competent to proceed, according to an order signed by Lake Circuit Judge Cary Rada last month.

Vickie Lynn Williams, 51, is accused of stabbing Darryl Getman, 83, and Sharon Getman, 80. The married couple was murdered in their Waterman Village home sometime between the hours of 11 p.m. Dec. 30, 2022, and 2 a.m. Dec. 31, 2022.

After allegedly murdering the couple, Williams stole their green Kia Soul and was still driving it when she was apprehended by a Savannah Police Department officer at a Georgia Amtrak station on Jan. 2, 2023. She was indicted later that month and prosecutors are seeking the death penalty in the case that shocked Lake County.

In May, Williams was found incompetent to proceed and turned over to the Department of Children and Families (DCF.) While in its custody, Williams was evaluated and a “Competency Evaluation Report to the Court” completed in September and authored by Dr. Armando Collado Ph.D., was submitted to the Court and independently reviewed by Rada.

“The defendant’s appreciation of the charges, appreciation of the possible penalties, understanding of the adversarial nature of the legal process, capacity to disclose to counsel facts pertaining to the proceedings, capacity to manifest appropriate courtroom behavior, and capacity to testify relevantly are all acceptable,” Rada stated in his order.

Williams next plea negotiation conference is scheduled for Tuesday.

Previous story: Suspect in Mount Dora slayings mentally incompetent, judge rules – Inside Lake

Mount Dora double-slaying suspect competent to proceed, judge orders Read More »

Shot fired at LCSO sergeant in Tavares, suspect identified and arrested

Inside Scoop, Tavares / By Marilyn M. Aciego

TAVARES, Fla.—A man who allegedly fired a shot at a Lake County Sheriff’s Office sergeant’s patrol vehicle early Thursday morning and fled the scene has been identified and arrested.

Shortly before 2:15 a.m. Thursday, the LCSO sergeant was patrolling the area of Wells Avenue in Tavares when he was flagged down by a citizen who told him a black male on a bike was rummaging through vehicles in the area. The sergeant canvassed the area and found two males and a female in front of the Peninsular Masonic Lodge, 1234 Wells Avenue. One of the men was on a e-bike, according to a probable cause affidavit.

The man on the e-bike, later identified as Norman Dywan Gunn, 35, took off in a southern direction behind the Dora Canal shopping plaza and the sergeant activated his blue lights and attempted a traffic stop. Gunn took evasive actions, partially crossing State Road 19/Duncan Drive, returned back to the plaza then headed further south into the rear of Prime Time Food Store, 1248 Wells Avenue. The business has been closed for several years. The sergeant yelled at Gunn to “stop” through his open window and Gunn reportedly yelled something like “I’m scared,” and continued to flee.

The sergeant was unable to follow path of the e-bike and believing Gunn went to the front of the store, he approached the corner of the store, and a shot was fired at his marked patrol vehicle, the affidavit states. The sergeant took a tactical position and held the scene while backup arrived.

The DYU C3 e-bike was found abandoned and LCSO CSI collected it for evidence. Deputies and LCSO’s Eagle One searched for Gunn and were assisted by Tavares Police Department but they were unable to find him. Gunn lives just .2 miles from the store where the shooting occurred.

The entire incident was recorded by the sergeant’s dash cam and the gunshot is “clearly audible, but not visually observed,” according to an LCSO detective investigating the case.

Detectives canvassed the area and a video from Circle K, 439 South Duncan Drive, showed a black male on the same e-bike arriving at the store at 1:18 a.m. The man was wearing a Checkers uniform shirt and purchased a cigar from the store. The detective recognized the man as Gunn, who works at Checkers, 480 East Burleigh Boulevard, Tavares. A witness, the same man with Gunn when the sergeant first arrived, told LCSO the man was possibly “Lion,” and gave detectives the exact location of Gunn’s home.

A warrant was issued for Gunn’s arrest for aggravated assault with a firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and fleeing and eluding. He was arrested Thursday afternoon and transported to the Lake County Jail, where he is being held on no bond. Gunn’s neighbor, who wished to remain anonymous, told Inside Lake he was arrested and taken into custody at Checkers, and deputies searched his home on Maplewood Street early Thursday evening.

This incident comes just 3.5 months after LCSO deputies were ambushed in unincorporated Eustis Aug. 2. Master Deputy Bradley Link was killed and Master Deputy Harold Howell and Deputy Stefano Gargano both suffered gunshot wounds and are still recovering. Julie Sulpizio has been charged with multiple crimes in that case and is facing the death penalty.

Shot fired at LCSO sergeant in Tavares, suspect identified and arrested Read More »

Tipster, “alarmed” by threats against officers, alerts Tavares police

Eustis, Inside Scoop, Mount Dora, Tavares / By Marilyn M. Aciego

TAVARES, Fla.—A transient Mount Dora woman is in the Lake County Jail on no bond after making multiple threats against three Tavares Police Department officers and one Mount Dora Police Department officer on Facebook Wednesday.

A tipster reached out to TPD on its Facebook page just before 9:45 p.m. Wednesday and stated, “Someone I know has made some alarming threats against your officers on Facebook. I would like to remain anonymous, but here are the threats on Facebook. Her name is Ernesta Presy.” The tipster followed the message with 11 screenshots from Presy’s Facebook page. A tip also came into Crimeline not long after, according to a report.

TPD notified MDPD of the threat against its officer and the department said it was familiar with Presy from previous contacts and confirmed she is a “homeless transient” in their area, the report states.

Presy, 27, is apparently upset about a March incident involving TPD; the type of incident is redacted from TPD’s report, but according to a lawsuit Presy filed against TPD, she was taken into custody under a Baker Act. Presy is representing herself “pro se,” without the assistance of an attorney. “Pro se” is a Latin term meaning “for oneself” or “on one’s own behalf.” Presy is also representing herself in a lawsuit against Lifestream.

Inside Lake obtained copies of the Facebook posts and the posts included a sticky note with the names and identification numbers of three TPD officers. The note was provided to Presy by an on-duty road patrol officer when she stopped by the department on Tuesday to inquire about the names of the officers involved in her Baker Act in March. In addition to the sticky note with the officer’s names, she posted one TPD officer’s photo three times, including updating her profile photo to a photo of the officer and on another post, she provided a link to the officer’s personal Facebook page. Presy posted numerous threats and concerning statements including:

“I don’t know about y’all but only I can die standing up for my rights! I said what’s up and what it’s gone be..”

“If Hitler went to heaven so will I for killing these mutha (expletive) who unlawfully arrested me –as soon this case shut down I’m turning off the tracker.”

“I’m getting a gun, and it will be used for those who unlawfully arrested me in March and those who held me hostage. I have to stop caring so much.”

“5 people will die.”

“After I shoot her I will stab u multiple times for all the times you made me cry and plead!!!”

“if ur innocent and you get in the way u will die too.”

Screenshots taken from Ernest Presy’s Facebook page.

TPD searched Facebook for Presy’s page and confirmed the posts that were sent in by the tipsters. A warrant was issued for her arrest for written or electronic threats to kill, and she was picked up by MDPD Thursday morning. She was transported to LCJ, where she is being held on no bond.

Presy was arrested in 2020 after being accused of striking her child’s father with a vehicle and driving through Eustis with him hanging onto the hood. He was able to jump off when Presy stopped at a traffic light. That charge was later dropped due to video evidence in the case creating reasonable doubt.

Previous story: Victim tells Eustis Police his child’s mother took him on a wild ride on the hood of her car – Inside Lake

Tipster, “alarmed” by threats against officers, alerts Tavares police Read More »

Tyshael Martin appeared in court for a hearing Thursday. She is accused of murdering 9-year-old Jamaria Sessions. PHOTO" Marilyn M. Aciego/Inside Lake

Accused Montverde child murderer appears in court Thursday

Inside Scoop, Montverde, Tavares / By Marilyn M. Aciego

TAVARES, Fla.—The woman accused of brutally torturing and murdering her boyfriend’s daughter appeared in court Thursday.

Only Inside Lake was in the courtroom as Circuit Judge Heidi Davis questioned Tyshael Martin, 35, about retaining an attorney. Martin, who still does not have an attorney of record, more than two months after her arrest, told Davis she has retained Sean Landers, but he has not filed a notice of appearance yet due to him being out of town.

Assistant State Attorney Thomas Wieczorek asked the court to keep Martin’s case on the docket for November for both a pre-trial conference to ensure she has retained an attorney, and a plea negotiation conference. He also asked the record reflect the state filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty in Martin’s case.

“Oct. 8, the same date that notice was filed with the court, defendant Martin was also personally served with that notice at the Lake County Jail,” Wieczorek said.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Martin is accused of killing 9-year-old Jamaria “Mari” Sessions in June after abusing and torturing her for nearly eight months after her father, Lojuan Sessions, picked her up from school in October 2023. Sessions took Jamaria and her little sister, Jaliah, from school that day without permission or notice to the girls’ grandmother Althea Chenault. Chenault had been helping care for the girls throughout their mother, Tadrina Dort’s fight against leukemia, and after her death from congestive heart failure in 2022. Chenault is also listed as Jamaria’s next of kin in Martin’s case and Martin was ordered not to have any contact with Chenault at an earlier court appearance.

Chenault and her son, Trane Chenault and daughter, Laquanda Beacham, were in attendance for Thursday’s hearing and the family plans to attend each time Martin or Sessions appears in court.

Previous story: State to seek death penalty for accused Montverde child killer – Inside Lake

Accused Montverde child murderer appears in court Thursday Read More »

Motorcyclist killed in Eustis crash Monday

Eustis, Inside Scoop, Tavares / By Marilyn M. Aciego

EUSTIS, Fla.—Eustis Police Department is investigating a crash that killed a motorcyclist before daybreak Monday.

The motorcyclist was riding a 2001 Suzuki motorcycle northbound on U.S. Highway 441, north of David Walker Drive around 6:30 a.m. when he was struck by a black GMC pickup truck attempting to make a left turn into Eustis Village shopping plaza, EPD Capt. Ken Toler told Inside Lake. The plaza contains Publix, Sonic and numerous other restaurants and retail businesses.

The motorcyclist was pronounced deceased on the scene; his name has not been released, pending notification of next of kin. The driver of the truck was not injured. Tavares Police Department assisted with traffic control and the crash closed a portion of U.S. Highway 441 for more than three hours.

Motorcyclist killed in Eustis crash Monday Read More »

A generator is seen here in the shed connected to the Tavares home of Perry Leintz and Constance Albrecht. The couple was found dead Tuesday and police suspect carbon monoxide poisoning. PHOTO: Tavares Police Department

Tragic discovery: Tavares couple found dead of suspected carbon monoxide poisoning from generator following Hurricane Milton

Inside Scoop, Tavares / By Marilyn M. Aciego

TAVARES, Fla.—Tavares Police Department is investigating after a man and woman were found dead of suspected carbon monoxide poisoning in their home Tuesday, and police believe a generator is to blame.

TPD received a call requesting a well-being check around 1:45 p.m. on Perry Leintz, 67, and Constance Albrecht, 87, at their home at 24 Holly Drive in the Tiki Village Mobile Park off Dead River Road, TPD Public Information Officer Courtney Sullivan said. Road patrol officers responded to the home and found the couple deceased, and a generator in their shed that was connected to the home.

“There were no indications of foul play,” Sullivan said.

The medical examiner responded to the scene and both Leintz and Albrecht showed signs of carbon monoxide poisoning, but TPD will have to await the conclusion of their autopsies to confirm, Sullivan said.

Two different neighbors told police they expressed concerns to Leintz about the generator being so close to the home, fearing carbon monoxide may leak into the home, Sullivan said. The couple lost power during Hurricane Milton, and neighbors last spoke to them Thursday.

The American Red Cross suggests these safety tips while using a generator:

• Never use a generator, grill, camp stove or other gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal-burning devices inside a home, garage, basement, crawlspace or any partially enclosed area.

• Keep these devices outdoors, away from doors, windows and vents that could allow carbon monoxide to come indoors.
• Opening doors and windows or using fans will not prevent CO buildup in the home. Although CO can’t be seen or smelled, it can rapidly lead to full incapacitation and death. Even if you cannot smell exhaust fumes, you may still be exposed to CO. If you start to feel sick, dizzy, or weak while using a generator, get to fresh air RIGHT AWAY – DO NOT DELAY.

• Install CO alarms in central locations on every level of your home and outside sleeping areas to provide early warning of accumulating carbon monoxide. Test the batteries frequently and replace when needed.

• If the carbon monoxide alarm sounds, move quickly to a fresh air location outdoors or by an open window or door. Call for help from the fresh air location and remain there until emergency personnel arrive to assist you.

Tragic discovery: Tavares couple found dead of suspected carbon monoxide poisoning from generator following Hurricane Milton Read More »

Mount Dora man sentenced to three decades in prison for attempted murder

Inside Scoop, Mount Dora, Tavares / By Marilyn M. Aciego

TAVARES, Fla.—A man convicted of shooting a woman twice in Mount Dora last year has been sentenced to 30 years in prison, according to the Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office.

In March 2023, Mount Dora Police Department responded to the 1500 block of Pine Avenue on a report of a shooting and when they arrived, they found a woman in a 2010 Nissan passenger vehicle suffering from two gunshot wounds. The victim told police “Jason,” later identified as Jason Jameel Ganga, shot her while she was attempting to leave. There were two bullet holes through her driver’s side window, an affidavit in the case states.

Police found Ganga underneath a bed, grabbed his legs and pulled him out. As they pulled him out, they saw he was holding a .40 caliber semi-automatic Smith & Wesson handgun to his temple and actively pulling the trigger but the gun did not have a magazine. The gun was secured, and Ganga, who showed signs of alcohol intoxication, was taken into custody. He refused to cooperate during questioning and a search of the home revealed multiple firearms, including handguns and rifles, with ammunition scattered throughout.

In June, Ganga, 38, was found guilty of attempted second-degree murder, shooting into an occupied vehicle, and aggravated battery. He was represented by Spencer Rhodes of Orlando and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Gabriel Lozano and Eddie Moffitt.

“The defendant’s crime was a brutal attempt on an innocent woman’s life, a clear disregard for the sanctity of human life, and today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of that crime,” Bill Gladson, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney said in a press release Tuesday.

Ganga must serve at least 25 years of his 30-year sentence.

Previous stories: Lake County jury convicts man of shooting woman in Mount Dora last year – Inside Lake

Mount Dora Police Arrest Armed Man Accused of Shooting Woman Twice Sunday Night – Inside Lake

Mount Dora man sentenced to three decades in prison for attempted murder Read More »