Patchy Fog Possible Tonight, Low Around 52
December 20, 2025
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Patchy dense fog after 2am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 52. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers after noon. Patchy dense fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 72. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the morning.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph after midnight.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 69. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 50. East wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 74. East wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. Calm wind.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Christmas Day: Partly sunny, with a high near 73.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 55.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 56.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74.
Teens Indicted For Premeditated Murder In Brutal Death of Girl, 14, In Santa Rosa County
December 20, 2025
Two Santa Rosa County teens will be tried as adults for the brutal murder of a 14-year old.
Gabriel Williams, 16, and Kimahri Blevins, 14, have both been indicted on charges of first-degree premeditated murder.
On December 1, 14-year-old Danika Troy was reported as a runaway after she was last seen on November 30.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office said they carried out a plan to shoot Troy and burn her body.
About 11 p.m. on December 2, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office located a burned body in a wooded area off Kimberly Road in Pace. Due to the condition of the body, immediate identification could not be determined.
On December 3, 2025, while conducting further follow up interviews, investigators determined the body was that of Troy and developed Williams and Blevins as suspects. After interviews and examination of evidence, the teens were charged.
Williams and Blevins are currently being held without bail in the Santa Rosa County Jail.
Escambia Man Convicted Of Murdering Woman, 70, Before Police Chase
December 20, 2025
An Escambia County man has been convicted for murdering a 70-year old woman before a chase that killed one of his accomplanches in 2024.
Terrance Lovelle Gross, Jr. was convicted by a jury of first degree murder, shooting into a building or vehicle, and fleeing to elude a law enforcement officer (siren and lights activated with high speed or reckless driving).
On the evening of June 24, 2024, Gross was one of three defendants who perpetrated a drive-by shooting on Erress Boulevard where Myra Hayes was sitting in her front yard with her family, according to presecutors The shooting covered an entire block of a residential area and Myra Hayes was shot in the neck and later died from her injuries. A family member witnessed a small white car and noticed a black gun extended from the window. Shell casings show there were at least two different firearms used during the shooting.
The white vehicle, which was found to be stolen, was quickly spotted by nearby law enforcement and a chase ensued. This chase was at very high speeds and the defendants crossed into oncoming traffic several times. Several pit maneuvers were performed and finally successful in stopping the defendants as they attempted to cross the bridge into Santa Rosa County.
The three defendants fled the vehicle and then jumped off the bridge and into the water below. Trevion Moton was found deceased under the bridge due to the impact after he jumped. Gross escaped the scene and was later located in a Texas hospital being treated for his injuries from the jump. He was extradited back to Escambia County.
Gross faces a mandatory life sentence in state prison. A sentencing hearing is set for January 21, 2026 before Judge Amy Brodersen.
Another defendant, Jaquaris Ethridge is due back in court in late February on a first-degree premeditated murder
Two Seriously Injured In Kingsfield Road Crash
December 19, 2025
Two people were seriously injured in a crash Friday afternoon on East Kingsfield Road.
A driver lost control and struck a utility pole and privacy fence near Zane Grey Lane, about a mile east of Highway 29.
A young girl and an adult woman were seriously injured. An extended extrication was required to free the woman from the vehicle.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not yet released details.
Due to the severity of the crash, NorthEscambia.com is withholding vehicle photos until next of kin are notified. This story will be updated.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Overturned Dump Trucks Spills Hot Asphalt, Shuts Down Miles Of Highway 29
December 19, 2025
An overturned dump truck hauling hot asphalt closed nearly seven miles of northbound Highway 29 for hours on Friday.
The driver of the Roads, Inc. dump truck lost control on Highway 29 northbound, left the roadway, overcorrected, and overturned just over a mile south of Bogia Road in McDavid. The driver was not injured.
The truck’s entire load of hot asphalt spilled across northbound Highway 29 and into the median. First responders were initially able to divert a few northbound vehicles around the accident via the shoulder, but a second dump truck became stuck, forcing a complete closure.
Traffic was diverted from northbound Highway 29 onto Highway 97 in Molino for several hours. The roadway has since reopened.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed In 2024 Log Truck, Propane Truck Crash That Killed Molino Girl
December 19, 2025
One year after 12-year-old Sofia Bennett of Molino died in a multi-vehicle crash in Pace, a wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against several companies involved in the wreck.
Sofia’s mother, Sandra Bennett-Tidwell, and John Tidwell filed the lawsuit against Timber Contractors Trucking, Parker Gas Company, Inc., and J.E. Estes Wood Company, Inc.
The crash happened about 10:35 a.m. December 18, 2024, on Quintette Road at Tunnel Road in Pace, just east of Five Points. The wreck involved a log truck, a propane delivery truck, and two passenger vehicles, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
According to the FHP report, the crash claimed the life of Sofia Bennett, who was a passenger in an SUV driven by a 50-year-old woman. The woman suffered serious injuries and was taken to an area hospital. The log truck driver, a 47-year-old Bay Minette woman, was also seriously injured. The driver of the propane delivery truck and the driver of the second SUV were not injured.
“One year ago today, a young life was taken in a crash that never should have happened,” Attorney Rachael Gilmer of the Levin Papantonio law firm said Thursday. She is representing the plaintiffs in the civil action. “No verdict, no settlement, and no courtroom can return a daughter to her family, but accountability is the only way we honor her memory and ensure that this kind of negligence does not claim another life.”
According to the complaint filed Thursday morning in Santa Rosa County Circuit Court, Sofia was traveling in the front seat of the vehicle her mother was driving on Quintette Road in Santa Rosa County. Chadwick Daniels was operating a semi-truck as an employee of Parker Gas, and Kathryn Shiver was operating a semi-truck as an employee of Timber Contractors. The complaint also states defendant J.E. Estes was handling logistics for the delivery of timber from Timber Contractors.
The lawsuit alleges that, “without cause or warning,” Shiver rear-ended Bennett-Tidwell’s vehicle, which then collided into the Parker Gas truck and became sandwiched between it and the Timber Contractors truck. The Parker Gas truck was allegedly stopped and waiting to make an illegal turn onto Tunnel Road.
The plaintiffs allege that as employers of Shiver and Daniels, Timber Contractors Trucking and Parker Gas Company breached their duty of care, and J.E. Estes negligently breached its duty of care.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Woman Crashes Into Highway 168 Ditch
December 19, 2025
A woman was not seriously injured when she crashed into a ditch Thursday afternoon in Bratt.
The woman lost control on Highway 168 just east of North Highway 99. Her Chevrolet Malibu traveled through a ditch, struck a concrete culvert and landed in a residential driveway.
The Florida Highway Patrol investigated the 3:15 p.m. crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Farm Share Christmas Food Distribution Saturday In Walnut Hill
December 19, 2025
Justified Incarcerated Ministries will host a Farm Share Food Giveaway in Walnut Hill on Saturday.
The Christmas distribution will begin at 9 a.m. and continue while supplies last at Bradberry Park, 4760 Highway 99A.
Pictured: A 2024 food distribution in Walnut Hill. File photos, click to enlarge.
Beulah Christmas Parade Is At Noon Saturday
December 19, 2025
The annual Beulah Christmas Parade will be this Saturday, December 20 at nooon.
The parade will begin at Windy Hill Baptist Church on Rebel Road. It will then travel south on Rebel Road, to West Nine Mile Road, to Beulah Road, to Helms Road, to Mobile Highway, continuing through Vintage Creek, Tower Ridge, and Frank Reeder, and then return to Windy Hill Baptist on Rebel Road. For a map provided by organizers, click here.
The parade was rescheduled from December 6 due to weather.
Pictured: The 2024 Beulah Christmas Parade. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photos: Santa Visits Molino Library
December 19, 2025
Santa made a special visit to the Molino Library on Thursday.
Children were able to take photos with him and share their Christmas wish lists before making Christmas crafts.
For a photos gallery, click here.
Santa has one more library store this year — Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at the Main Library on Spring Street.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
