Woman Convicted Of Elaborate Plan To Torture, Kill Ex, Burn House Down
December 17, 2015
State Attorney Bill Eddins announced that Nadine Sapp Harris, age 60, was convicted by an Escambia County jury for charges of attempted first degree murder, attempted false imprisonment, attempted arson, aggravated assault with a firearm, and battery. The charges stem from an elaborate plan to ambush, capture, torture and kill her ex-husband and to burn down the marital home.
Over a course of weeks Harris distributed hundreds of pounds of shredded or crumpled paper bundled into plastic grocery bags throughout the entirety of the three-story Escambia County home she had shared with her ex-husband. She placed paper in every dresser and cabinet drawer in the house, in cardboard boxes in every room, and inside the heating and cooling closets, return air vents and attic of the home. Some of the grocery bags were stacked in pyramid configurations placed into corners to maximize the intended fire’s intensity.
Harris planted over 115 drinking bottles that had been filled approximately one-third full with gasoline with the cap on. She also purchased thirteen bottles of charcoal lighter fluid from nearby Home Depot and Walmart stores on three separate trips, along with wooden dowels. She cut the wooden dowels down to 6-inch lengths and presoaked them in the lighter fluid to act as kindling for the fire. She also soaked the paper and all the mattresses in the home with lighter
fluid.
Then, on June 27th, 2014, Harris lured her ex-husband to the home. She parked her car three miles away and then sent him a text message that she was vacating the house – a condition of their divorce. Then she laid in wait. When the victim
came inside, she was waiting for him with a gun. She confronted him in the living room near the front door, and told him that she “was going to end it right here.” The evidence suggests she intended suicide as well as murder.
One fact saved the victim’s life. He had brought witnesses. The witnesses were outside at the time of the confrontation, but were within earshot. When Nadine Harris moved to close the open door, the victim desperately lunged for the gun. As they fought for control of the gun, Nadine Harris discharged one shot. The bullet missed the victim and buried itself in a wall.
After the discharge, the victim successfully disarmed the defendant and tossed the gun outside. He broke his hand in the process. After being disarmed of the handgun, Nadine Harris then produced a stun gun and attempted to shock the victim with it. He knocked the stun gun out of her hand. Then she pulled out a can of pepper spray and sprayed the victim. Nevertheless, after being sprayed with pepper spray, he wrestled the defendant to the ground and held her down until law enforcement arrived. While being held down, she also bit his forearm causing a significant wound.
The subsequent investigation conducted by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the State Fire Marshal’s Office revealed the extent of the defendant, Nadine Harris’s plan. They discovered the arson preparations. They discovered that within arm’s reach of where Nadine Harris had confronted her ex-husband, she had planted zip ties fashioned to serve as handcuffs, a strip of duct tape precut and ready to grab, a rope tied with a noose, and a small black duffel bag. Inside the duffel bag, Nadine Harris had placed the accelerant-soaked dowel rods, a lighter, a box of safety matches, more zip-tie handcuffs, a roll of duct tape, a pair of socks potentially to be used as a gag, a screwdriver, a folding camping saw, a drywall saw, and two clear easy-access containers full of muriatic acid.
Nadine Harris will be sentenced by Circuit Judge Scott Duncan on January 12, 2016. She is facing a minimum mandatory sentence of 20 years and a maximum sentence of up to life in state prison. The minimum mandatory sentence of 20 years is to be served day for day without the possibility of parole or gain time.
Navy Federal Contributes To Toys For Tots Program
December 17, 2015
Members of the United States Marine Corps visited the Navy Federal Credit Union Heritage Oaks campus in Beulah Tuesday afternoon to collect donations for the annual Toys for Tots campaign.
“We have some very caring and generous team members in Pensacola,” said Debbie Calder, executive vice president of Navy Federal’s Greater Pensacola Operations. “We are committed to serving our members and the communities where we operate, and this is another example of the heart our employees have for this community.”
Navy Federal has been collecting the new, unwrapped gifts since November 11th. During that time, employees, along with visitors to the credit union’s branches in Beulah and Pace, have donated more than 1,500 toys plus an additional four bicycles.
“We have employees who begin their Toys for Tots planning in the spring,” said Donald Belcher, Navy Federal training supervisor. “This effort is the highlight of the Christmas season for some of our team members. The toys will help bring joy to needy children in our area and that helps bring me joy as well.”
In addition to the toys that were collected, Navy Federal donated $1,500 to the Toys for Tots foundation.
The primary goal of the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program is to help less fortunate children experience the joy of Christmas. Once they are collected by the Marines, the toys are then distributed to the communities where the toys were collected.
In addition to its support of Toys for Tots, Navy Federal Credit Union’s campus in Beulah is also supporting the Council on Aging’s Adopt a Senior program and recently expanded its “Adopt a Family” program though the Escambia County School District.
“The Pensacola community has been such a terrific partner for us,” Calder said, “and we are proud of how our employees and members have given back this holiday season.”
Pictured above and inset: The Toys for Toys campaign at Navy Federal Credit Union. Pictured below: (L-R) Donald Belcher, training supervisor at Navy Federal, Debbie Calder, executive vice president at Navy Federal, Corporal Stephanie Lawler and Corporal Amador Garcia (both from Marine Aviation Training Support Group 42). Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Charged With Attempted Murder, Home Invasion
December 16, 2015
A Cantonment man has been charged with attempted homicide and home invasion.
Zanterrial DeJohn Carter, 22, and another suspect allegedly entered a home on Spink Lane in Escambia County last month and held a resident down on the bed while striking him repeatedly in the head with a knife or small hatchet. The victim suffered deep wounds to his scalp and a broken arm from attempts to block the blows.
The victim told deputies that he believed Carter intended to kill him, and the only reason he survived is because he played dead during the attack.
Several items, including a TV, laptop computer and desktop computer were stolen during the incident, according to an arrest report. The total value of stolen item was $1,734.
Carter was charged with attempted homicide, home invasion robbery and grand theft. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $302,500. Carter was arrested Tuesday during a traffic stop on Creighton Road.
The second suspect, identified as 18-year-old Damian Terell Bush, was arrested on November 21, 2015.
Escambia County Funds Criminal Justice, Firefighter Academies
December 16, 2015
The Escambia County School District will soon have two new programs designed to help train, recruit and employ local talent within Escambia County.
Tuesday, Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry, on behalf of the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners, presented a $50,000 check to the Escambia County Public Schools Foundation for two public safety academies — the Escambia County Firefighter Academy at Pine Forest High School and the Escambia County Criminal Justice Academy at Escambia High School.
The presentation was made Tuesday night during an Escambia County School Board meeting.
Photos for NorthEscambia.coms, click to enlarge.
Letter To The Editor: Beulah Fire Dept. Offers Thanks To Community
December 16, 2015
Submited by Mike Aaron, Beulah VFD
As one of the Officers of the Beulah Volunteer Fire Department, I would like to ask for your help, we received some kind gestures Tuesday morning during the fire at the Tavern, The Tom Thumb across the street provided free coffee to the firefighters, and the Krispy Creme truck was dropping off at the same time and provided several boxes as well for free.
They didn’t have to do this, for that I’m very appreciative and would ask that next time your in the store or see the donut man, please tell them thank you on our behave for supporting your local fire department.
I would also like to say thank you to the Beulah community for not only supporting us this past week with donating candy for the upcoming Santa Run (which we have received a good amount so far to include money donations) but for also supporting us in the local media, social media (Facebook) and everything else you do to show your support!!! Being apart of the beulah family is a great feeling!!!
Thanks again and we will see you all this Saturday when Santa makes his rounds!!!
Tate Showband Members Wrapping Presents At Walmart
December 16, 2015
Tate High School Showband of the South is heading to Hawaii next December to play at the 75th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack. If you would like to help them get out there, they’ll be wrapping Christmas presents for donations at the Walmart on Highway 29 in Ensley as follows:
12/18 – 10am – 8pm
12/19 – 8am – 8pm
12/20 – 1pm – 8pm
12/22 – 7am – 9pm
12/23 – 7am – 9pm
12/24 – 7am- 6pm
Santa Claus Visits Century Library (With Photo Gallery)
December 16, 2015
Santa Claus paid a special visit to the Century Branch Library Tuesday afternoon taking those last minute Christmas wishes.
Requests included hoverboards, dolls, computers, a hamster, an ATV, a diary and many requests for Playstations.
One girl asked for a hamster, and Santa was quick to check to make sure she would be willing to clean the cage. For the young man that’s hoping for a new computer under the tree, there was a request from Santa that he use it to research and learn about science and history in addition to just fun and games.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: One of Santa’s young visitors Tuesday a the Century Branch Library. Pictured inset: Santa sizes up a young man Tuesday at the Century Branch Library to see if he is big enough for his requested ATV. Pictured below: Despite much encouragement, this young lady was just not in the mood for Santa. Pictured bottom: Trying to decide what to ask Santa to bring. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Appeals Court Once Again Upholds ‘Docs Vs. Glocks’ Law
December 16, 2015
Rejecting constitutional arguments, a federal appeals court again upheld a controversial Florida law that restricts doctors from asking questions and recording information about patients’ gun ownership.
The 82-page ruling by a panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals was the third time the court has upheld what became known as the “docs vs. glocks” law. After a July ruling by a three-judge panel, opponents of the 2011 law asked for the full appeals court to take up the issue. Instead, the same three-judge panel issued a revised ruling that unanimously backed the law.
“The act seeks to protect patient privacy by restricting irrelevant inquiry and record-keeping by physicians on the sensitive issue of firearm ownership and by prohibiting harassment and discrimination on the basis of firearm ownership,” said the ruling, written by Judge Gerald Tjoflat and joined by judges L. Scott Coogler and Charles Wilson. “The act does not prevent physicians from speaking with patients about firearms generally. Nor does it prohibit specific inquiry or record-keeping about a patient’s firearm-ownership status when the physician determines in good faith, based on the circumstances of that patient’s case, that such information is relevant to the patient’s medical care or safety, or the safety of others.”
Wilson wrote a dissent in July that said the law violates the First Amendment rights of physicians.
The ruling left open the possibility of First Amendment challenges that deal with how the law is applied to specific physicians.
“Though the act applies in only a small number of circumstances, when it does apply it plays an extremely important role in protecting patients,” the ruling said. “The act is not a legislative revolution, but it does not need to be. It narrowly protects patients in a focused manner in order to advance the state’s compelling interest in protecting the Second Amendment’s guarantee to keep and bear arms and patients’ privacy rights in their medical records, exactly the sort of tailoring strict scrutiny requires. Those are rights that must always be protected in ways big and small.”
The law, which drew heavy opposition from physicians before passing, includes a series of restrictions on doctors and other health providers. As an example, it seeks to prevent physicians from entering information about gun ownership into medical records if the physicians know the information is not “relevant” to patients’ medical care or safety or to the safety of other people.’
by The News Service of Florida
Byrneville Elementary Present Sounds Of Christmas Joy (With Photo Gallery, Video)
December 16, 2015
Byrneville Elementary School’s third, fourth and fifth grade students presented their annual Christmas Program Tuesday night at Northview High School.
For a photo gallery, click here.
For a bonus Facebook highlight video, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Rudolph’s Day Off: Santa Arrives At Area School In Helicopter
December 16, 2015
The reindeer got the day off Tuesday as Santa Claus arrived at Flomaton Elementary School in a LifeFlight helicopter. Santa visited with the boys and girls, hearing Christmas wishes. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
