Arrest Made In July Triple Murder
October 27, 2015
An arrest has been made in a triple murder that was said at the time to be related to witchcraft.
Donald Wayne Hartung, 58, was arrested Tuesday on three counts of first degree premeditated murder. He is being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
He is charged will the brutal murder of his mother Voncile Smith, 77, and two half brothers John William Smith, 47, and Richard Thomas Smith, 49. They were found dead in their Deerfield Drive home on July 31. All three were beaten with a claw hammer and their throats slit, and Richard Smith was also shot in the head.
The arrest was announced Tuesday afternoon by Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan at a press conference.
State Attorney Bill Eddins said his office will seek the death penalty in the case.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Division, in partnership with the Florida Department Law Enforcement (FDLE), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the State Attorney were able to use forensic and other evidence leading to Hartung’s arrest.
Morgan said FDLE processed a very large amount of evidence for the Sheriff’s Office, with it taking some five days to process the crime scene.
Eddins said the crime scene was “one of the most complicated that I have seen in my career”.
At a press conference shortly after the murders, Morgan said witchcraft may have been involved in the killings. Tuesday, he said that witchcraft was still “in play”, but it would be up to prosecutors to determine the motive.
Pictured top: Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan and State Attorney Bill Eddins at a Tuesday afternoon press conference. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
School Bus Involved In Ensley Crash
October 27, 2015
[Update 3 pm] At least one person was injured in a crash between a school bus and a vehicle Tuesday morning on Highway 29 at Detroit Boulevard.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 81-year old Robert W Kilpatrick of Pace was westbound on Detroit Boulevard in a 2009 Pontiac Vibe when he turned into the path of a northbound 2007 school bus driven by 67-year old Harold R. Haile of Cantonment. There were no students on the bus at the time of the crash.
Kilpartrick was transported by Escambia County EMS to to Sacred Heart Hospital in critical condition. Haile and an another adult on the bus, 20-year old Telsha Gable, received minor injuries.
Charges are pending the outcome of the investigation, according to the FHP.
NorthEscambia.com reader submitted photos by various readers, including Whitney Harris and Melody Johnson, click to enlarge.
Semi Truck, Bus Collide On Highway 29 In McDavid
October 27, 2015
One person was injured in a crash involving a semi-truck and an Escambia County Community Transportation bus this morning in McDavid.
The crash happened about 5:45 a.m. on Highway 29 north of Champion Drive. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 27-year old Ryan Joiner of Brewton was stopped in the median of Highway 29 in a 2015 Peterbuilt log truck when he initiated a turn into the direct path of a 2015 model Escambia County Community Transportation bus driven by 22-year old Nakeem Williams of Pensacola.
Williams was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital with minor injuries. Joiner was not injured. There were no passengers on the bus a the time of the crash.
Joiner was cited with careless driving, according to the FHP.
The McDavid Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash, which shut down northbound Highway 29 for nearly an hour.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Two Charged With Firing Weapon At Party, Pointing Loaded Gun At Partygoers
October 27, 2015
Two Cantonment men have been charged with firing a weapon at an outdoor party and then pointing the still loaded firearm at multiple people.
About 2:15 a.m. Sunday, deputies responded to a shots fired disturbance at an empty lot about a mile east of Highway 29 on Becks Lake Road.
Justin Ray Landers and Joshua Shane Whitemire, both 23-years old, had reportedly become involved into an argument with other people at the party. Landers then handed a semi-automatic pistol to Whitmire, and Whitemire fired 2-3 shots into the air and then proceeded to point the loaded pistol at other people in the area. Whitemire returned to the pistol to Landers, who pointed the loaded weapon at people that attempted to stop them from leaving, according to an arrest report.
Whitmire then backed the truck up at a high rate of speed, running over the foot of a 17-year old juvenile, the report states. Then, as the vehicle was leaving the area, Landers fire more shots out of the passenger side window.
Landers and Whitemire were taken into custody in the front yard of Whitmire’s resident on Tara Dawn Circle. A Smith and Wesson 9mm handgun was seized.
The juvenile refused medical treatment for her foot.
Landers and Whitmire were both charged with discharging a firearm in public, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without the intent to kill. They were both released from the Escambia County Jail on $3,000 bond each.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
October 27, 2015
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the weekly period ending October 23 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Hutchinson was patrolling an area when he observed a truck parked against a tree line with only its tail lights on. He pulled behind the vehicle and observed a male subject sitting in the vehicle. He observed the subject look back athim and then turn and lean over towards the passenger floorboard area.
Officer Hutchinson walked to the driver side door of the vehicle and observed the subject place an object inside the waist band in the front of his shorts. The subject then tried to exit the vehicle after Officer Hutchinson gave him commands to stay in the vehicle. The subject ignored the officer’s commands and exited the vehicle and then threw a small pouch into the bed of the truck. Officer Hutchinson handcuffed the subject and located a small nylon case that contained methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.
Officer Lewis arrived on scene and assisted Officer Hutchinson in searching the vehicle.
During the search, the officers discovered more drug paraphernalia and equipment used to manufacture methamphetamine. The officers contacted the Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office who impounded the truck. The suspect was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail for possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.
The following day, the Sheriff’s Office obtained a search warrant for the vehicle. While searching the vehicle, they observed an active meth lab inside of one of the bags in the bed area of the vehicle along with other drug paraphernalia. An additional charge of manufacture of methamphetamine was added to the list of charges against the suspect.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
No information submitted this week for Escambia County.
This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
FluMist Vaccine To Be Offered In Escambia Schools
October 27, 2015
The FluMist vaccine will soon be offered in Escambia County Schools. beginning with several in the North Escambia area.
Students will bring home a permission slip, and parents should receive an automated phone call in the coming weeks. This is the second year the vaccine is being made available.
The FluMist vaccine will be available at no out of pocket expense to parents, but parents will be asked to provide insurance information to help offset the cost. But students without health coverage will still receive the vaccine at no cost.
“Last year the FluMist program was offered to the school district by Healthy Schools and over 5,000 students were vaccinated against the flu using the FlueMist product,” explained Martha Hanna, ECSD Health Services coordinator. “It is hard for us to measure the effect this had, but we are confident that it helped save some students from getting the flu, or at least helped reduce the severity of their case. We hope to see even more families sign their children up to participate this year.”
The FluMist vaccine will be administered November 9 to November 19, with Northview High, Bratt Elementary, Ernest Ward Middle, Molino Park Elementary and Jim Allen Elementary scheduled for the first round of vaccinations on November 9.
For more information, visit http://escambiaschools.net/health_services or call your child’s school.
Authorities Seek Help To Solve Century Murder 25 Years Ago
October 27, 2015
Authorities are looking for information to help them solve the case of a Century murder 25-years ago today.
On, Saturday, October 27, 1990, 62-year old white male Dawyan Willie Lee Warrick was found deceased at his residence in the area of Cottage Street and Old Flomaton Road in Century. Investigators determined that Dawyan Willie Lee Warrick, also known as “Doughboy” or “Dawboy” was murdered.
Warrack was seen by a Century police officer about 9:00 the previous night when he responded to a prowler complaint at Warrick’s address.
He was described by family members as a World War II veteran, where he received injuries that led to him being disabled. He enjoyed passing his time at Flomaton Billards, according to family members.
Investigators are still looking for the person or persons responsible for Warrick’s murder. Anyone with any information regarding what might have happened to Dawyan Willie Lee Warrick, or anyone familiar with Dawyan Willie Lee Warrick during the time frame leading up to October 27, 1990, is asked to contact the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office’s Major Crimes Unit at (850) 436-9580, or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Mark Your Calendars — Walnut Hill VFD Sets Annual Fish Fry
October 27, 2015
Mark your calendars — the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department has scheduled their 46th Annual Catfish Fry.
The event will be Saturday, November 7 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Walnut Hill Fire Station on Highway 97.
Plates will be $7 each with your choice of catfish fillets or grilled chicken, plus baked beans, cole slaw, hush puppies, homemade bread and cake. There will also be drawing for door prizes beginning at 1 p.m. and a live auction.
There will be bounce house and fire safety house for the kids. The Bloodmobile will also be on hand for a blood drive from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Man Faces Life For Robbing Six Outside Mexican Restaurant
October 27, 2015
An Escambia County man is facing up to life in prison for holding up six people outside a Mexican restaurant.
Tolland Bonner was convicted of one count of robbery with a firearm, five counts of attempted robbery with a firearm, one count of aggravated battery while in possession of a firearm, six counts of aggravated assault, one count of fleeing and eluding a law enforcement officer, and one count of resisting an officer without violence.
On January 6, 2015 Bonner held up six victims standing outside the Los Rancheros Mexican Restaurant on Plantation Drive. Bonner fled the scene and was pursued by one of the victims until law enforcement joined the chase. Bonner eventually stopped his car on the side of the road and ran into a residential area in which he resided. Law enforcement later discovered that the vehicle was registered to Bonner and his passenger also identified Bonner. Furthermore, two of the victims identified Bonner in a photo lineup.
Circuit Judge Ross Goodman scheduled sentencing for November 18. Bonner faces the possibility of life in state prison with a 70 year mandatory minimum sentence. This means that Bonner will be required to serve 70 years in state prison without the possibility of gain time or parole.
Bonner was convicted of six robberies in 2003.
Tribe Goes To Court Amid Gambling Talks
October 27, 2015
The Seminole Tribe of Florida sued the state Monday, setting in motion what could be a protracted legal fight over the tribe’s exclusive rights to offer “banked” card games like blackjack at most of its casinos.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Tallahassee, comes even as the Seminoles for the first time said they have made “significant progress” in negotiations with Gov. Rick Scott’s office and legislative leaders toward a deal that sources close to the talks say could allow the tribe to add craps and roulette.
The exclusive rights to the banked card games expired July 31, and a 90-day grace period ends Thursday. The lawsuit accuses the state of acting in “bad faith” — a legal “term of art,” according to the tribe’s lawyer, Barry Richard — and asks a federal judge to allow the Seminoles to keep offering the games. The Seminoles are also asking for mediation to try to work out another deal.
Tribal leaders have been meeting with Scott’s general counsel, Tim Cerio, and Republican House and Senate leaders for weeks, hoping to expand on a 20-year agreement signed in 2010, called a “compact,” that authorized the tribe’s slot-machine and table-game operations. A provision of the deal gave the Seminoles exclusive rights to operate banked card games for five years in exchange for a minimum payment of $1 billion. While that portion of the compact expired this summer, the compact gave the tribe 90 additional days to shut down the games.
The Seminoles have said they do not intend to stop running the games, even after the Oct. 29 deadline.
“We are continuing the card games, but in order to do that, we thought that it was only appropriate that we start the process in court and find out,” Richard told The News Service of Florida on Monday. “The court will say if it’s OK or no. Or the state and the tribe will reach an agreement that will render it moot. This is not an in-your-face or anything. We’re not saying to the Legislature we’re doing this because we haven’t negotiated a deal. It’s completely separate.”
A Scott spokeswoman said the governor’s office did not have a comment Monday on the lawsuit and the tribe’s intention of continuing to offer banked card games.
The lawsuit alleges that the state failed to negotiate in good faith by demanding that the tribe agree to modifications of other portions of the compact “to substantially increase the tribe’s payments to the state.”
Under the current talks, the Seminoles would pay the state at least $3 billion over seven years in exchange for exclusive rights to roulette and craps, according to sources close to the negotiations. A Palm Beach County dog track could have slot machines, a new gambling operation in Miami-Dade County could start up with slot machines, and dog tracks could stop racing greyhounds while retaining lucrative card rooms.
The lawsuit also alleges that the state breached the compact by allowing pari-mutuel facilities to offer what are known as “player-banked” card games in which “the bank” is another player instead of “the house.” The tribe contends that allowing such games violated its rights to exclusivity in operating banked card games, which typically involve players betting against the house instead of each other.
Even if the state and the tribe reach agreement on the parameters of a new compact, getting the requisite blessing of the Legislature could be tough.
Any agreement would have to include some perks for the state’s pari-mutuel industry in order to get the political support necessary for a bill authorizing the compact to pass. But loading too many elements into the legislation could kill it.
Rep. Jose Felix Diaz, a Miami-Dade Republican and the House’s chief negotiator on the deal, has likened the complicated gambling deal to a “Rubik’s cube.”
The tribe “remains hopeful that a positive outcome will result” and “believes that a legislative solution would be in the best interest” of everyone, the Seminoles said in a statement Monday — their first public comments on the ongoing negotiations.
The tribe filed the suit as part of a dispute resolution process included in the compact and also laid out in the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, the statement said.
“The tribe has no option but to file in order to protect its interests and those of the 3,100 employees and their families whose jobs are in jeopardy,” the statement said.
By Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida