A Mom Remembers Her Daughter As Search Continues For Molino Woman’s Killer
April 30, 2024
On Sunday afternoon, April 30, 2017, Anna Louise Brown was out for a jog on Gibson Road in Molino.
She never made it home.
Brown, 38, was found face down on the side of the road near the Alligator Creek bridge. She had been shot multiple times.
And her murderer remains on the run.
“Seven Long Hard Years, We Have Shed Many a Tear,” Sue Brown wrote in a poem (reprinted below) in remembrance of her daughter on the seventh anniversary of her death. “Longing for Peace, Solace of Some Kind, Hoping for Justice, At Least.”
A nearby witness observed an older model silver vehicle drive past his residence. A short time later, the vehicle drove back past his residence again. Moments later the witness heard approximately six to eight gunshots.
The victim had recently finalized her divorce from her ex-husband Manuel De-Jesus Vega, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. A family member expressed concern to investigators about Vega due to him being both verbally and physically abusive.
Anna Brown’s murder was one of four cases that were the focus of retired certified law enforcement detectives during a two-day Cold Case Symposium hosted by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The ECSO said Monday that they are continuing to investigate the case.
Anyone with information on the murder is asked to contact the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or call Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Below: NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
‘Armed And Dangerous’ – Century Felon Remained On The Run Following Manhunt
April 30, 2024
UPDATE: Suspect Christopher Pace was captured Wednesdays morning.
A felony suspect authorities called “armed and dangerous” remained on the run following a manhunt Monday in Century.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said 41-year-old Christopher George Pace has outstanding felony warrants for arson, trespassing with property damage and resisting arrest without violence.
Dozens of law enforcement officers spent hours attempting unsuccessfully to track down Pace in a heavily wooded area on the west side of Century.
The search perimeter was mostly along and centered on West Highway 4 in the area of Pleasant Hill Road. Law enforcement was seen maintaining the perimeter for hours between Lake Stone to the west and Industrial Boulevard to the north and west (map below, click to enlarge).
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by agencies including the Florida Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement, Florida Fish, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and K-9 units from the Century Correctional Institution. ECSO also had K-9 units and a drone involved in the search.
Pate’s prior convictions in Escambia County include first degree petit theft, burglary, criminal mischief, possession of burglary tools, trespassing, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia.
Anyone with information on Pace’s whereabouts is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge. Suspect Christopher George Pace is pictured in a 2021 mugshot from a previous arrest.
Tate High School Names Students Of The Month
April 30, 2024
Tate High School has named their Students of the Month for March. They are Kinsey Lee and Christian Daigle.. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jury Finds Cantonment Woman Not Guilty Of Impersonating A Police Officer
April 30, 2024
An Escambia County jury recently found a Cantonment woman not guilty of impersonating a police officer.
In July 2023, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement brought a felony charge of falsely impersonating a police officer against Bobbie Lei Sales, then 35.
FDLE agents began their investigation in May 2023 after receiving information that Sales identified herself as an FDLE agent. FDLE said their investigation showed that Sales visited a victim’s home and presented a silver badge while wearing a firearm. FDLE alleged she told the victim that he was under investigation and said she would be back in a couple of weeks to search his home.
FDLE also accused Sales of identifying herself as working for FDLE while having her vehicle repaired at a local dealership.
An Escambia County jury deliberated just 20 minutes before returning the not guilty verdict.
Cantonment Man Charged With Trying To Run Over Man, Burglary, Battery
April 30, 2024
A Cantonment man is charged with trying to run over a man, burglary, battery and a drug offense.
Philip Michael Chevalier, 35, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, burglary with criminal mischief, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
One incident happened April 28 as the victim was walking away from West Florida Hospital where he had tried to help Chevalier’s ex-girlfriend and she left with him, walking down Johnson Avenue, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report.
Chevalier allegedly tried to run over the victim twice, but he jumped out of the way each time, the report continues.
Another witness said Chevalier also tried to run over him, but he did not want to pursue charges, deputies said.
On April 3, Chevalier allegedly punched his girlfriend in the eye during an argument.
One April 5, Chevalier allegedly punched a hole in the window of the door of her trailer on Kipling Street before going inside to confront her, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. There was no physical altercation between the parties, deputies noted.
As deputies arrested Chevalier on outstanding warrants to the previously alleged incidents, Chevalier had a glass smoking pipe containing methamphetamine residue in his lap.
Chevalier remained in the Escambia County Jail Wednesday morning without bond
Molino Falcons 6U Win Northview Diamond Club Tourney
April 30, 2024
The Molino Falcons 6U won a weekend tournament in their division. The two-day Northview Diamond Club 2nd Annual Spring Bash was held at the Molino Ballpark. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Chiefs Open 1A Districts With 17-2 Win Over Laurel Hill (With Gallery)
April 30, 2024
With 14 runs in the third inning, the No. 4 seed Northview Chiefs opened the District 1-1A playoffs with a big 17-2 quarterfinal win over the No 5 Laurel Hoboes Monday night in Bratt.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Jayden White earned the win for the Northview Chiefs in a mercy rule shortened four innings. He gave up two hits and two runs, staking out four and walking one.
At the plate, Northview’s Grayden Sheffield drove in four runs on three hits. Jase Portwood and Jackson Bridges had two hits each, while Dane King and Brady Smith, both added a hit.
In district semifinal action on Tuesday, No. 1 Central will take on Northview about 7 p.m. following a 4 p.m. game between No. 2 Jay and No. 3 Baker. The winners will face off on Thursday for the district championship.
NorthEscamia.com photos, click to enlarge.
UWF Announces 2024 Football Schedule
April 30, 2024
UWF head football coach Kaleb Nobles has announced the program’s 2024 schedule which includes a program-high six home games and four road contests.
UWF will face four teams that participated in the 2023 postseason and six that won at least five games, in addition to a 7-game Gulf South Conference slate.
“We are excited for a great 2024 season that we know will bring great competition both in the Gulf South Conference & out of conference,” Nobles said. “We are excited about each opponent on the schedule & look forward to being at our best in 2024.”
UWF will open the school’s eighth season of play at home against McKendree on Thursday, Sept. 5. Following a 35-3 UWF win in Lebanon, Illinois last season, the Bearcats ended the year with five victories and played in the America’s Crossroads Bowl.
After a week off, the Argonauts will welcome West Alabama to Pensacola for the GSC opener on September 21. The teams have split all eight meetings and the Argos have won three of the last four.
UWF will travel to Allendale, Michigan to face national power Grand Valley State on September 28. This will be the first meeting between the programs.
UWF will entertain the GSC’s two Mississippi schools in back-to-back weeks at home, facing Mississippi College on October 5 and Delta State for Homecoming on October 12. Both contests will kick off at 4 p.m.
The Argonauts will make the 825-mile trip to eastern North Carolina to face Chowan on October 19. It will be the fourth meeting with the Hawks and the first in Murfreesboro since 2016.
UWF will play host to former GSC foe Shorter on October 26 before traveling to Due West, South Carolina to face GSC affiliate member Erskine for the first time ever. The November 2 contest will be the fourth in the Palmetto State in program history.
North Greenville will make its third trip to Northwest Florida in five seasons on November 9 for Salute to Service/Senior Day. The regular season will conclude a week later at Valdosta State, as the Argos play their fourth game in the Eastern Time Zone.
UWF is 64-25 all-time with five NCAA postseason appearances in seven seasons. The Argos have reached the national semifinals three times and the national championship twice, winning the title in 2019. Since 2019, UWF’s 42 victories rank fifth among all Division 2 programs.
Sheriff: Triple Murder Was A ‘Targeted Ambush’; Victims Identified
April 29, 2024
As the investigation continues, the sheriff is calling Saturday morning’s triple murder early Sunday morning in Escambia County a “targeted ambush”.
Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons said Saturday morning that it appears there two shooters who fired at close range into a parted convertible Mustang at an “adult birthday party” near West Jackson Square at 65th Avenue and Jackson Street about 1:15 a.m. Sunday.
Simons identified the victims as:
- Markeese Turner, 26
- Michael Carstarphen, 28
- Trashawn Powers, 23
Two were pronounced dead at the scene, and the third was pronounced deceased a short time later.
“This is a terrible tragedy that we are investigating as a targeted ambush,” Simmons said.
The sheriff said the shooters parked nearby, walking through a yard, approached the Mustang, and fired multiple rounds.
“This was not random, this was not a drive by,” Simmons said. “This was a shooting that took place at close range and it was clearly was targeted.”
He said the shooting may have been retaliation for a previous incident.
As of Monday, no suspects had been developed.
All available ECSO investigators have been called in and the real-time crime center has been activated. Investigators are also asking anyone who attended the party to review any videos or photos and provide any useful information to ECSO investigators.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
Photos WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Two Seriously Injured In Highway 97 Crash Involving Motorcycle
April 29, 2024
Two people were seriously injured when their bike and a passenger car collided Sunday evening in Walnut Hill.
A 2013 Honda Civic driven by a female in her 80s and the motorcycle collided about 7 p.m. on Highway 97 approximately 770 feet north of North Highway 99, near the Walnut Hill Mennonite Church. The southbound Civic came to a stop in the northbound lane of Highway 97, while the motorcycle came to rest on its side in the ditch.
A male and female on the motorcycle were transported to the hospital as trauma alerts by Escambia County EMS.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the cause of the crash. Additional details were not released.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
