Man, 74, Gets 40 Years For Shotgun Slaying Of His 64-Year Old Companion In McDavid
February 1, 2024
A McDavid man has been sentenced to 40 years in state prison for the March 2022 murder of his live-in companion.
Frankie Milton Wilson, 74, was convicted by an Escambia County jury of the second degree murder of 64-year old Sonja Burch. Forty years was the minimum mandatory sentence.
The shooting happened at their home on Worley Road off Mystic Springs Road where they lived together as a couple but were not married. Burch was pronounced deceased with a single gunshot wound to the chest.
ECSO deputies arrived to find Burch deceased in the kitchen of the home and Wilson standing outside.
Wilson asked deputies to look at injuries to him caused by the victim. He showed deputies an obviously old superficial scratch on his stomach and another superficial scratch on his left arm, which was bandaged and blooded. He told deputies that the two injuries were from being attacked by Burch with a butter knife in the days prior to the murder.
A search warrant was executed at the home. Deputies recovered a .410 shotgun from Wilson’s room but did not locate a butter knife near Burch.
“Due to not locating the alleged butter knife, it is reasonable to believe that (the victim) was unarmed at the time she was shot by Frank Wilson,” an arrest report states.
Wilson made statements indicating that he “snapped” and shot the victim out of anger and complications with his blood pressure, according to the report.
One Person Seriously Injured In Quintette House Fire
February 1, 2024
One person was seriously injured in a house fire late Wednesday night in the Quintette community.
The fire in the 2600 block of North Highway 95A near Quintette Road was reported at 11:43 p.m. Ten units from Escambia County Fire Rescue responded with the first on scene reporting heavy fire on the front of the home.
One person was discovered inside the home and was rescued, according to ECFR. The injured individual was airlifted to the hospital by LifeFlight. An update on their condition was not available.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Florida Bureau of Fire and Arson.
Photosfor NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
District 5 Incumbent Kevin Stephens Pre-Files To Seek Reelection
February 1, 2024
Incumbent Kevin Stephens pre-filed Wednesday for District 5 ECUA board member as a Republican.
Stephens has served one term after defeating Larry Walker in 2020. Walker served on the ECUA board for nearly three decades – from 1988 to 2000 and 2004 to 2020.
Pictured: ECUA District 5 board member Kevin Stephens speaks during a 2023 town hall in Cantonment hosted by District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Officials Say ‘Gun’ Found At Bratt Elementary Was Just A Fake Or Toy
February 1, 2024
Officials say a ‘gun’ found last week at Bratt Elementary School was just a fake or toy.
“There was an Airsoft gun found,” Cody Strother, spokesperson for Escambia County Public Schools said Wednesday. “No danger to students or faculty.”
An Airsoft gun is generally considered a toy pellet gun, commonly shooting plastic spheres propelled by compressed air or springs.
“As a precaution, law enforcement was notified and responded to the student’s home for a safety/welfare check,” Strother said in a text message.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded and said it was determined to be a “fake gun”.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Reminder: Community Career, College And Job Fair Thursday Evening At Tate High School
February 1, 2024
A career, college, and job fair will be held Thursday evening at Tate High School.
The event will be held from 5:30 until 7:15 p.m. in the Fryman Gym.
Tate High School students, families and community members are encouraged to attend. Over 40 companies, colleges, and training programs are scheduled to attend and provide information about employment and training.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Beulah Academy FFA’s Estella Perea Places First In District Speaking Contest
February 1, 2024
Estella Perea from the Beulah Academy FFA Chapter placed first in extemporaneous public speaking for District 1. She will now advance to the state competition in June. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Robert Bender Takes Oath As Escambia County Supervisor of Elections
February 1, 2024
Now former Escambia County District 4 Commissioner Robert Bender took the oath of office Wednesday afternoon as the new Escambia County Supervisor of Elections.
Bender replaces David Stafford who stepped down effective January 15 after 19 years in office to join the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency as an election security advisor.
Active in his community, Bender is a current member of the Florida Association of Counties Board of Directors, the Gulf Consortium Board of Directors, and is the secretary and treasurer of the Institute for County Government. Bender earned his bachelor’s degree from Rhodes College and his master’s degree in business administration from Emory University.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Boys Soccer Beats Navarre 3-0 For District Championship
February 1, 2024
The Tate High School Aggies boys soccer team won the District 1-6A championship Wednesday night.
Tate defeated Navarre 3-0 at Ashton Brosnaham Park.
Graphic courtesy Tate Soccer for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Facing Drug Charges After Traffic Stop
February 1, 2024
A Cantonment man is facing multiple drug charges following a traffic stop.
Tyler Jacob Myers, 33 was charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of drug paraphernalia, and introduction of a controlled substance into a detention facility.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office stopped a vehicle in which Myers was a passenger after it was clocked at 65 mph in a 45 mph zone on Pensacola Boulevard near I-10.
After a K-9 alerted on the vehicle, deputies found Xanax inside of a backpack located in the passenger floorboard between Myers’ legs and a straw with a white residue that tested positive for cocaine, according to an arrest report.
While Myers was being booked into the Escambia County Jail, a corrections officer discovered a small plastic bag in his pocket with a powder that tested positive for fentanyl, the report continues.
Myers remained in jail without bond after his bond was revoked in a November cocaine possession case.
The driver of the vehicle was cited for speed and driving with a suspended license.
Cantonment Man Charged With Leading Deputies On High Speed Pursuit
January 31, 2024
A Cantonment man is facing multiple charges after allegedly leading Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies on a high speed pursuit.
Robert Eugene Royce, 65, was charged with fleeing and eluding at a high speed without regard for safety and driving with a suspended license.
An Escambia County deputy attempted to stop Royce’s 2005 Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck after an illegal U-turn on Mobile Highway. A deputy activated his emergency lights and siren at Mobile Highway and Green Street before coming to a stop at Green and Cervantes streets, according to an arrest report. Deputies said Royce began yelling something unintelligible and drove off. Royce continued to drive away at speeds of more than 80 mph and drove into oncoming lanes of traffic, the report continues. Deputies then called off the pursuit.
Deputies were later able to identify Royce as the man that fled, according to the ECSO, and an arrest warrant was issued.
Royce remained jailed with bond set at $6,000.