SRSO: Man Brutally Killed His Girlfriend, Kept Her Body In His Home For Two Days
August 11, 2020
A Santa Rosa County man killed his girlfriend and kept her body inside his house for two days, according to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.
Jerry Geisler Odum was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail without bond on a charge of first degree premeditated murder for the death of 59-year old Vicky May Edge.
An arrest report released Monday reveals details about the murder.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office responded to 5646 Vendome Court in Milton for a welfare check. When deputies tried to make contact with Odum at his front door, he started to exit the home through garage door. Deputies walked into the garage and asked him where to find Edge.
“She is inside, but I have to tell you something first,” Odum said, according to arrest report. Deputies asked how she died, and he responded, “I’d rather not say without a lawyer.”
Edge’s body was found inside the home, where deputies believed she had been for two days.
When interviewed later by deputies, Odum said he told Edge around 10:30 a.m. Thursday that he had a “surprise for her” and a blanket was placed over her head.
Much what Odum said is redacted from the arrest report, but it implies that Edge was beaten with a baseball bat. Edge told investigators that he purchased the baseball bat “in the middle of the week last week”, which the report states was the first week of August.
Odum said Edge had been at his residence for about two weeks. He stated he gave her a $15,000 check for their planned wedding, but he knew he did not have enough money in the bank, the report state.
After the incident, Odum said he took their dog and rode around for a while before returning to the residence where he dropped off the dog and left for Crestview to stay the night in a hotel room, according to the report. Odum stated that he got up on Friday morning and drove from the motel room back to his residence to “check on her”. He stated that he did not know what else to do. He let the dog out and visited with neighbors.
According to the arrest report, Odum also told deputies that he removed the license plate from Edge’s vehicle because he did not want anyone to see because he was not ready to tell anyone yet.
Atmore Woman Charged With Murder Months After Her Sister’s Decomposed Body Was Found
August 11, 2020
The Atmore Police Department has charged a local woman after the decomposed body of her sister was found inside a mobile home back in March.
Josephine Gaines, 34, was taken into custody after a traffic stop and escaping officers. She is charged with murder and escape third degree.
On Sunday, Atmore Police officers conducted a traffic stop on South Main Street and identified a passenger in the vehicle as Gaines, who had outstanding murder warrant. She was taken to the Atmore City Jail but fled on foot from the officer that was escorting her inside the building. She was taken back into custody after a short foot chase.
About 10:20 p.m. on March 26, the Atmore Police Department responded to 71 Jones Street after receiving a call about a burglary in progress call at the home. Officers surrounded the residence and then observed that it had been forcibly entered.
“Officers entered the home and began doing a room by room search for any violators,” Atmore Police Chief Brooks said. “Officers then discovered in one of the bedrooms a badly decomposing body believed to be a female.”
Using dental records, the victim was later identified by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences as Vandoren Daily.
Atmore Police investigators learned during the investigation the victim was left alone in the home for several months by Gaines and was unable to care for herself, Brooks said. Investigators found documents that indicated Gaines was responsible for her sister’s care
Blackwater Fish Hatchery Celebrating 80 Years (With Photo Gallery)
August 11, 2020
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)’s Blackwater Hatchery recently celebrated 80 years of operation.
Since 1940, Blackwater has produced tens of millions of fingerling and subadult freshwater fish that have been stocked in Florida’s freshwater lakes and rivers. The hatchery is in Santa Rosa County, approximately five miles west of Holt, within the Blackwater River State Forest.
Original construction of what was then known as the Blackwater River State Fish Hatchery and Game Farm began in the late 1930s as a joint project between the then-Florida Board of Forestry and the U.S Department of Agriculture. The project was completed in 1940 and turned over to the former Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission to manage and develop production techniques. Species produced at the hatchery include largemouth bass, Gulf Coast striped bass, white bass, hybrid bass, shoal bass, black crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish, channel catfish and threadfin shad.
Today, Blackwater Hatchery produces and stocks between 600,000 and 1 million fingerling and subadult freshwater fish annually in public waterbodies throughout Florida to meet conservation goals and the needs of anglers. All hybrid striped bass and Gulf Coast striped bass stocked by the FWC in Florida waters originate from spawning conducted at the hatchery. The FWC is part of a tri-state agreement to conserve and restore the Gulf Coast striped bass population. The only remaining Gulf Coast striped bass populations found in northwest Florida coastal rivers today are a result of fish produced and stocked by the hatchery.
Recently, Blackwater Hatchery has begun investigating techniques for successfully spawning shoal bass in hatchery ponds. Shoal bass are a riverine species of black bass and Florida’s only pure population is found in the Chipola River. Due to limited suitable habitat and their restricted range, shoal bass are listed as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need. The shoal bass population in the Chipola River and its tributaries were negatively impacted by Hurricane Michael. Development of successful hatchery spawning and rearing techniques will be important in ensuring the long-term health and survival of this population.
Photos courtesy FWC for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Coin Shortage: County Says Pay With Exact Change At Perdido Landfill, Oak Grove Center
August 11, 2020
Until further notice, Escambia County is asking citizens to use exact change when paying fees for waste services.
The county said that due to a nationwide coin shortage, they are able to provide change only if they can obtain coins from their bank.
If they can’t obtain coins, payments need to be made with exact change or by check at the Perdido Landfill and the Oak Grove Convenience Center. Debit and credit cars are also accepted at the Perdido Landfill.
The Oak Grove Convenience Center is only only on Fridays and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
Suspect Charged In Multiple Auto Burglaries
August 11, 2020
The Atmore Police Department has made an arrest in connection with several recent car burglaries.
Rodarius Tyrig Dailey, age 22 of Atmore, was charged with five counts of breaking and entering a vehicle, six counts of theft of property third degree and give counts of theft of property fourth degree.
“The arrest stems from complaints from citizens who reported their vehicles had been burglarized and personal items stolen,” Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks said. The vehicle burglaries occurred July 24, July 25 and August 4.
Jail records indicated he was being held with bond set at $25,000.
First Sea Turtles Of The Year Hatch On Pensacola Beach
August 10, 2020
Pensacola Beach saw its first sea turtle hatch of the season Sunday night. Approximately 129 loggerhead hatchlings emerged on the county-patrolled portion of Pensacola Beach and made their way to the Gulf of Mexico.
Sea turtles nest May through October along the Gulf Coast and nests incubate for around 60 days. Once the sun sets, hatchlings emerge all at once and make their way to the Gulf of Mexico. They will spend their first few days in a swimming frenzy to escape the many predators found in nearshore waters. Safer in the open ocean, they will use floating mats of algae to hide and feed until they are big enough to return to nearshore areas.
Sea turtle hatchlings face many threats long before they reach the water. Bright lights from homes, flashlights and cars can lead hatchlings away from the Gulf and into danger. Nearly 60% of hatchlings will be disorientated before reaching the Gulf of Mexico.
Forgotten furniture, toys, sandcastles, and holes can trap hatchlings, causing injury, starvation, and dehydration. Food and other waste left on the beach attracts gulls, crows, stray dogs, and coyotes who also prey on hatchling turtles.
Escambia County recommends the following to protect sea turtles:
- Lights Out! Both hatchlings and nesting turtles need dark beaches to find the Gulf of Mexico. Leave the flashlights and cell phones at home or use a red flashlight when on the beach at night. Turn off beach-facing lights and close windows and curtains to keep our beaches dark.
- Leave No Trace! Remove all furniture and toys from the beach when you’re done for the day, including hammocks, tents, canopies, chairs, toys and sports equipment.
- Stow It, Don’t Throw it! Trash and food waste can entangle turtles and other wildlife and attract unwanted predators. Always dispose of trash in the proper receptacle and refrain from feeding wildlife.
If you see a nest hatching or encounter hatchlings turtles on the beach, stay a respectful distance away and call Escambia County Marine Resources at 850- 426-1257.
Census Takers Will Be Knocking On Doors Beginning Tuesday. 39% Of Escambia Residents Have Not Responded.
August 10, 2020
Have your filled out your 2020 census? If not you may get a knock at the door soon. Census workers across the country will begin follow-up work on Tuesday, August 11.
In Florida 60.1% of people have complete their census response online, by phone or by mail. In Escambia County, 61% have responded.
In the two cities in Escambia County, 64.7% of Pensacola residents have completed the census, while 46.8% of Century residents have responded.
Households can still respond now by completing and mailing back the paper questionnaire they received, by responding online at 2020census.gov, or by phone at 844-330-2020. Households can also respond online or by phone in one of 13 languages and find assistance in many more. Those that respond will not need to be visited to obtain their census response.
The Census Bureau will provide face masks to census takers and requires that census takers wear a mask while conducting their work. They will follow CDC and local public health guidelines when they visit. Census takers must complete a virtual COVID-19 training on social distancing protocols and other health and safety guidance before beginning their work in neighborhoods.
Census takers are hired from local communities. All census takers speak English, and many are bilingual. If a census taker does not speak the householder’s language, the household may request a return visit from a census taker who does. Census takers will also have materials on hand to help identify the household’s language.
If no one is home when the census taker visits, they will leave a notice of their visit with information about how to respond online, by phone or by mail. People are encouraged to cooperate with census takers and ensure that everyone who was living in their household as of April 1, 2020, is counted.
Census takers can be easily identified by a valid government ID badge with their photograph, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark, and an expiration date on the badge. To confirm a census taker’s identity, the public may contact their regional census center to speak with a Census Bureau representative.
Additional COVID-19 Death Reported In Escambia County, Alabama
August 10, 2020
Another confirmed COVID-19 death was reported Sunday in Escambia County, Alabama.
The county’s death toll now stands at 17.
There have been 1,082 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Escambia County, Alabama, with 244 of those in the past 14 days.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Florida Gas Prices Back Off 20-Week Highs
August 10, 2020
Florida gas prices are beginning to trickle lower. Retail prices are backing off from the 20-week high of nearly $2.16 per gallon, which was just over a week ago.
The state average declined 3 cents per gallon last week. Florida drivers are now paying an average price of nearly $2.13 per gallon.
In Escambia County, the average price per gallon is $2.07, down from $2.09 a week ago and on par with one month ago. A year ago, Escambia County drivers were paying $2.51.
The lowest price per gallon in North Escambia Sunday night was $1.97 at Highway 29 an Muscogee Road in Cantonment. Two wholesale clubs were at $1.82 Sunday night in Pensacola.
“Florida drivers continue to enjoy unusually low gas prices for this time of year,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “The cost for a full tank of gas is about $5 less than it was this time last year. The pandemic’s effect on fuel demand continues to weigh on crude oil and wholesale gasoline prices, preventing any monumental gains. Low oil prices make it cheaper to produce and sell gasoline.”
Over 2.2K Early Voting Ballots Cast Over The Weekend (With Location List)
August 10, 2020
There were 519 ballots cast in early voting Sunday in Escambia County, bringing the weekend total to 2,231.
There have also been 18,599 mail ballots returned for a nearly 12% turnout to date with 20,831 total ballots cast.
Early voting will continue until next Saturday, August 15 at the following locations:
- Escambia County Extension, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
- Molino Community Center, 6450-A Highway 95A, Molino
- University of West Florida Conference Center, Building 22, University Parkway
- Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds, 6655 Mobile Highway
- Genealogy Branch Library, 5740 B, 9th Avenue
- Supervisor of Elections Office, 213 Palafox Place, Second Floor
- Pensacola Library, 239 N Spring Street
- Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway
- Brownsville Community Center, 3200 W. DeSoto Street
Each location will be open from from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m., with the exception of the Supervisor of Elections Office which will be open 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Primary election day is Tuesday, August 18.