Latest news with #19thJudicialCircuit
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
State Attorney, St. Lucie Sheriff announce reopening of 2006 Florida's Turnpike murders case
ST. LUCIE COUNTY −Sheriff Richard Del Toro and 19th Judicial Circuit State Attorney Thomas Bakkedahl announced the reopening of the 2006 Escobedo family murder case during a morning news conference May 27. State and local officials plan to begin proceedings to prosecute and seek the death penalty against Daniel "Homer" Troya, 42, and Ricardo 'Ricky' Sanchez, Jr., 41, whose federal death sentences for the 2006 drug-related slayings of a family on Florida's Turnpike in St. Lucie County were commuted by former President Joe Biden The federal death sentences of Daniel "Homer" Troya, 42, and Ricardo 'Ricky' Sanchez, Jr., 41, were commuted in December 2024." "We're up to the task and we're going to do it," Bakkedahl said. "We will leave no stone unturned, no avenue unpursued. Our pursuit of justice for Damien and Julian." The men were sentenced to death in 2009 for their involvement in the drug-related slaughter of the Escobedo family - Jose, 28, and Yessica Escobedo, 25, who were living in Greenacres in Palm Beach County with their two sons, Luis Damien, 3, and Luis Julian, 4. "It is a pursuit of justice," Bakkedahl said. "This is not political." This story will be updated. Escobedo murders: Prosecutors to pursue death penalty Editorial: Trump, Biden undermine justice with Florida Turnpike killers Melissa E. Holsman is the legal affairs reporter for TCPalm and Treasure Coast Newspapers and is writer and co-host of "Uncertain Terms," a true-crime podcast. Reach her at This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: State death penalty sought in 2006 Escobedo turnpike murders in SLC
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Yahoo
Florida judge arrested on DUI charge, found with cocaine during traffic stop: affidavit
JENSEN BEACH, Fla. (WFLA) — A Florida judge will appear on the other side of the courtroom after a traffic stop led to his arrest earlier this week. Brett Waronicki, a circuit judge for Florida's 19th Judicial Circuit in Fort Pierce, was arrested Wednesday on charges of DUI and possession of drug paraphernalia. 'Bulldozing and erasing history': More unmarked graves detected at Tropicana Field Deputies with the Martin County Sheriff's Office spotted a Ford F-150 swerving in a lane, striking the fog line and a bike lane several times and going through a roundabout without any lights on around 10:41 p.m. on NW Jensen Beach Blvd. When Waronicki was pulled over, authorities noted a strong alcoholic smell on his breath, bloodshot, watery eyes, slurred 'thick tongue' speech, body tremors and trouble sitting still, the affidavit said. The judge told deputies he was going to pick up two friends and head back to his home, before admitting he had had two vodka drinks, having his last drink at 6:30 that night. Court documents show Waronicki did not want to do field sobriety exercises because he 'did nothing wrong,' and refused an alcohol breath test. 1 dead, 1 hospitalized in Lakeland bar shooting A K-9 searched Waronicki's vehicle, discovering cocaine residue in Waronicki's wallet. The circuit judge was taken to the Martin County Jail, along with the two passengers in his vehicle, who were also cited for possession of cocaine. A statement from the 19th Judicial Circuit, obtained by NBC affiliate WPTV, read in part: All cases currently assigned to Circuit Judge Brett M. Waronicki will be re-noticed for hearing before a temporary duty judge, when available, consistent with the chief judge's authority under court rules. The chief judge will take steps to ensure the speedy, efficient, and proper administration of pending and filed cases within the circuit. Litigants with questions regarding any schedule changes to upcoming hearings may visit the St. Lucie Clerk of Court website to locate up-to-date information. According to WPTV, two people came forward about Waronicki's drug use. For several weeks, narcotics investigators with the sheriff's office have been looking into the judge. Waronicki is scheduled to appear in court on May 22. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
