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Miami Herald
28-02-2025
- Miami Herald
Dad called fatal shooting of 5-year-old an accident, Florida cops say. He's convicted
A dad fired five shots as his two kids were lying in a bunk bed, killing his 5-year-old daughter and wounding his 8-year-old son, Florida authorities said. The 32-year-old father said it was an accident, but a jury has now convicted him of first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder and aggravated child abuse in the 2022 incident, according to the Florida State Attorney's Office for the 13th Judicial Circuit. McClatchy News is not identifying the dad to protect the identity of his surviving son. 'What happened on that day is very tragic and sad, but my client did not shoot his children,' defense attorney Jennifer Spradley told the jury during opening statements broadcast by Court TV. Spradley said the 8-year-old boy's DNA was also on the gun, leading to 'more questions ... than answers.' Defense attorneys declined to comment to McClatchy News. First responders arrived at the Hillsborough County home the evening of Aug. 29, 2022, to find the father in the living room holding his 8-year-old son, who had a gunshot wound to the head, according to an affidavit. The mom had left the home to call 911, as neighbors also called in reports of gunfire, officials said. Deputies said the dad told them to call paramedics and that no one else was in the home, but when they went upstairs, they found his 5-year-old daughter lying in bed with multiple gunshot wounds, including one in the middle of her forehead. 'He didn't beg them to go save her,' State Attorney Suzy Lopez said in closing statements. 'He didn't beg them to help her. He said nothing happened upstairs.' The dad told investigators he was trying to remove the magazine from his semiautomatic Glock when the gun 'went off,' deputies said. But detectives found five bullet casings in the bedroom, which didn't align with his statement that the shooting was an accidental discharge, according to the affidavit. Both his children had gunshot wounds to the head, deputies said. 'Those are aimed, precise, deliberate bullet holes,' Lopez said. 'That is not an accident. That is not loading the firearm and it going off.' The 8-year-old boy was awake and complaining that his head hurt when first responders arrived, and he was rushed to a hospital in critical condition, deputies said. The brother survived, but his sister did not. The girl was a kindergarten student and cheerleader who loved butterflies and eating cinnamon rolls for breakfast, according to her obituary. Her grandmother described her as 'precious and lovable.' The jury found the father guilty on all charges Feb. 27, and he'll go to prison for life, prosecutors said. Hillsborough County includes the Tampa Bay area.
Miami Herald
27-02-2025
- Miami Herald
Man staying with 13-year-old's family rapes her, gives her Plan B, Florida cops say
A man staying with family friends raped their 13-year-old daughter, gave her a Plan B pill and threatened to kill her if she told anyone, Florida authorities said. A judge sentenced 34-year-old Robert McGuire Jr. to 18 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual battery upon a person 12 to 18 involving threat of retaliation, the Florida State Attorney's Office for the Fifth Judicial Circuit announced Feb. 26. McGuire's attorney declined to comment to McClatchy News. McGuire had been living in the family's spare room for about six months when a teen girl told her teachers one Monday in October 2021 that McGuire had raped her twice in the last two days, deputies with the Hernando County Sheriff's Office wrote in an arrest affidavit. When deputies spoke to one of the teachers, she said the teen shared that 'this was happening just about every weekend' when McGuire would drink, according to the affidavit. The teen specifically referenced incidents from two separate nights over the weekend, deputies said. McGuire is accused of entering her room, choking her until she couldn't breathe and raping her, then threatening to kill her if she ever told anyone. The teen said she told McGuire 'someone would find out,' but he said if he went to prison he would kill her when he got out, according to deputies. A day after the second incident, the teen said McGuire gave her a Plan B pill and she took it, deputies said. One witness noted the teen had been quiet for a few days before the girl shared what happened during the car ride on the way home from school, according to investigators. The girl's parents reported it to law enforcement. Investigators obtained footage from a CVS showing McGuire buying the morning after pill, and DNA evidence implicated him in the crimes, prosecutors said. After initially pleading not guilty, McGuire kicked off a three-year legal process before eventually changing his plea Feb. 20, records show. Hernando County is about a 75-mile drive west from Orlando.
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Yahoo
Man sentenced to 30 years in prison on fentanyl trafficking charge: State Attorney
ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG) — A man was sentenced to 30 years in prison for a fentanyl trafficking charge in Escambia County, according to the Florida State Attorney's Office. Man injured during fight at Super Bowl party, Escambia County Sheriff's deputies say According to a news release, Raymond Demarcus Durant was found guilty on Feb. 5, 2025, of trafficking more than 28 grams of fentanyl. The release said on Feb. 2, 2024, law enforcement officials executed a search warrant at a home where Durant was at the time. Officials said they found 'evidence of illegal drug dealing' — including scales, a money-counting machine, cash. Over 36 grams of fentanyl, they said, was located after it was hidden in a charcoal grill. Police departments in Baldwin County warn about 'jury duty scam' calls According to Florida's drug trafficking statutes, 25 of the 30 years is 'minimum mandatory.' Durant will also have to pay $500,000 in fines, according to the release. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
