Latest news with #St.LucieCountySheriff'sOffice
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Florida child found dead inside home after two-week absence from school, deputies say
The Brief A 6-year-old child was found dead during a welfare check at a St. Lucie County home. The child had been missing from school since May 14, prompting concern. Authorities are treating the case as a suspicious death and continue to investigate. ORLANDO, Fla. - Authorities in Florida are investigating the death of a 6-year-old child who was found deceased inside a home Friday morning after being absent from school for more than two weeks. What we know Deputies from the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office discovered the body of a 6-year-old child during a welfare check at a home on Bedford Drive around 10 a.m. on Friday, May 30. The welfare check was prompted by concerns raised by a School Resource Deputy after the child had been absent from school for more than two weeks. The child was found dead inside a bedroom, and investigators are treating the case as a suspicious death. What we don't know Authorities have not released the child's identity or the cause of death. No arrests have been made, and no suspects have been named. It is also unclear whether there were prior welfare concerns or previous involvement by child protective services. The backstory The child had not been seen at school since May 14 and the absence raised alarms for school staff, leading the School Resource Deputy to request a welfare check. Upon arrival at the residence, deputies encountered the child's mother, who led them to the room where the child was found deceased. Timeline The child's last known attendance at school was on May 14. On May 30, deputies conducted a welfare check and discovered the body. The sheriff's office publicly announced the investigation later that day. What they're saying Few details have been released by the sheriff's office. "This incident is being investigated as a suspicious death at this time," the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office said in a statement on social media. "The investigation is active and ongoing. There is no threat to the community." STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source This story was written based on information shared by the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office,
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Yahoo
Florida cold case victim ID'd 38 years after execution-style killing, authorities say
The Brief The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office has identified the victim of a 1986 cold case homicide as Blaine Louis Brown, Jr., also known as "Bunny." Brown, 39, was found bound and fatally shot in an execution-style killing, with robbery ruled out as a motive, authorities said. Despite initial investigations, no suspects were ever identified, and Brown was buried as a John Doe in Fort Pierce. ORLANDO, Fla. - The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office Cold Case Unit has positively identified the victim of a 1986 cold case homicide. What we know Authorities in St. Lucie County have identified the victim of a 1986 cold case homicide as Blaine Louis Brown, Jr., nicknamed "Bunny." Brown was 39 years old when he was found bound and shot multiple times execution-style in a grove near Ralls Road and Selvitz Road. Investigators determined robbery was not a motive because Brown still had a large sum of cash and was dressed in expensive clothing, including Jordache jeans, a Hennessy button-down shirt, and Nocona cowboy boots. What we don't know Despite finally identifying the victim, authorities have yet to name any suspects or determine a clear motive behind Brown's killing. No details have been released regarding any new forensic evidence or leads pointing to who may have committed the crime. The backstory On October 7, 1986, Brown's body was discovered in a secluded grove area. Efforts at the time to identify him failed, and he remained a John Doe for decades. He was eventually buried in Ft. Pierce's public cemetery without a name. Recent work by the Cold Case Unit, likely involving forensic advances, finally led to Brown's identification. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source This story was written based on information shared by the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Yahoo
Miami appoints 30-year law enforcement veteran as new police chief
MIAMI, Okla. – Miami city leaders chose Stephen Sigmon, a 30-year law enforcement veteran, as the city's new police chief. Sigmon was chosen from the 14 applicants. He replaces former Police Chief Thomas Anderson, who retired in November. Sigmon recently retired as the Director of Law Enforcement for the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office in Fort Pierce, Florida, with an operating budget of over $101 million and 785 employees, serving two municipalities, including 330,000 residents. 'I am a native Oklahoman and still have family in the area,' Sigmon said. 'After 35 years in Florida, my wife (a native Floridian) and I are looking to downsize, and I am looking to move back home to Oklahoma.' Sigmon said he was looking for an agency and community where he could become an integral part and use his experiences and mentoring to help the agency grow. 'It is an honor and a privilege to be chosen as the next Chief of the Miami, Oklahoma, Police Department, Sigmon said. 'The organization has a strong foundation of dedication and commitment to public safety and serving the community, and I am excited to be allowed to lead this amazing organization.' Sigmon said he plans to continue building a professional culture that focuses on integrity, responsiveness to community needs, and relationships with community partners. 'I am grateful for this opportunity, and I am excited for the future of the City of Miami, the Miami Police Department, and my family and I becoming part of the community. I believe the Miami Police Department and the City of Miami are a perfect fit for my family.' Stephen Sigmon, Miami Police Chief Sigmon is a graduate of Will Rogers High School in Tulsa and earned a B.A. in Organizational Management at Warner University at Lake Wales, Fl., a Master of Public Administration, Policy Administration at Troy University in Orlando, Fl., and a P.H.D. in Administration/Criminal Justice Concentration at Northcentral University in San Diego, California. He has over 1,000 hours of advanced law enforcement and leadership training. He is a Florida Sheriff's Association's Commanders Academy graduate, now recognized as the premier course of executive study for mid to upper-level criminal justice leaders. Sigmon worked in several positions with the St. Lucie's Sheriff's Office, including Patrol, Special Investigations, Field Training Program Coordinator, and a member of the Agency's SWAT Team. He has also served in several supervisory positions with the agency, including Patrol Operations Watch Commander and Division Commander, Commander of the General Investigations Section, Criminal Investigations Division, and Commander of the Professional Standards Division, which includes Accreditation, Training, and Human Resources. Sigmon retired as the Director of Law Enforcement Operations for the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office. 'Our goal was to hire a new Chief of Police to work toward building better relationships with our community and who will implement new policing strategies and policies for the well-being and safety of our community and our law enforcement team, 'Miami City Manager Tyler Cline said, 'We're excited to welcome Stephen Sigmon, his wife and family to Miami and know they will become an important part of our community.' Sigmon and his wife Melissa have two sons: Tyler, an assistant superintendent for a solar farm construction company, and Zachariah, who plays baseball at Florida A&M University. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
25-02-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office to get enhanced immigration enforcement capabilities
St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office to get enhanced immigration enforcement capabilities Show Caption Hide Caption Sheriff Richard Del Toro discusses arrests in 2022 homicide St. Lucie County Sheriff Richard Del Toro on Feb. 20, 2025, discusses the arrests one day earlier of Lonnie Bee Smalls III and Zeggeree White in connection with the November 2022 fatal shooting of 23-year-old Vincent Rashawn Green Jr. The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office is participating in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's 287(g) program. The program steps up state and local law enforcement agencies' immigration enforcement capabilities The Florida Sheriffs Association on Monday stated all county jails in the state have signed agreements with ICE ST. LUCIE COUNTY − The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office now is participating in a federal program that enhances the agency's abilities in immigration-related enforcement initiatives, the sheriff said last week. Sheriff Richard Del Toro, elected in November 2024, has said his agency applied under former President Joe Biden's administration about a year or so ago to take part in what is known as the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's 287(g) program. The program 'enhances the safety and security of our nation's communities by allowing ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) to partner with state and local law enforcement agencies to identify and remove criminal aliens who are amenable to removal from the U.S.,' according to ICE. Del Toro stated immigration has been a significant issue for President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, on Monday the Florida Sheriffs Association reported all county jails in the state have signed an agreement with ICE 'to ensure compliance with 287(g) program requirements.' Sheriff's offices in Martin and Indian River counties signed agreements to participate in 2020 and 2019, respectively, according to ICE. President Trump in January signed an executive order requiring ICE 'to authorize state and local law enforcement officials, as the Secretary of Homeland Security determines are qualified and appropriate, under section 287(g) … to the maximum extent permitted by law.' Arrest in toddler death: Mother, fiance arrested after toddler fatally shoots himself in Port St. Lucie 'Menace to society': Sheriff's office announces arrests of two men in November 2022 fatal shooting Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on X @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. E-mail him at
