BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. A death investigation is underway on Merritt Island after a body was discovered, according to the Brevard County Sheriffs Office. ), discovered a womans body floating in the water. Gallop is a Criminal Justice/Breaking News Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Stearns is behind bars at the Brevard County Jail Complex, facing second-degree murder, tampering with evidence, and mutilation of a dead body charges. Laterthe man's bodywas located and pulled from the water. Takhari and Saion'sdeaths are twoof seven child deaths in 2020, according to statistics provided by the Brevard County medical examiner. In all but one of these deaths, arrests were made. DCF was also called Nov. 3 last year about a criminal allegation involving Beckham-Williams and another child. The search, involving several agencies, has been working nonstop to find Evans. MARTIN COUNTY Sheriff's deputieschecking on awoman at her son's home in Palm City Sundayfound her fatally shot in the back of the head, according to reports and Martin County Sheriff William Snyder. Detectives in Martin County are still investigating Christine Ruffin's murder,Snydersaid. Brevard County sheriff's deputies say they're working a suspicious death after a body was found by a boater in the Banana River. The body of 18-year-old Benjamin Pierre Gilles was recovered from the surf in Melbourne Beach at approximately 7:30 a.m . Arrest made after woman's body found floating in Indian River - WKMG Ocean drownings have increased in Brevard so far this year over last year; experts explain why, Titusville police investigate body found at marina, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. There were also at least two arrests made this year involving 2020 deaths. 2023 www.floridatoday.com. BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. - An 18-year-old swimmer who disappeared into the surf last week was discovered dead on a Brevard County beach, according to sheriff's officials. Ruffin, who she said had been her boyfriend for nine years, had packed a bag and left the house on foot. Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Both cases that we went to there was no violence," Snyder said. York City man's remains found in burned-out vehicle in Virginia How did a 4-year-old foster child, bounced from 5 different homes, end up dead? Deputies found herbody around 2 p.m. Sundayafter receiving a call to do a wellness check at thePalm City home, Snydersaid. Brent Huck's Dog Helped Convict Him Of Misty Morse Murder | Crime News 2023 www.floridatoday.com. + Caption. @USCGSoutheast coast guard confirms body recovered 8 miles southeast of #capecanaveral this afternoon is that of diver Jim Evans, who went missing Friday while 30 miles off #DaytonaBeach. The judge called the Brevard County Sheriff's Office, whose officers raced to the scene. Florida Today - Melbourne police say a woman's body was - Facebook Rexburg Police DepartmentA piece of Lori Vallow's hair was found stuck on duct tape used to wrap the body of her 7-year-old son before he was buried in her soon-to-be husband's Idaho backyard, a DNA expert revealed in court Monday.Keeley Coleman, a senior DNA analyst at Bode Technology in Virginia, told Ada County jurors on Monday that she tested three DNA profiles in connection with . Body discovered in Merritt Island; Brevard County Sheriff's Office Police officers placeda northeast neighborhood in Palm Bay on lockdown after reports theman was roaming the area with a gun. 24-year-old man found dead in Mims, deputies say - WKMG Between May and October of 2020, DCF responded to calls about neglect allegations five times, with one of those calls involving a bruise to Takhari's face, Moya said. Alex Murdaugh Special Treatment Behind Bars? Police arrested Daniel Stearns, 32, in connection with the victim's death. DCF did not alert Palm Bay to three of those incidents, Moya said. The Brevard County Sheriff's Office is attempting to locate a missing/endangered adult. The News 6+ Takeover showcases the latest headlines, news, current events, weather and more. Several shell casings were also found on the floor near Wigfall's body, records show. The sheriffs office said homicide agents and crime scene investigators were called Saturday to an area near Schoolhouse Street and Houston Lane. A 400-pound female loggerhead sea turtle was fatally struck by vehicles on State Road A1A in Brevard County. Bride killed, groom critically injured after wedding reception when drunken driver hits golf cart, Gov. The shooting was Brevard County's 18 th reported homicide since January. Athena Blevins, a Titusville toddler, drowned Feb. 14after she reportedly fell into a pool while her mother and her mother's boyfriend were sleeping, police said. For unlimited access to breaking news like this and other topics on the Treasure Coast, please support our journalism and subscribe! Policereported there was evidence he had been dead for some time when they found his body. Walker was arrested April 20 in Brevard County on the east coast of Florida, just east . Since publication, a seventh death was discovered. Police then tracked Stearns going from his Palm Bay home to The Compound, where he allegedly disposed of evidence. Read: 2 injured after motorcyclist crashes into abandoned car on I-95, troopers say. He was in full scuba gear with the wet suit and spear gun and everything and never resurfaced, Evans' uncle David Smith said.The friends who were with him contacted the Coast Guard around 2 p.m. Friday. The article has been updated to reflect that number. The Florida Department of Health in Brevard County said the enteric bacteria, which normally inhabits the intestinal tracts of humans and animals, poses a potential health risk to beachgoers and swimming is not recommended. Charlotte Rockey, a toddler living on the Melbourne/Palm Bay border, was found unresponsive July 28in a trailer where her mother, her mother's boyfriend and their friend lived. 'Joy wasn't worth it': How did a 4-year-old foster child, bounced from 5 different homes, end up dead? Brevard County Sheriff's Office patrol vehicle. The NWS says they will publish an EF rating tomorrow. Foster kids starved, beaten and molested, reports show. A body was pulled from the ocean near Indialantic Tuesday afternoon, according to Brevard County Fire Rescue. All rights reserved. Palm Bay police were involved in three of those five calls. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. State law mandates that suspected cases of abuse be immediately reported to police or to Florida's state DCF. 1:57. Deputies were called to Ruffin'shome twice in February, records show. Copyright 2023 ClickOrlando.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. TITUSVILLE, Fla. - An arrest has been made in the death of a woman whose body was found floating in the Indian River near Titusville, according to the Brevard County Sheriff's Office. . Palm Bay police were not involved, Moya said. Hopefully, I never get to experience it again, the surfer said. Support local journalism. Hedid not have any apparent injuries. FAA overruled engineers to let Boeing 737 Max keep flying, report alleges. A response team recovered his body and took it to the medical examiner's office for identification. Brevard County Police investigate death at Playalinda Beach on Sunday. The Week. The News 6+ Takeover showcases the latest headlines, news, current events, weather and more. Subscribe today. The medical examiner reported four confirmed child homicides in 2017. Lance . "He went out lobstering off-shore about 30 miles. While peering through the blinds, a deputy saw what appeared to be blood around (Ruffin) nose and mouth area.. Listen to a related episode below. The Coast Guard confirmed a body found Tuesday in the ocean near Port Canaveral in Brevard County is Daytona Beach attorney Jim Evans.Coast Guard officials say Evans' body was spotted about 8 . 18-year-old, Destanie Zamjahn-Shoemaker was last seen on Sunday, April 16, 2023, when she left her residence in Grant, Florida. His arrival was the realization of a three-year effort to return to the state where his career began. Mauricio La Plante is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm focusing on Martin County and Melissa E. Holsman is legal affairs reporter for TCPalm. They found himaround 4 p.m. Sunday near Babcock Street. They also found that Noah was removed from school in March of 2020, though they were unaware of the reason. When deputies got Ruffin on the phone, he said he was with his girlfriend and traveling to see a doctor in Miami, where he had recently lived, a report stated. Body found at Florida beach identified as missing teenager, officials say Only one child homicide case was confirmed in 2019, according to the medical examiner, with zero cases in 2018. The Brevard County Sheriff's Office is investigating a reported dead body discovered in Merritt Island Tuesday evening. It was not immediately known what actions DCF took regarding either broken leg. A six-story hotel with a parking garage and swimming pools could dramatically change the look of the Cocoa Beach Pier. The million-plus people who live along the Indian River Lagoon take unknown doses of medications each day for everything from ordinary aches and pains to life-threatening infections., according to News 6's partners at Florida Today. The News 6+ Takeover showcases the latest headlines, news, current events, weather and more. Snyder said the "apparent suspect" in the murder, was the woman's son, Christopher Ruffin, 28, who was fatally shot during a standoff with Palm Bay police and Brevard County sheriff's deputies. James joined News 6 in March 2016 as the Brevard County Reporter. The Brevard County Sheriffs Office said Wednesday the body was a 56-year-old woman who was homeless. During the first four calls, it was either determined that Takhari was not in danger, or DCF failed to gain contact with Beckham-Williams, Moya said. 2023 FOX Television Stations, 'I nearly died': Florida man attacks another man with golf club on Lake County course, deputies say, Buckeye woman stung more than 75 times during family photo shoot, first responders say, Larry 'Gator' Rivers, Harlem Globetrotter legend from Georgia, dies at 73, Downtown Orlando bars now need special permit to sell alcohol after midnight, 2 high schoolers killed, 4 others hurt in shooting at house party in Mississippi, 8 fun things to do in Central Florida for $20 or less, Here are the top restaurants of Central Florida in 2023, 5 secret bars worth finding in Central Florida, Caught on Camera: Apopka motor sales business targeted by thieves for 9th time, owners say, Van used to transport elderly stolen in Volusia County. Investigators said the body was discovered by a boater east of Morningside Drive at around 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday. More:Police fatally wound armed man who has suspected links to Martin County homicide. It's apparently a pretty popular spot. Ron DeSantis is making an announcement in Titusville, Arcturus: New COVID-19 variant spreading in the U.S with new symptom, Residents say Orange County middle school dismissal plaguing neighborhood with issues, Boy, 14, dies after being shot over the weekend at Dezerland Park on I-Drive in Orlando. Christine said that she just wanted Christopher to calm down and thought having deputies respond to speak with him would be a good solution, deputies noted. Howery was reported missing on February 18, from the Indian Harbour Beach area, Click Orlando reports, after failing to pick up her children. Since then, bacteria at the Cocoa Beach Pier returned to acceptable levels, based on a sample taken April 25. Evans was well known local attorney. Tags: brevard county, airboat, news, death investigation. The sheriff's office said the body of 24-year-old Teaon Sanders, of Titusville, was found around 8:30 a.m . Christine stated that Christopher was upset about not being able to see a doctor in reference to his diagnosis, a report stated. Swimming alert lifted after fecal bacteria found in water near Cocoa In the past two years, Brevard has seen a total of 13confirmed child homicides, with seven in 2020 and six in 2021, according to statistics from the Brevard medical examiner. The U.S. Coast Guard announced that the Brevard County Sheriffs Office has suspended search efforts for a swimmer last seen off Indialantic on Friday, pending new information. The News 6+ Takeover showcases the latest headlines, news, current events, weather and more. Jameson Nance, a West Melbourne 3-year-old, died June 11 with numerous injuries. Support local journalism. J.D. Body found near roadway in Mims identified; authorities investigating Joy was shuffled around homes through Brevard Family Partnership, a Brevard nonprofit that partnerswith DCF to managethe county's child welfare system. If you need help with the Public File, call 407-291-6000. Photo by Tyler Vazquez, Florida Today. Body found on Paradise Beach in Melbourne - wesh.com His mother, Erica Dotson, and her boyfriend, Joshua Manns, were indicted by a grand jury in Julyon charges of first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, aggravated manslaughter of a child and child abuse. It was the second death to occur at the beach since May when a 58-year-old Kissimmee man died during an attempt to save an 11-year-old struggling to swim in the waves. An autopsy could happen Thursday to confirm if the woman drowned. Unlock unlimited digital access to floridatoday.com Click here and subscribe today. Purple Alert issued for 18-year-old woman reported missing in Brevard (Copyright 2022 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved. Brenda Argueta is a digital journalist who joined ClickOrlando.com in March 2021. And because he was on his way to see a doctor, deputies left after all parties stated and agreed that nothing physical occurred during this incident., Three days earlier on Feb. 14, Ruffins girlfriend called 911 and stated he was suffering from an altered state of mind and had been acting differently for the past couple of months., Ruffin, she said, was paranoid and had been diagnosed with an unidentified mental illness but does not take medication for it.. More:Baker Acts initiated by law enforcement officers cause for constant scrutiny. Brevard County Ocean Rescue officials are stepping up safety warnings for spring-breakers after the body of an 18-year-old who went missing in the rough surf last week off Indialantic was found . Evans, a Daytona Beach attorney, was last seen Friday about 30 miles off Ponce Inlet where he had gone diving with two other people. The victim died from his injuries three days later. Woman Found in River Identified As 22-year-old How did that happen and how long has he been in the water?". Jacob joined ClickOrlando.com in 2022. On Feb. 17, Christine Ruffin called 911 and told deputies her son was causing a verbal disturbance between her and other family members.. Palm Bay Police Chief Nelson Moya said they found evidence of charges and allegations against Dubose, including a possible arrestin 2013 for child abuse ofNoah, a possible 2018 allegation out of Massachusetts of child abuse and/or neglect and a confirmed March 2020 allegation through DCF of child abuse against Noah by both Dubose and Godleski. According to the sheriff's office, the body was found . Deputies responded after it was reported the man was in distress while in the surf around 1:30 p.m. Crews announced that they suspended the search efforts for the 18-year-old on Saturday after they looked over 106 square miles. A former Brevard County sheriff's deputy charged with killing a man was found not guilty in a murder trial. Shewas released on bond on Aug. 19. PUBLISHED 2:55 PM ET May 01, 2023. Great Jones Cookware Review: Is It Worth Buying? The body of Ethan Bert, 20, was found in a burning car. According to the Brevard County Sheriff's Office, police found the body of Nancy Howery, 44, in "The Compound," an undeveloped neighborhood spanning 12 square miles in Palm Bay, which has reportedly been the site of multiple crimes. Death investigation underway on Merritt Island - WKMG COCOA BEACH, Fla. - Brevard County health officials lifted a swim advisory for Cocoa Beach Pier nearly a week after fecal bacteria was found in the water. A state commission found probable cause that Rep. Randy Fine (R-Palm Bay) violated ethics rules last year when he allegedly threatened to veto funding to the city of West Melbourne over a . MERRITT ISLAND, Fla. - Brevard County sheriff's deputies said they're working a suspicious death after a body was found by a boater in the Banana River. Florida Today breaking news reporter J.D. + Caption. Records show two deputies checking on Ruffin'shome around 1:30 p.m. Sunday inthe 2700 block of Southwest Circle in the gated Crane Creek community saw a person lying on a couch when they looked through a window, but they got no response when they knocked on the door. 1d ago. Published: April 5, 2023, 5:25 PM Updated: April 5, 2023, 5:48 PM. Letecia Stauch Murder Trial: Stepmoms Bizarre Phone Activity Revealed, Searched for Casey Anthony and Changing Appearance, Thrown over 100 yards: South Carolina Bride Dead, Groom in Critical Condition Moments After Leaving Wedding Reception, subscribe to the Crime Stories with Nancy Grace podcast. Water samples analyzed April 17 and 19 indicated poor water quality, with more than 70 colony-forming units of enterococci per 100 milliliters of marine water found. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. During the fifth call, which Palm Bay police was not involved in, DCF mandated a child protective team examination of Takhari. However, Mitchell was given a corrective action plan that required her to watch videos. 400-pound loggerhead sea turtle struck, killed on State Road A1A in Brevard 2023 www.tcpalm.com. . Palm Bay police discovered during their investigation that DCF had been called on Beckham-Williams at least six times, Moya said. Body of man found in submerged car identified, reported missing this Deputies used Whitneys dock to bring the victim to shore. 0:00. The Brevard County Sheriff's Office is conducting a death investigation after the body of a dead man was found in a pond behind the H&D Roadhouse in the. Melbourne toddler, Palm Bay boy among Brevard County child homicides Florida took thousands of kids from families, then failed to keep them safe. BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. The Brevard County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help in finding an escaped inmate . 0:00. A response team recovered his body and took it to the medical examiner's office for identification.Evans, a Daytona Beach attorney, was last seen Friday about 30 miles off Ponce Inlet where he had gone diving with two other people. It was the last thing I expected. I didnt really know how to react. The Brevard County Sheriff's Office is investigating after they said a body was found on Paradise Beach in Melbourne Tuesday afternoon. Brevard County deputies ask for publics help in locating escaped inmate. The Florida Department of Health in Brevard County previously said on April 21 the enteric bacteria, or enterococci, which normally inhabits the intestinal tracts of humans and animals, posed a potential health risk to beachgoers and swimming is not recommended. Brevard County sheriff's investigators are reviewing the death of a 73-year-old man whose body was pulled from the surf at Playalinda Beach on Sunday. The recent arrest of a 23-year-old man for a deadly shooting during a home invasion is also connected to the investigation of a dogfighting and drug trafficking ring, according to the Brevard County Sheriff's Office. With assistance from the Brevard County sheriff's helicopter, Palm Baypolice searchedbackyards and canal lines in the area. (Copyright 2023 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved. Florida beach drowning: Teen's body found after going missing in ocean 'Last thing I expected:' Surfer recounts finding woman's body floating Christine said that Christopher was getting increasingly agitated with her, and other family members and it was time for him to see a doctor, deputies wrote. Watch FOX 35 Orlando for the latest Central Florida news. Get todays headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: Copyright 2023 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The search, involving several agencies, has been working nonstop to find Evans.Coast Guard crews spent the weekend searching more than 2,300-square nautical miles for Evans but didn't find any signs of him. "It was just like a movie, " said Whitney. Body found in Banana River in Brevard County - WFTV Police haven't saidhow many officers shot at Ruffin, but confirmedfourPalm Bay police officers and one Brevard County sheriff's deputy wereplaced on administrative leave with pay, which is protocol afterofficer-involved shootings. disappeared into the surf last week was discovered dead. Before joining the News 6 team, Samantha was a political reporter for The Villages Daily Sun and has had freelance work featured in the Evansville Courier-Press and The Community Paper. COCOA BEACH, Fla. Brevard County health officials lifted a swim advisory for Cocoa Beach Pier nearly a week after fecal bacteria was found in the water. IN A FACEBOOK POST, FAMILY MEMBERS THANKED ALL WHO SEARCH. Takhari Williams, a 9-month-old boy, died Nov. 15, 2020. According to a news release, Pierre Gilles body was discovered this morning by a person walking on the beach in the 5100 block of A1A. Deputies concluded Ruffin didnt meet the criteria for being Baker Acted. The medical examiner listedthe cause of death as battered baby syndrome with negligence and complications. Mother of man fatally shot by Palm Bay police in Brevard County found