See the Latest Crime News and Arrest Reports from Daytona Beach, Volusia County and Flagler County.

UPDATE: Missing Daytona Beach Woman Found Deceased in Pond Near Her Home

Celena Fletcher-Beatty has been found deceased in a pond near her home. Original Story: Daytona Beach Police Department posted this notice today regarding a missing woman. Celena Fletcher-Beatty was last seen on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, at 217 Aston Grande Dr. Her family and friends have not spoken to her since Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024.…

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Disturbing Crime Stories Flood Florida Headlines Leading Up to Thanksgiving Holiday

Woman Found Stabbed to Death, Baby Killed During Apartment Fire in Daytona Beach State Fire Marshalls are investigating after a woman was found stabbed to death and an infant was killed during a fire at Countryside Apartments on Beville Rd in Daytona Beach. Daytona Beach Fire Dept. reported three children and an adult woman inside.…

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Florida Woman Arrested for Child Neglect After Leaving Child in Car Outside of Bar

Florida’s Department of Children and families took custody of the 7-year old daughter of Veronica Elliott. According to a news release from DeLand police, Elliott, 35, was arrested by officers and charged for neglect of a child after she allegedly left her seven-year-old child alone in a vehicle outside an establishment known as the Perfect…

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Daytona Beach Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison After Murdering Roommate

During a hearing this week in Volusia County, defendant Durian Atwaters pled no contest to Second-Degree Murder and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. According to the Florida’s 7th District State Attorney announced the plea. Atwaters faced a prosecution team that possessed surveillance footage from a 7-Eleven in Daytona Beach during the early morning…

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Daytona Beach Area Fentanyl Trafficker Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison

A man convicted for trafficking fentanyl in the Daytona Beach area was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Javoris Edwards pled no contest to two counts of Trafficking in Fentanyl 28 grams or more, Conspiracy to Traffic in Fentanyl 28 grams or more and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and was sentenced…

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Fentanyl Drug Dealer Charged with Manslaughter in Overdose of Deland Teen

Below is a statement from Volusia County Sheriff’s office regarding A 17-year-old drug dealer from DeLand who has been charged with manslaughter in the fatal fentanyl overdose of another 17-year-old who was found dead in his bedroom last July. Following a thorough investigation, Daniel Arvizo was arrested Friday night for manslaughter in the July 30…

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Volusia County Teen Arrested After Accidentally Shooting Friend

 Seventeen-year-old Jeremie Cuevas was arrested by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office for having allegedly shot his friend on accident, leading to serious injuries for the other teen. Cuevas, Orange City, was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, carrying a concealed firearm, discharging a firearm in public and improper exhibition of a firearm in…

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Homicide Investigation in Daytona Beach After Police Find Man Dead in Street

Daytona Beach Police Department is investigating a homicide after a man was found dead on Jean St. last night. According to Daytona Beach police, the officers responded to a call that came in around 11:45 pm Sunday night that reported a stabbing. Officers discovered a man who was later identified as 24-year old Donnell Williams,…

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Trial Begins for Man Accused of Killing Daytona Beach Cop

In Volusia County, a murder trial involving an alleged cop killer begins at 9 am this morning. Othal Wallace is charged with first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer. Investigators say he shot Officer Jason Raynor in the head two years ago during a confrontation behind Wallace’s apartment. Raynor was wearing a body cam and…

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Overview of Crime in Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach’s world-famous racetrack and shore draws not only tourists, but also opportunistic criminals. The local law enforcement agencies have been working diligently to address these issues through community policing initiatives and increased patrols in high-crime areas. However, challenges persist, and efforts to improve public safety and reduce crime rates remain ongoing priorities for the city.

Daytona Beach is located in Volusia County, which is Florida’s 11th-most populated county. Volusia has 2.6% of Florida’s population. Other than Daytona, other cities in Volusia include Deland, Deltona, New Smyrna Beach, Ormond Beach, Port Orange, Orange City, Edgewater, Ponce Inlet, Holly Hill, South Daytona, Lake Helen, De Leon Springs, Oak Hill, Pierson , Glencoe and Spruce Creek.

According to the latest data, violent crime rates have fluctuated since the restart of typical tourism levels, which had exponentially dropped during the first year of the COVID pandemic. In 2022, the rate per 100,000 of Violent Crime in Volusia County was 189.8 compared to Florida at 150.6. The line graph shows change over time when there are at least three years of data.

In 2021, crime statistics in Daytona Beach, Florida, continued to be a matter of concern for both residents and authorities. Volusia County had 36 homicides recorded in 2021, and a homicide rate of 7.2, which was a 0.5% lower than the 2020 rate, but still 0.6% higher than the rate in 2019, which was 6.6%. In 2020, the city reported a total of 3,402 violent crimes, including homicides, robberies, and aggravated assaults.

Volusia County is in the third quartile for violent crime. This means that relative to other counties in Florida, there are less Violent Crime in about one half of the counties, and more in about one quarter of the counties.