Florida Violent Crimes Report for April 2024
Feds Takeover Case Involving Carjacking in Winter Springs that Led to Women’s Death
United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced the filing of a complaint charging Jordanish Garcia-Torres (28, Orlando) with carjacking resulting in death. If convicted, Garcia Torres faces a maximum penalty of death or life imprisonment.
According to the complaint, on April 11, 2024, Garcia-Torres carjacked a woman at gunpoint in Winter Springs, Florida, and forced her to drive to a location in Osceola County where she was murdered by gunshot and burned while in her vehicle.
A complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the St. Cloud Police Department, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the United States Marshals Service. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Stephanie McNeff and Michael P. Felicetta.
Orange County Sheriff Catches ‘Potential Serial Killer’ Who Confessed to Two Murders
Orange County Sheriff Jon Mina announced the arrest of Carlos Yadiel Baez-Nieves, who was charged for the murder two women in the Orlando area.
During an interview with homicide detectives, Baez-Nieves confessed to murdering Fatia Flowers, 41, and Nichole Daniels, 44 in East Orange County.
“Nieves targeted the most vulnerable women he could target,” Mina said. “Women who were transient and traded sex for money. On two separate occasions, about a month apart, he picked up 41-year-old Fatia Flowers and 44-year-old Nichole Daniels, had sex with them, and strangled them to death. Then Baez-Nieves drove to an intersection, and pushed their lifeless bodies out of his truck.”
After Nieves’ second murder resulted in the second victim’s body being discovered in the same area, investigators found security footage from a nearby 7/11 convenience story to identify a vehicle that ultimately led them to Nieves.
Grand Jury Indicts Stephan Sterns Madeline Soto Murder Case
A grand jury indicted Sterns last in the murder of Madeline Soto. Madeline disappeared in late February, and days later, her body was found in a wooded area of Saint Cloud. Sterns has been sitting in jail for about two months now after his arrest for dozens of child sex abuse charges. Sterns could spend the rest of his life in prison without parole or the death penalty, depending on the prosecution.
Ian Anselmo Found Guilty of 2nd-Degree Murder of His Stepmother and Her Unborn Child
26-year-old Ian Anselmo was found guilty by a Lake County jury Friday afternoon for the fatal strangulation of his expectant stepmother, 39-year-old Sue Ellen Anselmo. Ian Anselmo was charged and found guilty of Murder in the 2nd-Degree and Killing an Unborn Child by Injury to the Mother.
The tragic incident took place on March 13, 2019, when Anselmo strangled his stepmother at the Greenwood Cemetery. Law enforcement officers received a 9-1-1 call in reference to the incident and arrived at the scene to find Sue with a cord draped over her shoulder inside her vehicle. Anselmo was also present at the scene.
Despite life-saving efforts, Sue passed away five days later at Orlando Regional Medical Center due to her injuries. Anselmo, while present at the crime scene, stated to officials that he guessed he had strangled Sue. He further indicated he didn’t remember committing the crime but did remember the argument the two had just prior.
In a document filed on September 9, 2020, Anselmo’s defense attorney revealed plans to pursue an insanity defense based on Anselmo’s alleged state during the incident. However, after jurors reviewed the extensive evidence and listened to the impactful testimonies presented during the trial, they determined Anselmo was sane during the time of the attack and would have been fully aware of the ramifications of his actions.
Anselmo was taken into custody and remanded at the Lake County Jail to await his sentencing date after the court conducts a presentencing investigation. He could potentially face Life in prison due to this guilty verdict.
Titusville Man Found Guilty of Shooting Man to Death in 2020
Quantay Byrom was found guilty of second-degree murder for his role in the 2020 shooting death of 62-year-old Rickie Gilbert. Gilbert was driving to a church near South Deleon Ave. and Gibson Street when he was inadvertently caught in the crossfire of an armed traffic dispute between two other vehicles.
Man Shot to Death in Taft Neighborhood of Orlando
On April 10, Orange County Sheriff’s Office Deputies responded to reports of a shooting and found 39-year-old Juan Luis Cintron Garcia on the 9600 block of 8th Ave in the Taft community of unincorporated Orlando. Garcia was taken to a local hospital but did not survive. Additional details about what led to the shooting or any potential suspect information were not immediately released. A GoFundMe page has been established to assist the family with expenses.
Detectives are investigating a possible connection to the kidnapping and murder of a South Florida woman, Katherine Altagracia Guerrero De Aguasvivas, 39, of Homestead.
Guerrero De Aguasvivas was kidnapped during a brazen afternoon carjacking a day after Garcia’s murder, authorities said. A green Acura seen in footage of the armed carjacking from Thursday, April 11, in Winter Springs, was located on Saturday. According to Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma, that car had been towed by Garcia from an apartment complex in Orange County on March 19 for being illegally parked.
Jacksonville Man Charged for Murdering 19-Yr Old
Wilkins Dessalines, 33, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder following the death of 19-year-old Gavin Rickard at Mandarine Apartments Pritmore Road, just west of San Jose Boulevard. First responders were unable to rescue Rickard in time to save his life. Following the shooting, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office conducted a search warrant while Dessalines was being interviewed and collected several firearms, including two 9mm handguns. According to the arrest report,
Rickard’s girlfriend came home from grocery shopping, noticed Dessalines was staring at her from his porch, and called Rickard at work because she said she didn’t feel safe going back out to get the rest of the groceries. She eventually did, and Rickard came home around 10 p.m. for dinner. Rickard went to his porch to smoke tobacco while his girlfriend cooked. Then she said she heard multiple gunshots. She went outside and found Rickard dead on the sidewalk, the arrest report says. Anyone with additional information regarding this shooting is asked to contact the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office by phone at 904-630-0500, by email at jsocrimetips@jaxsheriff.org or via CrimeStoppers at 866-845-TIPS.
Man Kills Ex-Girlfriend’s Mother, Then Himself
Darryl Seeraj, 26, broke into a home and shot his ex-girlfriend’s mother before killing himself, authorities say. According to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a reported shooting in the area of Moreno Drive and La Salle Drive in Palm Harbor, when then found Stacey McLean, 52, dead in a bedroom. In a separate bedroom, they found Darryl Seeraj, 26, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Detectives say Seeraj was in a romantic relationship with McLean’s daughter for about five years, and their relationship had recently ended.
Seeraj “broke into the home, murdered McLean, and then took his own life,” the news release states.
Autopsies will be conducted, and the Medical Examiner’s Office will work to determine the cause and manner of the deaths
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Investigating Double Homicide in Dover
On Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at 5:25 p.m., our Communications Center received a call from a neighbor regarding a deceased female in the 3700 block of Sumner Road in Dover.
deputies discovered a deceased female outside a mobile home with severe blunt-force trauma. When deputies entered the house, they found a young child who was also deceased with severe blunt-force trauma.
Investigators, K9 units, and Aviation are all currently searching for a suspect, Angel Gabriel Cuz-Choc, 31, who they believe fled the area on foot and is dangerous.
“I’m taken aback this evening by the absolute callousness and evil that transpired when our suspect brutally murdered a woman and young child,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “To our suspect, turn yourself in because there is no place you can hide that our deputies will not find you.”
This is an active and ongoing investigation. If you know the suspect or have any information on his whereabouts, please contact our detectives at 813-247-8200.
All additional updates in this case will come from the Public Affairs Office.
Two Women Face Murder Charges in Fatal Shooting of Car Burglary Suspect in South Florida
Antwoinse Lachaveia Clark, 36, and Fredericka Sherice Pickett-Wilson, 29, were arrested Friday and face second-degree murder charges.
The incident happened around 11:30 p.m. back on March 30 at Northeast 2nd Avenue and Northeast 16th Street, arrest reports said.
According to the reports, Officers responded to the area after receiving reports of a man who’d been shot and found the man on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds.
The man was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center in critical condition and died from his injuries on April 24. His identity wasn’t released.
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