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. The woman was pronounced dead on the scene, and her name has yet to be released. The infant was found in cardiac arrest and rushed to a hospital where it eventually died.

The two other children found at the scene, a 4-year-old and a 5-year-old, were taken to Shands Hospital in Gainesville in critical condition. State investigators said they found two possible sources of the fire, which indicates the blaze may have been intentionally set. Police said they are investigating the fire as a homicide, but no information about a possible suspect has been released.

Orange County Deputies Find Dead Body of Missing Woman from Winter Springs

A search for a missing woman came to a tragic end on Monday, when Orange County Sheriff’s Deputies discovered the body of Shakeira Rucker. The 37-year-old mother of four from Winter Springs was found deceased in a storage unit used by her estranged husband. According to Sheriff John Mina, Rucker appeared to have died from gunshot wounds, but a full autopsy will ultimately declare the official cause of death.

Deputies said Rucker’s body was found in Apopka at a Self Storage located on Wiggins Road around 5 p.m. Saturday. Someone had reported an odor emanating from a storage unit.

Rucker’s death is being investigated as a homicide. Rucker’s estranged husband Cory Hill is the prime suspect in this murder, and he is already in the Orange County Jail for shooting at his ex-girlfriend and her family.

Man Caught with Machete Admits to Murder in West Palm Beach

In West Palm Beach, a 35-year-old man was arrested and charged with one count of first-degree premeditated murder. Officers from the West Palm Beach Police Department responded to a call reporting a man being assaulted and stabbed with a machete at the Saddle Brook Apartments on the 5100 block of Caribbean Blvd.

According to WPBPD, officers arrived on the scene and discovered a 68-year-old victim lying on the ground near the entrance, where the victim was pronounced dead. The suspect, Elias Armando Calderon, attempted to flee the scene but was apprehended after a brief chase. While Calderon was being detained, he confessed to the killing and was booked into the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office Main Detention Center.

Woman Assaulted While Holding Her Baby in Daytona Beach Hospital

Timothy Theophilus Golphin, a Dayton Beach felon, was arrested after allegedly assaulting the mother of his child. According to police, the incident occurred last Friday at Halifax Medical Center. After a heated exchange that involved Golphin recording the altercation with his phone, the mother sought help, and Golphin allegedly punched her twice in the face, causing her to fall backward while still holding the child, as captured by security cameras.

Golphin fled the hospital but was later apprehended by the police after running through the Daytona State College campus. Golphin was charged with child abuse, battery, criminal mischief, and obstructing an officer.