LAKE COUNTY, FLA. – A man charged with reckless driving in the death of a teen had his bond revoked after a new arrest and is fighting to get it restored. Dylan Duresh Katwaru was 17 on Jan. 11, 2022 when he lost control of a 2007 BMW, hit a raised median and caused the…
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Prayers for peace and justice after terrorist attack
The New Orleans terrorist attack that killed 15 and injured dozens is a stark reminder that life and the freedom to be safe from evildoers a thread tugged taut. On a day when people should be celebrating the new year and a game between two fabled college football teams, the nation is reeling. That goes…
2024 was a tough year for courts, cops
LAKE COUNTY, FLA. – The year 2024 was a violent, tragic affair for cops and trial lawyers. On May 30, a man later identified as Alex Lopez burst into a Fruitland Park convenience store and mercilessly gunned down Raied “Ray” Shihadeh. Authorities also arrested a woman and charged her with helping hide him after the…
The greatest Christmas gifts
The song “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” may be a beautiful tune, but it’s a tear-jerker when you’re 1,000 miles from family. The year 1968 was like that for me. I was at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas, for advanced training, a long way from Jacksonville, Fla. My parents and my brother would be…
Christmas albums that should never be considered
Christmas is joyful, especially the music, but some musicians should never, ever be allowed to belt out a holiday tune and ‘m not just talking about barking dogs. There’s Marilyn Manson, for example, Ozzy Osbourne, or any band that sounds like an explosion in the boiler room accompanied by screaming. Some of the stuff that’s…
Juvenile arrested for possessing especially disturbing child porn
LAKE COUNTY, FLA. – Police in Tavares have arrested a 16-year-old and charged him with possessing 25 disturbing child pornography images, including bestiality. It’s becoming an ugly trend among juveniles. “Juveniles know how to go to the dark web,” said Detective Courtney Sullivan. Police received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited…
Life sentence for life altered forever
LAKE COUNTY, FLA. – Prosecutors with the State Attorney’s Office recently scored a conviction and life sentence in one of the most despicable crimes that plague society today. Miguel M. Ortiz, 56, was convicted of lewd and lascivious molestation of a child younger than 12 and showing the victim obscene material. It is not clear…
Buying one pencil could destroy the world
LAKE COUNTY, FLA. – The line was backed up at Walgreen’s. An elderly man wanted to buy one pencil, not the package of six or eight that they come in. “I only need one,” he politely explained. The manager said no, and he went on his merry way. It reminded me of the movie “Father…
Double homicide haunts detectives, $10K reward offered
LAKE COUNTY, FLA. – The four-year anniversary of the unsolved murder of two beloved shopkeepers in Mount Dora is gnawing at detectives who are offering a $10,000 reward for information. Minh “Tina” Nguyen, 47, and Khiem “Ken” Ba Trinh, 56, fled from Vietnam to pursue the American dream only to end up being crime victims…
Wife sentenced to life in murder, back yard burial case
LAKE COUNTY, FLA. – Laurie Shaver, convicted of killing her husband and accused of burying him in the back yard, was sentenced to life in prison without parole Tuesday. “She was quite possibly the most manipulative person charged with murder…” Assistant State Attorney Nick Camuccio told Circuit Judge Cary Rada, while asking for the maximum…