​Detectives from the Lake County Sheriffs Office (LCSO) arrested a 17-year-old girl on two counts of Criminal Solicitation for Murder. As the investigation progressed it was learned the suspect allegedly solicited two different individuals to commit the crime.

According to the arrest affidavit, LSCO was contacted by a juvenile witness that advised the suspect allegedly gave her friend (another witness) a "a lot of money" to find someone to kill her parents.   The affidavit further stated that the juvenile suspect stole her parents debit card and made two separate transactions withdrawing funds to pay the individuals to carry out the murder.

The affidavit claimed the juvenile defendant completed two debit card transactions: one for $503.00 and one for $926.40, which were later identified as money given to two different individuals to kill her parents.   The defendant was arrested by Umatilla Police Department for the theft. 

Yesterday, a LCSO detective found the suspect at her residence.  She admitted in a recorded interview that she had stolen her parents debit card and made the two transactions. She elaborated that $100 was used to buy cocaine and $400 was given to her friend to give to someone to kill her parents. She also stated to the detective that since the act was never carried out she gave the other $900 to another male to kill her parents. 

The juvenile suspect was placed in custody and transported to the Lake County Jail where she was processed and turned over to the Department of Juvenile Justice.

​​​For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, this month , click here.  Also download the area's free mobile app.  ​

Every year, Florida residents hear the standard basics of hurricane preparedness-- 'fill up your gas tank,’ ‘buy batteries or 'get cash from the ATM'.  Below are the lesser known, yet important ways, to prepare for a hurricane:

1. Hand sanitizer & baby wipes:  Imagine no running water, no A/C and 90+ degrees outside.  Need we say more?  If you have no running water, it’s the best way to wash your hands.   Keep them in the kitchen and in every bathroom.
2. Gasoline additive:  When filling up gas cans for generators, be sure to include the necessary additive so the gas doesn’t go bad.   Yes, gas goes bad sitting in gas cans.
3. Peanut butter & jerky:  Forget the jelly.  Non-perishable proteins are hard to find.  Grab a few, but no need to eat them together!
4. Cold brew coffee:  When the power is out, cold brew is the easiest way to enjoy a perfect cup of joe in the morning.  Big bottles are usually available at your local grocery store or Target.
5. Frozen jugs:  Fill empty plastic jugs, Tupperware containers or Ziplock bags with tap water and store in freezer.  They can serve as ice packs to keep your freezer cold and then become your drinking water. Be sure to leave space in the containers for expansion in the freezer.
6. Paper plates & cups:  If you lose running water, these are essential to bypass the pile up of dirty dishes.
7. Chainsaw:  Make sure you have fuel.  If you don’t have a chainsaw, quickly make friends with someone who does and keep their phone number handy.
8. Battery-operated candles:  Put these lights in the bathrooms, on nightstands and everywhere else to remove the risk of fire that regular candles pose.
9. External phone batteries:  We can’t imagine you’ll forget, but remember to charge all of your external phone batteries.
10.  Alerts: Sign up for your county’s emergency push-alerts to be texted to your phone.  That way when power is out, you’re still in the loop.
11. Be a shutterbug:  Take photos of the interior and exterior of  your home for insurance purposes. Then upload onto your cloud storage for safe keeping.
12. Gasoline availability:  A good way to stay up-to-date- on which local station have gas is www.gasbuddy.com .
13. Stash important papers:   After putting your insurance policy and other important documents in a ziplock bag, put them in your dryer for elevated safe keeping.  
14. Do  all your landry: You know those 5 loads of laundry piling up?  Now is the time.   Remember, you may not have water or power after the storm.
    

“Photos are an easy way to show the condition of your home and to create a home inventory;  you can also complete a written inventory with forms available from your insurance company,” said Lynette Barba of Allstate Insurance in Mount Dora.  “Also, have valuable papers like your home and auto insurance with you in case it is necessary to file a claim off site.”

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After a thorough and detailed investigation, FDLE agents will issue a warrant today for the arrest of Robert Nixon Kern, Jr., 40, for the murder of 16-year-old Justis Garrett of Sorrento.

Kern was taken into custody in February by the Suffolk County (NY) Police Department on fraud charges stemming from a case in Volusia County. He was extradited to Florida this Friday afternoon. FDLE agents have a signed arrest warrant for a second-degree murder charge.

“Robert Kern, Jr., is responsible for the cruel and brutal murder of Justis Garrett, who was smart, caring and loved by so many,” said FDLE Orlando Special Agent in Charge Lee Massie. “The agents on this case were relentless and worked long hours to see Justis’ murderer arrested so he could ultimately be held responsible for her untimely death.”

“It is our duty and our mission to hold the defendant accountable for the murder of our Victim in this case,” said State Attorney R.J. Larizza. “The combined efforts of our law enforcement partners and our homicide prosecutors in this case was nothing short of extraordinary.”

Justis was reported missing on Saturday, April 14, 2018, by her mother to the Mount Dora Police Department (MDPD). She was last seen the day before, on Friday, April 13th, when Kern told investigators he had taken Justis to Mount Dora High School.

Four days after she was reported missing, a group of hikers discovered a body in a wooded area off Service and Gasline roads in DeLand. On May 7th, forensic analysis determined the body was that of Justis.

(Updated 1/1/2018) According to Florida Highway Patrol, the driver and the bicyclist involved in yesterday's deadly crash in unincorporated Mount Dora were both residents of the city.

At approximately 6 p.m. on December 2, Donald Mosher, 48, was riding a bicycle northbound on South Clayton Street near Elyisum Boulevard.  Melissa Kidd, 38, was travelling behind the cyclist in the same direction. According to Florida Highway Patrol, Kidd failed to slow down as she approached the bike and struck it from behind.  The speed limit on that stretch of rural road is 45 miles per hour.  There were no skid marks at the scene, but car parts were scattered across the road, according to a witness.

An unresponsive Mosher was discovered in the road by another driver a few minutes after the accident occurred.  The cyclist was resuscitated and transported to Florida Hospital Waterman by paramedics. He later died. The first driver on the scene observed that Mosher was wearing dark clothing and no helmet.

Kidd left the scene of the fatal accident, but police located her after her severely damaged Nissan truck became disabled less than a mile away on Clayton street. 

The accident remains under investigation and charges against Kidd are pending, according to FHP.

"A homicide crash investigation requires very precise measurements to be obtained from the scene of the crash that includes such things as drag factor of the roadway, vehicle evidence, weather at the time of the crash, and any witness statements," said Laura Hargrove, a criminal defense attorney and partner in the Tavares law firm of Gause & Hargrove, PLLC. 

Leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death is a first degree felony and carries a mandatory 4-year prison term if convicted, according to Hargrove.

"In my experience, this type of case can take a month or more before charges are formally filed. Since this incident occurred in December, it could take longer due to the holidays," said Hargove.

A wooden cross with messages from Mosher's family was erected near the scene of the accident. 

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, click here. ​ Free subscriptions to the monthly issue of Mount Dora Buzz are available here.

Mount Dora Police are asking for the public's help to identify a woman in connection with an ​October 19 incident at Mermaid Juice, a local craft beer bar and antique store located at 458 N. Highland Street.  The victim stated that a few weeks ago the woman pictured allegedly asked for a desk and was told it was not for sale.  The woman returned last week and allegedly took a piece of the desk and exited the front door.

If you recognize the woman please contact Detective Angela Smith at the Mount Dora Police Department at 352-735-7174​.

​For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, click here. To get the area's top stories in your inbox once a month, sign up for the free monthly issue of Mount Dora Buzz here.
    

Detectives assigned to the Lake County sheriff's Cyber Crimes Unit recently concluded a 10-day, two-phase operation targeting subjects online attempting to meet children for sexual activity, as well as those committing acts related to prostitution. The investigation, dubbed Operation Catfish, recovered a 17-year-old victim of human trafficking and resulted in 40 arrests for various sex-related crimes. 

Detectives conducted the operation from a vacant home in South Lake County, during which time they posed online as a 14-year-old child. The subjects traveled to the home with the intent to have sex with whom they thought was the child and were taken into custody upon arrival. One subject fled the area but was later identified and charged accordingly. 

Detectives also seized two vehicles and recovered a stolen firearm. 

This operation was in cooperation with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and other member agencies of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. 

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Mount Dora Police are investigating a crash that happened at Wolf Branch and Britt Roads this morning.
 
The accident happened around 9 a.m. after a school bus dropped off kids at an area middle school.  The driver of a Nissan Sentra entered the intersection off Britt Road to Wolf Branch Road and was struck by the school bus.
 
The driver of the Nissan was airlifted with serious injuries to Orlando Regional Medical Center.  The driver of the bus suffered a non-life threatening injury and was taken to Florida Hospital Waterman by ground.  
 
There were no children on the bus at the time of the accident.  No names are being released. This crash remains under investigation. ​

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, click here. To get area's news in your inbox once a month, subscribe to the free month issue of Mount Dora Buzz here. ​​​​​​