Florida News
Man gets life sentence for murdering girlfriend with decorative spear
Man gets life sentence for murder with decorative spear
Miami, FL
Adam Crespo, 49, has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his girlfriend, Silvia Galva, 32. A jury found Crespo guilty of second-degree murder in August, six years after Galva’s death on July 12, 2019.
Crespo claimed that Galva “must have grabbed onto the spear” during a fight when police arrived at their home to find her fatally impaled. The prosecution presented evidence suggesting that the spear wound could only have been inflicted with intent to kill.
During the trial, Crespo’s defense argued that the incident was accidental, citing a lack of physical evidence of malice. They contended that Crespo had turned his back during the altercation and heard a snap before discovering Galva injured.
Judge Andrew Siegel delivered the sentence on Friday, stating that he found no evidence of remorse from Crespo. The courtroom was told that medical examiners testified that the injury indicated a homicide rather than an accident.
Prosecutor Jaclyn Broudy emphasized Crespo’s ill will towards Galva, arguing that he acted out of anger. Additionally, both sides engaged expert witnesses and demonstrations during the trial to reconstruct the events surrounding Galva’s death.
Crespo, upon receiving his sentence, expressed regret for his actions but did not react visibly during the proceedings. He stated, “I still love her and I regret my actions that night.”
Man accused of shoplifting using young daughter as lookout in Gainesville
Man accused of shoplifting using daughter as lookout in Gainesville
Gainesville, FL A 35-year-old man is facing charges after allegedly attempting to steal items from an Ace Hardware with his 6-year-old daughter. Joshua Robert Spirit was apprehended earlier this week on multiple charges, including child abuse and resisting an officer.
The incident reportedly took place at approximately 4 p.m. on Monday, November 10. Security personnel observed Spirit and his daughter in the store’s tool section where he concealed merchandise valued at $199 in his and his daughter’s belongings.
The guard confronted Spirit as he tried to leave the store without paying. Spirit reportedly refused to comply and attempted to flee in his vehicle, nearly hitting the guard in the process.
Responding officers located Spirit outside his residence shortly after. When instructed to stop, Spirit reportedly ran away, leaving his daughter unattended.
He was next seen in the 5900 block of NW 23rd Terrace. Spirit allegedly tried to escape again by jumping over an 8-foot wall and hiding in a Walmart parking lot.
Officers eventually found Spirit concealing himself under a parked car. In attempting to evade capture, he entered the nearby Walmart, where he was apprehended with the assistance of a Taser.
Spirit had prior nonviolent felony convictions and was on probation at the time of his arrest. He was booked at the Alachua County Jail, where a judge set his bond at $45,000 while holding him without bond pending review of his probation status.
Mother charged with stabbing son during argument over phone bill
Mother charged with stabbing son during argument over phone bill
Miami, FL A Miami woman is facing charges after allegedly stabbing her son with a fork during a domestic dispute. Leticia Puentes, 39, is charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon according to jail records.
The incident occurred on Thursday morning at their home near Northwest 72nd Street. Puentes and her son were arguing over his tardiness at school and a phone bill, which escalated as he reportedly began throwing objects.
Around 8:15 a.m., the altercation turned violent when Puentes stabbed her son behind the ear. Officers arriving at the scene found the victim with a bleeding puncture wound.
Miami-Dade County first responders treated the injury at the home. The mother admitted to the act but claimed self-defense.
Puentes has been booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center and is being held on a $3,000 bond.
Woman arrested for allegedly assaulting deputy after 911 ride request
Woman arrested for allegedly assaulting deputy after 911 ride request
Gainesville, FL
Baylee Jordan Graham, 30, is in custody following an incident at a McDonald’s where she allegedly assaulted a sheriff’s deputy. The incident began shortly after midnight on Tuesday when a deputy responded to a call regarding Graham refusing to leave the restroom.
Upon arrival, the deputy attempted to communicate with Graham, who provided a false name. When Graham exited the bathroom, the deputy charged her phone to facilitate a call for a ride, which led Graham to call 911, claiming she was at a nearby Circle K.
The deputy informed Graham that calling 911 for a ride was a criminal offense. Despite an offer to drive her home, Graham repeatedly refused.
Graham allegedly continued to call 911, prompting dispatchers to notify the deputy of her actions. The deputy instructed her to stop making the calls, but Graham persisted, leading the deputy to approach her.
When the deputy took hold of Graham’s arm, she allegedly struck the deputy in the face, stating, “Do not touch me.” Additional deputies arrived as Graham resisted arrest and attempted to obstruct the vehicle door.
The arrest report indicates that Graham made a total of 14 calls to 911 during the encounter. While in the patrol car, she allegedly made a remark about not being prepared and mentioned harming the deputy in another situation.
Graham faces charges of battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, and misuse of 911. She is being held at the Alachua County Jail with a bond set at $35,000.
Two men convicted in murder-for-hire plot after teenager reported sexual assault
Two men convicted in murder-for-hire plot after teenager reported sexual assault
Brooksville, FL
Lenard White was found guilty of premeditated first-degree murder and murder-for-hire on Monday in connection with the death of 17-year-old Isabella Scavelli. His cousin, Sheldon Robinson, received the same verdict for accepting $6,000 from White to facilitate the fatal shooting.
Jurors heard that on February 6, Scavelli and her mother accused White of sexually assaulting the teenager. The next day Robinson allegedly shot Scavelli in front of her mother, who was also injured in the attack.
Evidence presented at trial indicated that Scavelli was killed as she attempted to flee from her front door. Prosecutors stated that White had traveled to Georgia shortly after reporting the assault in an effort to establish an alibi.
Investigators executed over 70 search warrants, which led to a detailed understanding of Robinson’s actions on the day of the murder. Communications from Robinson’s phone revealed requests for assistance with a “clean-up job” linked to the crime.
Months after the incident, authorities recovered the handgun used in the murder from a wooded area behind Robinson’s home. White and Robinson were accused of trying to hinder the investigation by tampering with evidence and making false statements to law enforcement.
Robinson and White also discussed plans to kill another potential witness. A third defendant, Keshawn Woods, has pleaded guilty in connection with the case and is awaiting sentencing.
Sentencing for White and Robinson is scheduled for January 30, 2026. They face mandatory life sentences in federal prison.
Florida man accused of killing two children and setting home on fire
Florida man accused of killing two children and setting home on fire
Pensacola, FL – A man is facing serious charges after two children, ages 9 and 7, were found dead in a mobile home that he allegedly set ablaze. The suspect, John Henry Walston Jr., is accused of murdering the children inside his trailer at the Grand Oak Mobile Home Park.
Witnesses report that the children’s mother attempted to rescue them from the burning home. She sustained injuries and was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Walston, 27, allegedly assaulted one of the children before killing both. He reportedly fled the scene after igniting the trailer in the early hours on Friday.
The children have been identified as Vayden Orum and Rayden Smith. Their mother survived the incident with burn injuries.
Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons stated that the fire was not the cause of the children’s deaths and detailed the circumstances in a video shared on social media. He confirmed that Walston assaulted one child before murdering both.
Walston reportedly lived at the mobile home with his own family, which included two other children. Tyler Smith, the father of one victim, expressed his outrage towards Walston in a local news interview.
Walston faces multiple charges: two counts of premeditated murder, one count of sexual assault on a victim under 12, and one count of arson. He remains detained without bond, with his first court appearance scheduled for November 26.
The grandmother of the deceased children described the situation as a “bad dream,” recounting a conversation with another sibling who shared details about the traumatic event. She expressed disbelief upon hearing the news of their deaths.
Florida woman charged for after her baby boy injested fatal amounts of meth, cocaine
Miami, FL
A woman has been charged in the death of her 9-month-old son after he ingested lethal amounts of cocaine and methamphetamine. Natalia Munoz-Paulino, 26, faces second-degree murder and aggravated child abuse charges.
The boy was pronounced dead on July 2. A probable cause arrest affidavit details that police responded to a local hospital, where the child was reported deceased.
Upon visiting Munoz-Paulino’s apartment, police discovered a disheveled environment, littered with clothing, trash, and old food. Officers intervened to prevent the boy’s older sibling from consuming baby oil from a bottle.
Munoz-Paulino stated she fell asleep while holding her son and woke to find him unresponsive. However, she provided varying accounts to investigators, claiming the boy had fallen, drowned, or choked.
The suspect mentioned her son had a history of placing foreign objects in his mouth. An autopsy revealed eggshells and feathers present in his stomach alongside the drugs discovered in his system.
The cause of death was determined to be a homicide stemming from child neglect, attributed to the presence of narcotics. Munoz-Paulino admitted to using drugs over the weekend preceding her son’s death.
She remains in custody at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center with no bond and has pleaded not guilty. The boy’s father, residing out of state, reported previous observations of drug use at the apartment.