News Update for 9/27/24
A Sebring man has been arrested following the death of his 9-year-old autistic daughter. 44-year-old Desi Maura has been charged with manslaughter following the apparent drowning death of the girl. Deputies were initially called to 6132 Oak Bend Avenue in Sebring at 11:00AM yesterday to search for Arianna Salmoe Maura, who had been missing for an undetermined amount of time. Desi Maura- her father- claimed he had fallen asleep Wednesday night and when he woke up he discovered Arianna was missing. When deputies arrived, a search was initiated that ultimately found Arianna floating in a duck pond near her home. Lifesaving measures were unsuccessful and she was pronounced dead at 12:08PM. Desi Maura was booked into the Highlands County Jail.
At least three people are dead as Hurricane Helene slams the Southeast. One person was killed in Tampa after a highway sign fell onto their vehicle. This happened last night just a short time before Hurricane Helene made landfall near Perry, Florida, packing 140 mile per hour winds. The Florida Highway Patrol says the incident occurred on westbound Interstate 4. Another 2 people are dead in Wheeler County GA after a possible tornado hit a mobile hom,e, according to Sheriff Randy Rigdon. Wheeler Couty is about 70 miles southeast of Macon.
An Osceola County Man is facing charges after an apparent road rage shooting in Orange County. It happened yesterday morning on the Florida Turnpike North near Osceola Parkway. FHP says St. Cloud’s Jorge Luis DeJesus Carrasquillo fired several shots at another car. A 33 year old man was hit in the leg and was taken to the hospital. Theres no word on his condition. Carrasquillo was arrested. The 35 year old is facing charges that include attempted felony murder.
Gov. Ron Desantis has a grim warning about Hurricane Helene. He spoke last night after the storm made landfall at 11:10 in Taylor County in the Big Bend. It was the first Cat 4 storm to ever make landfall in the Big Bend. So far, only one death has been blamed on the storm in Florida. That was in Tampa where the wind blew over a road sign that landed on a car and killed someone inside. Desantis, though, says it’s very likely there will be more deaths and people are going to lose their homes because of the storm. Meanwhile over a million people in Florida are without power.
The South Florida State College (SFSC) Foundation recently received a $150,000 donation to help support students participating in trade programs. The donation came from The Jacarlene Foundation which was established in 1988. The Foundation has provided philanthropic efforts in the areas of education, wildlife, and arts in Florida. Applicants for the Jacarlene Foundation Scholarship must be enrolled and accepted into an SFSC trade program. Students can apply for the Scholarship by contacting the SFSC Foundation at foundation@southflorida.edu.
A man and his dog who were sailboating during Hurricane Helene have been rescued by the US Coast Guard. Coast Guard officials in Florida say the man and his dog were on a 36 foot sailboat in the Gulf of Mexico near Fort Myers on Thursday when their boat started taking on water. A coast Guard crew from Air Station Clearwater says they got a distress call from the boater and found them about 25 miles off the coast. It’s unclear why the man was out boating while small craft advisories were in effect for the region during Hurricane Helene.
A UCF football player is being recognized for his work off the field. Senior offensive lineman and captain Marcellus Marshall was named yesterday to the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Watch List. The Man of the Year award has been presented the last seven years to the student athlete that demonstrates leadership, courage, integrity and sportsmanship. Former Knight Shaq Griffin won the first award in 2017. You can see Marshall and his teammates host Colorado Saturday at 3:30 at FBC Mortgage Stadium.
At least five people are dead in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. One person was killed in Tampa, Florida after a highway sign fell onto their vehicle. It happened last night, just a short time before Hurricane Helene made landfall near Perry, Florida, packing 140 mile-per-hour winds. Another two people are dead in Wheeler County, Georgia, after a possible tornado hit a mobile home and two more were confirmed dead this morning in Jeff Davis County, Georgia, the result of trees falling on mobile homes. Helene has been downgraded to a tropical storm but winds and flooding still pose a significant risk.