By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. The woman accused of killing a Mount Dora couple at their apartment in a senior living community has been indicted on a murder charge. Mount Dora Police has seen half its staff turn over in the last two years, and are recruiting for new officers right now. MOUNT DORA, Fla. Only 9 Investigates went over the plan to revamp the Mount Dora Police Department after it went through two police chiefs in a year. After several minutes, it became apparent LLN was going to once again be ignored by MDPD and LLN left the scene. 2023 Cox Media Group. These are not the first accusations against Bell this year; In March, former MDPD Cpl. He wrote in the affidavit of probable cause that LLN parked about a block from the scene and ventured up to the crime scene tape, with a camera, notebook and press pass an obvious member of the media and again the only member of the media on scene. Police said a security camera captured the Getman couple's vehicle leaving the Waterman Village senior living community during the early morning hours of Dec. 31, 2022, according to police. The tenant became panicked and pushed her emergency alarm button, police said. Florida prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty against Vickie Williams, the woman accused of violently killing an older couple inside their home in a retirement community in Mount Dora. Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. She told FOX 35, "She said she lost her car keys and needed to charge her phone. Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. John Stevens will likely die in prison if hes convicted for any of the long list of felony charges he faces, including aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude, leaving the scene of a crash and driving while license canceled suspended or revoked. "Thats concerning," Mount Dora resident Jane Bloom said. Police are investigating the death of a man and woman at a Senior Living Community apartment in Mount Dora. >>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS Contact her with breaking news, tips, and feedback by sending an e-mail to352Tips@gmail.com. Meade served as interim chief beginning in July 2020 and was named as the permanent replacement in April 2021. Howell-Gonzalez complained to a MDPD sergeant, who always advised her he was told to leave Ofc. LAKE COUNTY, Fla. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against the woman accused of killing a Mount Dora couple at their apartment in December. He shot me with the taser twice and the last thing I remember thinking is that hes going to shoot me, so I had to get away from him, Stevens told Jones. Vickie Jessica Howell-Gonzalez filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Mount Dora alleging violations of Floridas Whistleblower Act, Family Medical Leave Act and the First Amendment. Pat Blair said two police agents wanted them to look at a picture that they had of three people to possibly identify her. Mount Dora police said a security guard had called 911 to report the suspicious activity. A captain on scene finally gave LLN information and Fewless assured LLN that in the future, getting information would not be a problem. Detectives pinged cell phones, engaged license plate readers in three counties and even visited the mother of the woman they say killed a Mount Dora couple in their apartment on New Years Eve. It just shows how well thought of our parentswere," they said in a statement, previously shared with news outlets. On Oct. 17, 2019, she was thereby constructively discharged, the suit states. Afterwards, Fewless introduced LLN to Patrol Capt. WebAs Mount Dora police investigate the double murder of a couple in the Waterman Village retirement community, their friends and relatives are devastated. In alleged retaliation for taking FMLA, she was told she would be on dayshift, which would result in daily interactions with Bell and Severance. "As you can see by the photograph, they were enjoying their 'golden years' of retirement, something that we all kind of look forward to I think. "I dont understand what happened their with so many opportunities to apprehend her or to hold her to see what she was up to," she said. Her identity has not been released at this time. Stevens explains that hes having car trouble. Officers said they followed her off the property and eventually lost sight of her. Severance alone at the instruction of then-Deputy Chief Robert Bell, who later became the MDPD police chief, the lawsuit states. This is an ongoing investigation. WebMount Dora Stay current with all the latest and breaking news about Mount Dora, compare headlines and perspectives between news sources on stories happening today. January 4 Mount Dora It was the goal of both LLN and Fewless to begin creating that transparency. The officer described the situation in a hostile work complaint as offensive and humiliating. She has been charged with two MOUNT DORA Police late Monday still had not publicly identified the elderly couple found slain in their home Saturday at Waterman Village Lakeside Community. Members of the department were suspicious of each other, the morale was not good, and thats what I walked into, interim Chief Brett Meade said. Newly-released documents are sharing new details and information into the murders of two older residents at a senior living facility on New Year's Eve in Mount Dora, Florida, including how the couple may have died and how authorities were able to track down the alleged suspect in Georgia. MOUNT DORA, Fla. After a little more than a year in his current position, Mount Doras police chief is resigning, effective Thursday. >>> STREAM 32 talking about this. Now, though, the city has a plan to move forward. Frank and Pat Blair said the day before the murders, a woman tried to get them to let her in their home. Meade is the third chief to leave Mount Dora police since 2019. Fewless listened to the concerns and suggested meeting with LLN in person, to better the relationship between MDPD and the media. T&N Market is on sale, once a community store is now the site of a painful reminder of a double homicide that took place last year. And the deputy Chief, Mike Gibson, who is now serving as interim chief, also signed off on the report. Currently, along with being Editor-in-Chief of Lake Legal News, she is the Florida bureau chief for an international media organization. MOUNT DORA, Fla. 9 Investigates has learned more about why the Mount Dora police chief suddenly resigned last week. Mount Dora Interim Police Chief Mike Gibson said she was arrested out of state and will be extradited back to Florida in the coming days. At press time, LLN was awaiting numerous public records to confirm these allegations. Watch: Archaeologists: Mystery object unearthed by hurricanes in Volusia County could be 1800s cargo ship. Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. That meeting was July 17. No MDPD or other investigator followed up with Howell-Gonzalez or the witness about the threat, according to the lawsuit. After her arrest in Georgia and subsequent extradition to Lake County, the person of interest in the slaying of a Mount Dora couple last weekend now faces first-degree murder charges. An investigation is ongoing, but law enforcement are confident the case will be solved. Stevens, at this point, was in the center lane of traffic, sandwiched between two other vehicles on the busy highway. (Copyright 2021 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. We appreciate all the support we have received. According to the suit, on June 19, 2019, Howell-Gonzalez met with Bell who was then the acting chief and raised the issues regarding Severance using city time to perform personal errands and incurring overtime for which she was not entitled. In response, Bell became aggressive and moved close to Howell[-Gonzalez] and told her that Severance spends more time at MDPD than anyone, and that he [Bell] takes his daughter to school while at work and asked Howell if she was also accusing him of stealing time, the complaint states. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. The supervisor on the scene said he did have concerns and sent an email asking Gibson to review the video and requested a recommendation on whether the officer should be disciplined. When LLN arrived, it was a highly active scene and LLN traveled around the outskirts of the scene for about 10 minutes. A reward for information is being offered in a homicide investigation of a husband and wife found dead at a Mount Dora senior living community over the weekend, according to police. On Saturday, officers responded to a report of Police Chief Brett Meade resigned last week over what he described as differences with the city manager, who wanted an outside investigator to review an incident caught on video showing a Mount Dora police officer, without reading a suspected drunk driver his rights, suddenly slamming his head into a car window while arresting him. On Saturday, officers responded to a report of potentially suspicious activity in the Senior Living Community, Waterman Village, located at 150 Waterman Avenue. You can also contact us on our Facebook page and make sure you Like and Follow us there. Read: Mount Dora police investigate suspicious death of man and woman at senior living community. Read: Two people dead, one injured in Orange County shooting, deputies say. Neighbors said they are very concerned for their safety, but police will be keeping a watchful eye on the community for the time being. On Saturday, officers responded to a report of !#TeamTEGNA #ABC24 Liked by Steve Darrell, B.S./M.F.A ShoPros Live Event Service On The Road This Week! Anyone with information on this theft is asked to call the Mount Dora Police Department at 352-735-7130. Around 2 a.m. on Saturday, a green Kia Soul, the Getman couple's vehicle, was captured on camera driving out of the complex, police said. The top priority, though, is reworking all agency policies and procedures. The Getmans vehicle was seen departing the complex early the next day and Williams was later caught driving it, police said. She said the support she got from other teams was 'overwhelming. Theyre investigating whether Meade was forced out under pressure because Meade said he refused to violate internal affairs procedures. Voters in Mount Dora will cast their ballots Tuesday for who will lead the city for the next two years. Officials did not share details about where the vehicle or the woman were found. When describing the couple, he became emotional. Frank and Pat Blair said the day before the murders, a woman tried to get them to let her in their home. MOUNT DORA, Florida Just two business days after meeting with Lake Legal News to create a better relationship with the media, Mount Dora Police Deputy READ: Mount Dora residents pack meeting to discuss controversies surrounding police department. Officials said the woman walked into the Walmart store on U.S. 441 on Sunday night and left with a load of cash. We went to City Hall, to ask the City Manager about his plans to have an outside agency to investigate this and other incidents 9-investigates has exposed, but a spokesperson told us they would provide a statement, instead. The lawsuit further alleges Bell made it clear Howell-Gonzalez would never return to the community relations unit because of her objections to what Howell-Gonzalez refers to as Severances theft of time. Severance later made a list of villains and Howell-Gonzalez was included as Lady Tremaine, Cinderellas evil stepmother, the lawsuit states. Michael Gibson, who was also helpful and offered his assistance in building an open relationship. Mount Dora Interim Police Chief Mike Gibson said she was arrested out of state and will be extradited back to Florida in the coming days. Howell-Gonzalez was then transferred from her unit, the lawsuit states. VIDEO: Mount Dora police officer accused lieutenant of sexual harassment, investigation shows Mount Dora police officer accused lieutenant of sexual harassment, investigation shows. Police have not released the cause of death. She has made more than two dozen appearances on live national television, includingNancy Graceand theGreta Van Susterenshow, along with her appearance onEvil Twins. Gibson said the resident hit an alarm button, and the woman then grabbed a set of keys and fled. According to interim police Chief Mike Gibson, a woman later identified as Williams was escorted from the complex by security the day before New Years Eve, though she was seen entering again that night. The Mount Dora police chief has sent a directive to his officers, following a 9 Investigates report. Chicago Mayor Lightfoot ousted; Vallas, Johnson in runoff, King asks Duke and Duchess of Sussex to move out of Frogmore so Prince Andrew can move in, Biden Mocks Marjorie Taylor Greene With 1 Simple Hand Gesture, A Nebraska high-school cheerleader competed on her own after the rest of her squad quit. 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