Your daily look at news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today.
4 BODIES FOUND IN BURNING HOME OF FORMER TENNIS STAR
Police in Florida say the fire at the home of a former tennis star was intentionally set and a family of four was killed. Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Col. Donna Lusczynski said Wednesday that two adults and two teenagers were killed in the mansion belonging to tennis player James Blake. He was not home at the time and was renting the house to the family. Lusczynski said the scene was “unusual.” She says officials don’t know how the fire was set.
STATE CRIME LAB ANALYST FACES ADDITIONAL CHARGES
A former state crime lab analyst accused of stealing narcotics from evidence bags and replacing them with over-the-counter medicine has been rearrested on additional charges. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement reports that Joseph Graves was arrested in Panama City Wednesday and charged with an additional 41 counts of trafficking in illegal drugs. The former FDLE Pensacola chemist was originally arrested in February on charges of grand theft, 12 counts of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence and nine counts of trafficking in illegal drugs.
MAN ACCUSED IN GOLD THEFT CAUGHT IN BELIZE
Authorities say a man accused of stealing more than 100 pounds of gold in South Florida is back in the U.S. after being captured in Belize. The U.S. Marshalls Service reports that 34-year-old Raonel Valdez-Valhuerdis was booked into the Miami-Dade County Jail on Wednesday. He was detained in February by Belize immigration officials at the Guatemala-Belize border.
BACK TO DEATH ROW FOR 1981 SHOOTING RAMPAGE
A man convicted in a 1981 central Florida shooting rampage that left three people dead is heading back to death row for a third time. A Polk County judge gave 64-year-old Paul Beasley Johnson three death sentences Wednesday. Johnson has been successful twice in having his sentences overturned on appeal.
BRADENTON MAN SHOT FIVE TIMES BY SUN GUN
A Manatee County deputy shot a suspect five times with a stun gun before authorities could subdue him following an attempted arrested during a traffic stop. He now faces multiple charges. He was taken to jail after being treated for injuries to his face, back, arms, chin and hands.
