Florida
Execution nears for man convicted in Miami Herald employee’s murder in Florida Keys
MIAMI – Nearly 25 years after Janet Acosta, a beloved Miami Herald employee, was kidnapped and killed, her convicted murderer, Michael Tanzi, is scheduled to be executed in less than a week.
Acosta, 49, was on a lunch break in April 2000, reading in her van in Miami, when authorities said Tanzi, 48, forced his way inside.
Investigators say he punched her, pushed her aside, and drove off, taking her south into the Florida Keys.
Along the way, they said he tied her up, withdrew money using her bank card, and ultimately strangled her.
Frank Zamora, a retired Key West detective and now an investigator with the Monroe County State Attorney’s Office, was one of the officers who tracked Tanzi down.
Detectives said they initially began their search in downtown Miami, but it was in Key West where they finally caught up with Tanzi.
“Detectives started looking downtown,” Zamora recalled when speaking to Local 10’s Janine Stanwood on Wednesday. “Tanzi shows up — we approach him.”
Acosta’s van was later spotted on Duval Street in Key West, abandoned in a bustling area filled with tourists and locals.
When officers confronted Tanzi, he quickly confessed. He then led investigators to Cudjoe Key, where they said he had taken Acosta’s life.
“He went up to her, punched her in the face, pushed her over — got in the car and took off,” Zamora said.
Investigators retraced the events leading to Acosta’s death, visiting the site where her body was dumped.
“Here’s the area where he ended up dumping her body,” Zamora said while looking at the location once more. “Somewhere right in here. It’s been a long time.”
Tanzi was convicted and sentenced to death for the crime.
Now, with his execution scheduled on Tuesday, Zamora believes justice is being served.
“He’s going to pay for what he did — killed this woman, tortured her — and now he’s going to pay the price.”
Copyright 2025 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.
Surveillance video shows family narrowly avoid lightning strike
A father and his children had a near miss during a thunderstorm in Massachusetts.
A man died and three of his family members were injured after a lightning strike hit people in the water off Fort Myers Beach in Florida on July 3, authorities said.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded around 2:20 p.m. Friday, July 3, to the 6500 block of Estero Boulevard after reports that a man had been struck by lightning while swimming in the Gulf. When first responders arrived, bystanders were already performing CPR.
Despite immediate life-saving efforts from witnesses and emergency crews, the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials said the strike happened during active storm conditions moving through the area.
Authorities identified the victim as 51-year-old Viktar Kiryk.
Deputies said the three family members who were with Kiryk were transported to a local hospital for evaluation. Officials said they were in stable condition following the incident. Emergency crews responded across multiple locations along Estero Boulevard as calls came in. USA TODAY reached out to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office for additional comment.
Lightning risks in Florida waters
Lightning is a frequent hazard in Florida, especially during summer storm season. The National Weather Service says about 20 people are killed by lightning in the United States each year, with hundreds more injured.
Florida consistently ranks among the most lightning-prone states in the country. Lee County and nearby areas have been identified as frequent hotspots in recent annual lightning activity reports.
Safety officials warn that lightning can strike up to 10 miles from a storm and that anyone outdoors should seek shelter immediately if thunder is heard. They recommend waiting at least 30 minutes after the last sounds of thunder before returning outside.
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com, or on X @athompsonUSAT
A motorcyclist was killed early Saturday in a crash involving a vehicle in Fort Lauderdale, police said.
Officers responded at approximately 2:45 a.m. to the 3000 block of West Broward Boulevard following a report of a vehicle and motorcycle crash.
When officers arrived, the motorcycle rider was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Fort Lauderdale Police Department.
The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene.
The department’s Traffic Homicide Unit is investigating the cause of the crash.
Happy Fourth of July! Although the post office and government offices will be closed today, many grocery stores are open.
Don’t forget the hot dog buns or festive treats during your Independence Day cookout this afternoon.
Here’s what you need to know about grocery stores and whether or not they’ll be open today.
Buy Fourth of July essentials on Amazon Prime
Is Publix open on July 4th?
Publix is open on the Fourth of July.
Publix closes its doors for only three holidays each year: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. Most Publix stores open at 7 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. Some Publix stores regularly close at 9 p.m., but not many. Check hours at your local store.
Publix Liquors stores are also open at 9 a.m. or 10 a.m., depending on the location. However, Publix pharmacies will be closed, so fill any prescriptions you need before the holiday.
Is Aldi open on July 4th?
Aldi stores will be open with limited hours on July 4.
Some Aldi store locations in Florida open at 8:30 a.m., while others open at 9 a.m. Most Aldi locations close at either 8 p.m. or 8:30 p.m.
Holiday hours can vary from location to location, so check your local Aldi’s holiday hours before you go. You can find the store locator here to double-check the opening hours of your nearest Aldi.
Is Whole Foods open on July 4th?
Most Whole Foods locations will close early, at 6 p.m. on the Fourth of July.
Under regular hours, most Florida Whole Foods locations open at 8 a.m. and close at 11 p.m. A few open at 7:30 a.m.
Some Whole Foods locations close at 9 p.m. while others close at 10 p.m.
Is Sprouts closed on July 4th?
Sprouts will be open during regular hours on July 4.
Store hours in Florida are typically from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.
Is Winn-Dixie open on July 4th?
Winn-Dixie locations in Florida will be open on July 4th, with regular hours.
Typically, Winn-Dixie stores in Florida open at 7 a.m. and close at 11 p.m. every day. Winn-Dixie’s wine and spirits services don’t open until 9 a.m.
Is Trader Joe’s open on July 4th?
Trader Joe’s locations will only be open until 5 p.m. on the Fourth of July.
Most Trader Joe’s locations in Florida open at 8 a.m. A few open at 9 a.m. Trader Joe’s stores usually close at 9 p.m. during their regular hours.
Is Target open on July 4th?
Target will be open throughout the Fourth of July weekend; however, hours of operation may vary by location, so please check your local store’s hours before visiting.
Sign up for Target Circle membership
Most Target stores in Florida open at 8 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. Some Target locations open at 7 a.m.
Is Walmart open on July 4th?
Walmart stores close only on Thanksgiving and Christmas, so they will also be open for regular hours on the Fourth of July.
Buy Fourth of July essentials on Walmart
Most Walmart stores in Florida open an hour before Publix or Winn-Dixie, at 6 a.m. They close at 11 p.m. The same hours apply to most Walmart Neighborhood Market locations.
Is Costco closed on July 4th?
Costco will be closed on July 4.
Is Sam’s Club open on July 4th?
Most Sam’s Club locations will be open on July 4 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Check your local store’s hours in advance.
Is BJ’s Wholesale Club open on July 4th?
BJ’s Wholesale Club will be open regular hours on July 4 from 10 a.m. through 7 p.m. Check your local store’s hours in advance.
Is the Fourth of July a federal holiday?
Yes, the Fourth of July is a federal holiday. See all 11 federal holidays:
- New Year’s Day – Jan. 1
- Martin Luther King’s Birthday – 3rd Monday in January
- Washington’s Birthday – 3rd Monday in February
- Memorial Day – last Monday in May
- Juneteenth National Independence Day – June 19
- Independence Day – July 4
- Labor Day – 1st Monday in September
- Indigenous Peoples’ Day – 2nd Monday in October
- Veterans’ Day – Nov. 11
- Thanksgiving Day – 4th Thursday in November
- Christmas Day – Dec. 25
Samantha Neely is a trending reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida, covering pop culture, theme parks, breaking news and more. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.
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