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Florida women accused of sextorting Hardee County grandmother in jail for baby’s hot car death: Documents

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Florida women accused of sextorting Hardee County grandmother in jail for baby’s hot car death: Documents


A Florida grandmother who is in jail after her granddaughter died under her watch in a hot car months after her grandson died in her care is accusing two women of extorting her in jail.

Who is Tracey Nix? 

Tracey Nix is a Wauchula grandmother who spent decades as a teacher. 

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Timeline:

In December 2021, deputies say her 16-month-old grandson wandered outside and drowned in a pond on Nix’s property. 

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Nix was not charged in that case. 

PREVIOUS: Wauchula woman arrested in granddaughter’s death after 2021 death of grandson

In November 2022, Nix’s 7-month-old granddaughter died after she was left in a hot car while Nix was babysitting. 

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Two of Tracey Nix’s grandchildren died in her care less than a year apart. 

In January 2025, a jury found her not guilty of aggravated manslaughter, but guilty of leaving a child in a car unattended.

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After the verdict was read, Nix was taken into custody. She was ordered to be held in jail without bond until her sentencing. 

Sextortion

According to an affidavit, while in jail, two women, Sandra Cardoza and Rosanna Sanchez, came up with a scheme to get money from Nix.

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Dig deeper:

Documents show that on February 19, Sanchez asked Nix to write her a love letter and Nix drafted a fabricated newspaper advertisement depicting a romantic relationship between herself and Sanchez. 

READ: Suspected Polk County swan thief arrested again in South Carolina: ‘He ran into trouble,’ Grady Judd says

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After Nix read the document to Sanchez, documents show that Sanchez demanded $1,000 from Nix, threatening to send it to the local newspaper if she did not comply. 

Pictured: Rosanna Sanchez. Image is courtesy of the Hardee County Sheriff's Office.

Pictured: Rosanna Sanchez. Image is courtesy of the Hardee County Sheriff’s Office. 

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The affidavit states Nix called her husband “under duress” and asked him to trust her and bring the money to the Hardee County Sheriff’s Office. 

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Nix’s husband met with a woman, later identified as Cardoza’s sister, Guadalupe Botello, in the parking lot and handed over the money. 

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On February 26, documents show Sanchez demanded an additional $10,000 from Nix and threatened to publicly expose her sexuality if she did not comply. 

Pictured: Sandra Cardoza. Image is courtesy of the Hardee County Sheriff's Office.

Pictured: Sandra Cardoza. Image is courtesy of the Hardee County Sheriff’s Office. 

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When Nix declined, the affidavit states that Sanchez pinned Nix against a wall. 

Nix escaped and called detention staff for help. 

While investigating, authorities say Nix admitted to having a consensual sexual encounter with Sanchez that also involved Cardoza on at least one occasion. 

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Tracey Nix mugshot courtesy of the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office.

Nix also told investigators that Sanchez claimed to have different personalities and had offered a voodoo ritual for a fee of $15,000 to ensure that Nix’s current legal charges would disappear. 

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Investigators looked at video footage that confirmed that Nix’s husband handed over a white envelope to a Hispanic woman in the sheriff’s office parking lot on February 19. They also analyzed call logs that corroborated statements from Nix and her husband. 

Cardoza has been charged with extortion, illegal use of a 2-way communication device, and conspiracy. 

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Sanchez has been charged with attempt to commit extortion, extortion, and conspiracy. 

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What’s next:

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Nix was transferred to the DeSoto County Jail on February 27 and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 3.

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Rainy stretch continues in South Florida

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Rainy stretch continues in South Florida


South Florida is experiencing a prolonged stretch of wet weather as deep tropical moisture combines with a stalled frontal boundary across the region.

The result has been frequent showers, thunderstorms, periods of heavy rainfall, and localized flooding concerns from Broward to Miami-Dade and throughout the Keys.

The atmosphere is loaded with moisture, allowing storms to produce intense downpours in a short amount of time.

Some neighborhoods have already seen several inches of rain, with additional rounds of showers and thunderstorms expected through the end of the week.

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Flood-prone streets and poor drainage areas remain especially vulnerable during the heaviest rainfall.

While the rain is helping ease drought conditions, it is also increasing the risk of flash flooding and travel delays.

South Florida is two weeks into its rainy season, when abundant heat and humidity combine to generate daily rounds of showers and thunderstorms.

Heavy rainfall, frequent lightning, and gusty winds are common features of this time of year.

The good news? Drier air will gradually filter into parts of the region heading into the weekend, allowing rain chances to slightly decrease. Until then, keep the umbrella handy and be prepared for sudden tropical downpours.

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Man accused of kidnapping woman at Wawa in Central Florida

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Man accused of kidnapping woman at Wawa in Central Florida


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A man is in custody after deputies said he tried to kidnap a woman at a Wawa near Winter park. Per investigators, Matthew Seaberg approached the victim from behind, picked her up by the waist, and threw her into his truck.



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Jury selection continues in fatal boat crash trial of South Florida real estate mogul George Pino

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Jury selection continues in fatal boat crash trial of South Florida real estate mogul George Pino


MIAMI — A new group of prospective jurors was questioned Tuesday in the trial of South Florida real estate mogul George Pino, who is charged in connection with a 2022 boat crash that killed a teenager in Miami-Dade County.

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During jury selection in a Miami-Dade courtroom, Judge Marisa Tinkler Mendez asked potential jurors what they already knew about the case and whether they had recently seen or heard anything about it.

Several prospective jurors said they knew only basic details, including that a fatal boating crash occurred and that a teenage girl died. Others said they recalled media reports that alcohol may have been involved.

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As questioning continued, some prospective jurors disclosed connections to schools and communities tied to the case.

Passengers aboard Pino’s boat included his wife, his teenage daughter and 11 of her friends, many of whom attended private schools in Miami-Dade County.

One prospective juror said they graduated from a local private school around the time of the crash and were familiar with some of the students involved.

Another said references to schools and witnesses brought back memories of seeing posts and articles about the incident shared on social media.

A third said their child participates in youth sports with students from schools connected to the case.

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Investigators said the boat struck a channel marker while returning from an outing on Biscayne Bay. Seventeen-year-old Lourdes Academy student Lucy Fernandez drowned after the crash.

Tinkler Mendez also addressed concerns that a prospective juror had been viewing a news report about the case on a cellphone while waiting outside the courtroom.

Another prospective juror reported hearing the report but said it was not loud enough for everyone in the area to hear.

Tinkler Mendez reminded prospective jurors to avoid news coverage and social media discussions related to the case as jury selection continues.

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