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Forecasters Are Worried About Potential Tropical Storm 9

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Forecasters Are Worried About Potential Tropical Storm 9


A storm in the early stages of development in the western Caribbean Sea off the coast of Honduras is currently a disorganized mass of thunderstorms called Potential Tropical Storm Nine, but forecasters expect it to slam into Florida later this week as Hurricane Helene. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in 41 of the state’s 67 counties on Monday, CNN reports. Landfall in Florida could happen as soon as Thursday evening, forecasters say. The storm “is likely to become a major hurricane prior to landfall along the NE Gulf Coast,” the National Weather Service’s Tallahassee office said in a post on X. “This will be a large system, and impacts will extend far from the center.”

“While the spread in potential tracks has lessened compared to this point 24 hours ago, a range of landfall locations from the Florida Panhandle to the Peninsula of Florida are still on the table,” forecasters in Tallahassee said, per the New York Times. The National Hurricane Center said tropical storm watches have been issued in the Dry Tortugas and the lower Florida Keys. CNN reports that record-warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico are expected to “supercharge” the storm, which could become a Category 3 or higher by Wednesday. “What I don’t like is what I see in terms of rapid intensification, pressure, and the wind speeds that can be achieved by this storm,” says meteorologist Jeff Berardelli at WFLA.

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In the Pacific Ocean, meanwhile, Hurricane John rapidly strengthened to a Category 2 storm on Monday and forecasters warned that it could be a Category 4 when it hits Mexico’s southern coast on Tuesday, the AP reports. The NHC predicted that it would make landfall near the resort town of Puerto Escondido in Oaxaca state, reports Reuters. Laura Velazquez, the federal coordinator of civil protection, urged people in coastal cities in the state to go to shelters to “protect theirs and their family’s lives.” (More hurricane stories.)





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Florida AMBER Alert issued for two 4-year-old boys out of Hendry County – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports | Fort Lauderdale

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Florida AMBER Alert issued for two 4-year-old boys out of Hendry County – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports | Fort Lauderdale


LABELLE, Fla. (WSVN) — Authorities seek the public’s help in their search for two 4-year-old boys out of Hendry County, Florida.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement issued an AMBER Alert for Jermaine Crocker and Tremaine Crocker, late Wednesday night.

Investigators said the children were last seen in the area of the 400 block of Withlacoochee Avenue in LaBelle.

Both boys stand 3 feet, 5 inches tall, weight around 24 pounds, and have black hair and brown eyes.

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Jermaine was last seen wearing a multi-colored shirt, brown shorts, and red and blue tennis shoes. Tremaine was last seen wearing a multi-colored shirt, blue jean shorts and gray Crocs.

Authorities said they may be in the company of 47-year-old Ralph Garvin.

Garvin stands 5 feet, 11 inches tall, weighs around 155 pounds, and has black hair and black eyes. He was last seen wearing all black clothing, including a black hoodie.

Officials advise anyine who spots them to refrain from approaching them and immediately contact law enforcement.

Officials urge anyone with information on their whereabouts to call FDLE’s Missing Endangered Persons Information Clearinghouse at 1-888-FL MISSING (1-888-356-4774), the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office at 863-674-5600 or 911.

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Missing Florida woman found dead, dismembered in suitcase

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Missing Florida woman found dead, dismembered in suitcase


ORLANDO, Fla. (WFLA) — A missing persons case out of Orange County reportedly came to a tragic end last month after authorities said they found a woman dead and dismembered in a suitcase on the side of a Georgia highway.

The investigation began with a welfare check at a home in the Waterford Lakes area on the morning of Oct. 29, according to NBC affiliate WESH.

A friend told Orange County deputies that he had started receiving concerning text messages from one of the residents, 41-year-old Jorge Javier Quintero. When authorities got there, they couldn’t find Quintero or his girlfriend, 29-year-old Carmen Elsa Escalante Carrera.

Instead, they were met with a gruesome scene, according to descriptions in an arrest report. Deputies reported finding a large kitchen knife, a bloodied bathtub, bloody clothes and handwritten letters that they said were consistent with suicide notes.

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Security footage reportedly showed a man walking out of the back door and driving off in a white truck just 30 minutes before. Through their investigation, deputies said they were able to confirm that Quintero had rented that same white truck.

Also inside the home was information for another nearby apartment complex. Investigators said they learned that the couple was in a new relationship and was in the process of moving into the building.

Detectives continued their search for Quintero and Escalante Carrera at their new unit, which had already been leased to Quintero. According to the arrest report, the door was unlocked when authorities got there.

While inside, deputies said they found bloody towels, additional blood spots on the wall and many of Escalante Carrera’s personal items, except her phone. By 1:30 p.m., detectives said her phone was pinging in Seminole County, Georgia.

Pings from license plate readers reportedly showed the white truck traveling in a similar direction. Some license plate readers also captured photos of the truck. Officials said the photos appeared to show a trash bag that was in the shape of a human body in the bed of the truck.

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As their investigation continued, detectives said they were able to obtain security footage from a Lake City, Florida gas station that showed Quintero making purchases using Escalante Carrera’s phone. However, she was nowhere to be seen.

Then, on Oct. 31, the U.S. Marshals found Quintero and the rented truck in Alabama, where they got into a shootout. Quintero was critically injured, but deputies told WESH he was still alive as of Nov. 26.

Escalante Carrera was not with Quintero when the shootout occurred. However, Georgia officials reported finding human remains in a suitcase on the side of a highway about three hours later.

The remains were visibly identified as Escalante Carrera. According to the arrest affidavit, she was found in brutal condition. Detectives said a power cord was wrapped around her neck and her body parts were fully or partially dismembered.

A medical examiner said Escalante Carrera died from ligature strangulation.

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Quintero is facing a first-degree murder charge, according to the sheriff’s office.



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Florida golfer fatally beaten with his own clubs in a random attack, police say

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Florida golfer fatally beaten with his own clubs in a random attack, police say


A Florida golfer has died after he was beaten with his own clubs and choked in what police believe was a random attack by a man with a history of violence whose family had just kicked him out of their home.

Brian Hiltebeitel, 65, was playing Monday afternoon at the Sandhill Crane Golf Club when Palm Beach Gardens police say he was attacked by 36-year-old Junior Boucher, who had been reported missing an hour earlier by his family. Court records show that earlier Monday, members of Boucher’s family had filed an eviction notice to remove him from their house.

According to a police report, witnesses heard Hiltebeitel scream, “He’s trying to kill me,” and then saw Boucher beating him with a club on the first fairway. Hiltebeitel tried to run away, but Boucher retrieved another club from Hiltebeitel’s bag and chased him into a pond, where he jumped on top of him, choked him and again beat him, police said.

Police Chief Dominick Pape said no connection has been found between Hiltebeitel and Boucher nor is there any immediate evidence of a confrontation or argument before the attack.

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After the attack, Boucher stripped off his clothes and fled into the woods. Officers had to use a stun gun to subdue him. Boucher was being held without bond Wednesday after being charged with first-degree murder. He has previous arrests for domestic battery, battery on a police officer and drug possession.

Hiltebeitel, who had owned an organic snack food company, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Palm Beach County Public Defender’s Office, which is representing Boucher, did not respond to an email seeking comment Wednesday. It has a policy of not commenting on pending cases.



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