Florida
Suspect arrested in connection to broad daylight kidnapping, murder of Florida driver
The man who police believe carried out the brazen broad daylight kidnapping of a Florida woman who was found dead in her burned vehicle has been arrested, authorities announced.
Jordanish Torres-Garcia, 28, was taken into custody on unrelated charges Friday, and police suspect he’s the masked gunman who jumped into 31-year-old Katherine Altagracia Guerrero De Aguasvivas’s SUV at a busy intersection last week.
Although the gunman was wearing a Halloween mask, police said the sweatshirt he was wearing was “identical” to the one Torres-Garcia was seen wearing in his Facebook profile picture.
He was also linked to the Green Acura that repeatedly rammed into Guerrero De Aguasvivas and followed her for at least half a mile — prompting her to make a frantic call to her husband, who instructed her not to stop but mysteriously did not call 911.
Guerrero De Aguasvivas’s body was found several hours later at a construction site — inside her burning SUV and surrounded by shell casings.
Why Torres-Garcia, who is wanted in Puerto Rico on gun charges, was allegedly after Guerrero De Aguasvivas is still a mystery.
“We have not made the connection yet with Jordanish as far as this. So to answer the question of why, if this is our shooter, why he would target her? I can’t answer that question yet,” Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma said at a press conference.
Police on Friday also named Giovany Crespo Hernandez as a person of interest in the case after identifying him as the person Guerrero De Aguasvivas Facetimed as she drove through downtown Orlando, shortly before her murder.
Hernandez had allegedly told Guerrero De Aguasvivas’s brother that she was in the area — which was more than three hours from her South Florida home — to deliver money and “other stuff to a friend.”
Investigators found fentanyl and firearms during a raid of his home, but Hernandez is on the lam, Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma said at a press conference Friday.
Hernandez’s girlfriend was taken into custody Friday after she accepted a delivery of 3 kilos of cocaine orchestrated by Homeland Security Investigations.
Police said they are on the hunt for two others wanted in connection to the case, including the person who drove the Acura and taunted Guerrero De Aguasvivas before her abduction.
The terrifying kidnapping was caught on camera by a witness when Guerrero De Aguasvivas was forced to stop at a red light.
That’s when a man is seen running out of the green car toward Guerrero De Aguasvias’s driver-side window, the video shows.
He then stuck a firearm through the window before climbing into her backseat.
Guerrero De Aguasvias’ car then peeled away from the intersection under the direction of her captor, police said, and toward her certain death.
“The perpetrators knew who they were going after,” Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma said.
According to police, Guerrero De Aguasvivas’ husband is not a suspect in the case despite his involvement in criminal information leaking.
Orange County Deputy Francisco Estrella, a family friend of Miguel Aguasvivas, is accused of providing him with details of the investigation, including the lead detective’s home address.
There are still various unknowns in the baffling case, including why Guerrero De Aguasvivas was driving so far from home, why she didn’t call 911 and why Miguel could be holding onto some secrets, as police suspect.
“I think the initial story was that she was up here to visit family members. I don’t know that we believe that,” Lemma said.
“I think that there’s a lot more blanks that he could help fill in about the circumstances involving this particular crime and now potentially other crimes.”
Florida
Palm Bay, Florida parents of premature twins held NICU wedding
Brevard County couple gets married in NICU after birth of premature twins
A Florida couple, told they may not be able to have children, welcomed premature twins and had an impromptu NICU wedding.
Provided by AdventHealth for Children
Ben and Danielle Cassidy were told they likely wouldn’t be able to have children.
But this year they will celebrate Mother’s Day just months after having an impromptu wedding in the AdventHealth for Children hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit shortly after Danielle gave birth to twins prematurely — a week before the Palm Bay couple was scheduled to get married.
Both babies, Joshua and Rhett, are doing well despite arriving nine weeks ahead of schedule on Jan. 19, 2026, just one day after their scheduled baby shower. With a proper wedding out of the question with two premature babies in the NICU, a nurse took action.
Issabel Kenkel, the nurse behind the ceremony, said she was already in wedding planning mode for her own upcoming nuptials when she found out the Cassidy family’s ceremony would be interrupted.
“I couldn’t just let them do something small. They needed decorations and something fun, so I spoke to the music therapist and the chaplain,” Kenkel said. In short order, a wedding was being planned for their hospital room and the couple was saying their vows in the company of their safely delivered newborns.
“When we found out we could request staff members to be on our team, that’s when we requested Issabel and having that kind of consistency from someone who has such a big heart and is so kind,” Danielle said.
The hospital ceremony was all the more special because of the Cassidy family’s own health struggles.
“I have five autoimmune diseases and didn’t really think I would have kids. It’s been a rough journey. When Ben and I met, we were floored at how much a miracle it was to have kids,” Danielle said.
Ben, who battled and beat cancer, said he was worried that his prior treatment would result in negative health outcomes for his future children. Having twins for him was an unexpected blessing.
“When we found out we were pregnant, we found it so shocking. We said, wouldn’t it be great if it was twins? It filled out our hopes and dreams list,” Ben said. “They’ve been miracles for sure.”
The Cassidy couple said there was so much fear and uncertainty when their twins were born nine weeks early. Being able to get married right away just made them feel all the better about the future.
“It was nice getting married because we didn’t have to wait any longer to make it official. It made it that much harder for her to get rid of me,” Ben said.
“The unknown made it scary,” Danielle added. “We had no idea how long we would be in the hospital. Our wedding was going to be at the beach with immediate family and parents. Having NICU babies, we realized we’d never be able to get to the beach. It was really special having the people who care for our babies be part of the ceremony.”
The couple hadn’t even planned to have a band at their wedding ceremony and now the hospital’s music therapist was performing live for them and the chaplain was conducting the ceremony, something nurse Kenkel said was just part of her job.
“The babies are going to have the best outcomes if the families are taken care of and going home happy,” she said. “Being in the NICU is already so stressful. This is just one more thing I could do to take care of my patients.”
Tyler Vazquez is the Growth and Development Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Vazquez at 321-480-0854 or tvazquez@floridatoday.com. X: @tyler_vazquez.
Florida
Florida man taken into custody related to call threatening business
The Vero Beach Police Department took a man into custody May 8 in connection with a threatening phone call directed toward a business.
The agency received information at 5:21 p.m. May 7 about a threatening call to Thrive IRC Inc. at 2300 5th Ave. in Vero Beach, according to a news release. The call included someone threatening to come to the business with an AK rifle and “light the building up.”
Detectives began investigating the threat and identified Michael Sean O’Brien, 27, of Vero Beach, as the person associated with the phone number used during the call.
O’Brien was taken into custody at about 3:30 p.m. May 8 without incident. He was charged with the false report concerning the use of firearms in a violent manner, which is a second degree felony, according to the news release.
O’Brien was booked in the Indian River County Jail at 6:13 p.m. May 8 but was released at 1:36 p.m. May 9 after posting the $5,000 bond, according to the jail website.
No additional information was available the afternoon of May 9.
Olivia Franklin is TCPalm’s trending reporter. You can contact her at olivia.franklin@tcpalm.com, 317-627-8048 or follow her on X @Livvvvv_5.
Florida
Florida woman on 2026 “100 Women to know in America” list
Charmaine Hickey, of Lang Realty in Port St. Lucie, was named in KNOW Women’s “100 Women to KNOW in America” list.
A Treasure Coast woman was named in a “100 Women to know in America” list for 2026.
KNOW Women is a global media company dedicated to giving women leaders connections and visibility. The company released a list of “100 Women to know in America” for 2026 to highlight the most influential women in business and leadership.
Charmaine Hickey, who works for Lang Realty in Port St. Lucie, was on the list.
“Charmaine’s recognition on a national stage like this comes as no surprise,” said Scott Agran, president of Lang Realty in a news release. “Her leadership, integrity, and commitment to both her profession and her community exemplify what this award stands for. She represents the very best of our industry.”
Hickey holds many industry designations and is known for her expertise in complex real estate transactions, as well as her client-first approach defined by honesty, patience and attention to detail, according to the news release.
Her community involvement includes serving on nonprofit boards, mentoring emerging leaders and supporting initiatives focused on education, women, families and youth.
“I am truly honored to be recognized among such an inspiring group of women,” said Hickey in the news release. “This award reflects not just individual achievement, but the power of community, mentorship, and lifting others as we grow. I’m grateful to be part of a network of women who are building meaningful impact every day.”
To see the full list go to theknowwomen.com.
Olivia Franklin is TCPalm’s trending reporter. You can contact her at olivia.franklin@tcpalm.com, 317-627-8048 or follow her on X @Livvvvv_5.
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