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TIMELINE: Here’s what we know about woman carjacked in broad daylight near Winter Springs

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TIMELINE: Here’s what we know about woman carjacked in broad daylight near Winter Springs


SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office is now investigating a homicide after they believe they found the body of a woman who was carjacked at gunpoint.

Video of an armed gunman approaching her vehicle last Thursday was taken an hour and 45 minutes before deputies found a body in a burning car in Osceola County.

As the investigation continues, there are many questions about what happened and why.

Below is the timeline of events on April 11.

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12 p.m.

Sheriff Dennis Lemma said Katherine Altagracia Guerrero De Aguasvivas left Homestead just after noon and started driving to Seminole County. Her vehicle was seen driving northbound through Jupiter during her trip.

3:30-4:00 p.m.

Aguasvivas arrives in Seminole County on Interstate 4, according to the sheriff’s office. She stopped to pump gas at a Shell station located just south of State Road 436 and U.S. Highway 17-92 and stayed for approximately eight minutes. Deputies said she left there and drove through Casselberry on Button Road, and continued to drive on back roads until she arrived in the Winter Springs area.

About a half mile before the intersection of East Lake Drive and Tuskawilla Road, Sheriff Lemma says Aguasvivas noticed a green Acura was behind her before it rammed into her vehicle. At that time, her husband told deputies she called him and told him what happened.

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“She picked up the phone and called her husband, told her husband that she was being rammed, that there was somebody there that was following her,” Sheriff Lemma said. “The husband provided her with the advice: Don’t stop, don’t stop anywhere.”

Law enforcement is not aware of any reports that Aguasvivas or her husband called 911 for help.

BEFORE 6 p.m.

A witness driving behind Aguasvivas’ white Dodge Durango saw the armed carjacking and recorded cell phone video of the event. It shows a masked man approaching the driver’s window and pointing a gun at her. He then gets into the back seat while the vehicle is still stopped at a red light.

Deputies believe the suspect had gotten out of the green Acura that was following Aguasvivas, Sheriff Lemma said Friday.

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Both cars are seen on camera making a U-turn at the intersection.

Lemma said a passenger in the witness’s car called 911 to notify law enforcement.

Detectives suspect Aguasvivas was ordered at gunpoint to turn around again and head southbound on Tuskawilla Road toward the Seminole/Orange County line to Aloma Ave.

“Once they get to Aloma, they make a left. They go all the way across all lanes of traffic so they can get on State Road 417 southbound,” Lemma said. “They drive southbound on 417, likely getting off at the Narcoossee Road exit. They travel the back roads, ultimately turning off onto Boggy Creek Road in Osceola County.”

APPROXIMATELY 7 p.m.

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Witnesses in Osceola County reported hearing gunshots and seeing smoke from a vehicle fire. Lemma said the car was badly damaged, and a body was found inside it. Authorities believe it is Aguasvivas.

They also found shell casings from a gun on the ground, investigators said Friday.

Detectives are working to find out when the suspects in the green Acura started trailing Aguasvivas and why she was in Seminole County.

Sheriff Lemma said this was not a random incident, and he believes the suspects knew exactly who they were following. Why they targeted Aguasvivas is still unclear.

“There’s a lot of unknowns, a lot of things that will leave people scratching their head, and I think the biggest is why?” Lemma said. “This isn’t a random incident. They were ramming the car half a mile before that intersection.”

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Lemma told News 6 Aguasvivas spent less than an hour in Seminole County, and his deputies have no knowledge of her or the suspects living, doing business, or being in the county prior to this incident.

Her husband told deputies she was here to visit family, according to the sheriff’s office. Lemma said they have not been able to find any relatives in the area so far.

“There’s no criminal history here for either Katherine or her husband in the United States. There is no clear indicator why somebody would do this,” Lemma said.

Aguasvivas and her husband have two businesses, a barber shop and beauty salon, in South Florida, according to the sheriff’s office.

The investigation is ongoing, and the suspects and green Acura are still out there.

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“We’re incredibly concerned about that Acura,” said Sheriff Lemma. “Both occupants should be considered armed and dangerous.”


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Edmonton Oilers vs Florida Panthers picks, predictions: Who wins Stanley Cup Final Game 5?

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Edmonton Oilers vs Florida Panthers picks, predictions: Who wins Stanley Cup Final Game 5?


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The Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers play on Tuesday, June 18 in Game 5 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.

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The game is scheduled for 5 p.m. Pacific time (8 p.m. Eastern time) and can be seen on ABC (stream with free trial from FUBO).

Who will win the Stanley Cup Final game?

Check out these NHL Playoffs picks and predictions for Game 5 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.

The Panthers are a 1.5-goal favorite over the Oilers in NHL playoff odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook.

Florida is -135 on the moneyline. Edmonton is +115.

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The over/under for the game is set at 5.5 goals.

Stanley Cup Final schedule, TV channels: How to watch Edmonton Oilers vs Florida Panthers

The site’s formula predicts that the Panthers will beat the Oilers in Game 5 of their NHL postseason series on Tuesday.

The site predicts that Florida will defeat Edmonton in Game 5 of the NHL Finals, with a final score of 4-3.

Who wins Stanley Cup Final?: Edmonton Oilers vs Florida Panthers picks, predictions, odds

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Bleacher Nation: Bet the Panthers to beat Oilers in Game 5

The site predicts that Florida will get a victory over Edmonton on Tuesday and is taking the over for goals.

Clutch Points: Take the Oilers with the points on Tuesday vs. Panthers

RB Hayek writes: “The Oilers fought for their lives to stay alive. While the Panthers may end up winning the Stanley Cup in front of their fans, it will not be the cakewalk it was in the first two games. When a team is desperate, they will do anything to avoid going down. Expect the Oilers to show some fight and do everything in their power to stay alive. Consequently, the Panthers may end up hoisting Lord Stanley’s Cup, but the Oilers will cover the spread.”

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

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Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside.

STREAM THE GAME: Watch Oilers vs. Panthers Stanley Cup Final games with FUBO (free trial)

WANNA BET? Check out the best Arizona sportsbooks in 2024

Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

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A new airport could spark the economy in a rural part of Florida. Will the workforce be ready?

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A new airport could spark the economy in a rural part of Florida. Will the workforce be ready?


LaBELLE, Fla. — One of Florida’s poorest counties is preparing for the new “Airglades” airport, a $300 million cargo hub that could transform its economy.

Local leaders see the project as a generational opportunity, one that could bring more than 1,400 new, high-skilled jobs to their largely agricultural community at the edge of the Everglades. But to make good on its promise, the region’s educators will have to overcome some harsh realities.

A third of Hendry County’s working-age adults lack a high-school diploma, while almost half speak a language other than English at home, among the highest in Florida. Before local leaders can prepare residents for jobs in engineering and manufacturing, educators must first help them earn their GEDs and learn English.

“We have some of God’s most beautiful country that has never been touched by man,” said Michael Swindle, the county schools superintendent, and yet “by all the metrics you would judge a county on, we’re either No. 1 or No. 2 in the ugly categories.”

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As the airport project pursues approval, community groups and schools are working to fill teacher shortages and make investments in adult education.

The challenges also include some political headwinds. Most of the county’s workforce is Black and Latino. Efforts to tailor education to serve those demographic groups have drawn scrutiny in Florida, where politicians have forbidden programs factoring race and national origin into people’s treatment. Educators say the political context adds to the difficulties in recruiting teachers.

The plan to convert the small, county-owned airport to private ownership still has to win approval from the Federal Aviation Administration, which will depend partly on solidifying contracts with vendors in Latin America to prove its potential as a hub for perishable goods.

Meanwhile, two adult education centers in the county expanded with support from the FutureMakers Coalition, a community organization that has spearheaded education retraining efforts across southwest Florida. It also is paying for a counselor to help adults looking to develop new skills and change careers.

Spanish-speaking students have filled the adult education center in LaBelle, the 5,000-person county seat.

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Many are working jobs or have kids at home, which has forced their instructor, Silvia Gullett, to get creative to meet their needs. She started a WhatsApp group so students could organize carpooling or split childcare duties. If students don’t show up to class, Gullett texts them to figure out the problem. She doesn’t settle for easy excuses.

“In the beginning, I had some students who didn’t want to continue. I try to tell people that the only one who can stop them is themselves,” said Gullett, who was born in Peru before starting her teaching career in Florida two decades ago.

At the country’s other adult education center, in Clewiston, sparks fly as dozens of students in thick gloves and respirator masks work toward industrial certifications needed to enter the workforce. One of them, Samantha Garza, 21, initially studied child care at a community college in Fort Myers but pivoted after watching YouTube videos about female welders.

“I’m an artsy person, so I have more of a steady hand already, and I love to be down and dirty doing physical things, so I felt like this would be a career for me,” she said.

Even before the airport arrives, there are still plenty of local employers waiting to hire the students. As current employees near retirement age, U.S. Sugar, the Clewiston-based farming giant, has such urgent needs it started an in-house welding program.

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“We’re trying to close that generation gap between mechanics and welders,” said Nathan Hollis, an industrial skills trainer at the company.

Finding enough instructors to offer the training has been a challenge. Swindle had to recruit a U.S. Sugar worker to teach welding and coax a school bus mechanic out of retirement to lead the diesel mechanics program.

Still, the program has been so successful the county is using tuition revenue and donations to open another training facility in LaBelle focused on HVAC and plumbing.

There has been controversy around some efforts, including a slide on the topic of “white privilege” shown during a teacher training event led by FutureMakers. It sparked an outcry from conservative activists who accused organizers of racism, and a Republican city commissioner in LaBelle suggested it violated the “ Stop WOKE Act ” signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican.

The political climate in Florida has made it difficult to attract K-12 teachers, according to Swindle. In a state where DeSantis has harnessed culture war passions in his education policies, Swindle said many of his teachers feel unsupported.

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“The rhetoric around public education is horrible. It absolutely does hurt us,” Swindle said.

Teacher shortages threaten local schools’ ability to teach not just welders and mechanics, but also construction workers, nurses and other professionals to support the influx of people the airport could bring.

“We don’t have a chemistry or physics teacher in high school. We’ve left the job openings up for three years, and we can’t even get someone to apply,” Swindle said.

The county has been running more marketing campaigns to recruit educators and paying paraprofessionals to secure licenses so they can become teachers with help from a $23 million Good Jobs Challenge grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce.

There is a lot at stake for Swindle’s long-time home.

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The superintendent knows where the alligators lie, sunbathing along the acres of canals that irrigate fields of sugarcane. He knows which sabal palms make the best swamp cabbage, teaching his sons how to cut palm hearts out with his knife, like their ancestors did to survive leaner times.

Yet there is no way to know if all his retraining efforts will be successful. The airport still might not come, especially if the county can’t prove it will have the workers ready to support it.

For now, officials are trying to fill current workforce needs while test-driving their ability to spin up new training programs. Once construction begins on the airport, they know they will have about two years to teach a wave of logistics operators, agricultural customs inspectors and other aviation-specific professionals.

“We’re not just talking about an airport,” Swindle said. “We’re looking at this as an opportunity to move the needle on unemployment, on poverty, to a better place.”

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Nick Fouriezos covers the role of college in rural America for Open Campus, a nonprofit newsroom focused on higher education. Sign up for his newsletter, Mile Markers.

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The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.



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Florida State drops Virginia to stay alive at College World Series

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Florida State drops Virginia to stay alive at College World Series


No. 8 national seed Florida State will remain in Omaha, Nebraska, after defeating Virginia 7-3 in an elimination game at the 2024 College World Series on Sunday afternoon.

The Seminoles advance to face the loser of the Tennessee-North Carolina game on Tuesday, June 18 at 2 p.m. at Charles Schwab Stadium.

FSU starting pitcher Carson Dorsey was superb on the mound against Virginia, pitching into the eighth inning. He scattered nine hits and finished with seven strikeouts on 106 pitches.

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Jaime Ferrer sparked the Seminoles crowd with two home runs and four RBI. Ferrer’s three-run homer in the fifth inning was part of a four-run inning that opened the game up for FSU at 6-0. Alex Lodise’s leadoff homer to start the sixth pushed FSU’s advantage to 7-0.

Virginia, which outhit FSU 10-7, became the first team bounced from the eight-team, double-elimination tournament. The Cavaliers put together a rally in the seventh inning after back-to-back singles by Ethan Anderson and Anthony Stephan. After two strikeouts, Henry Godbout and Casey Saucke had back-to-back RBI singles to cut Virginia’s deficit to 7-2 before Henry Ford struck out.

Virginia starting pitcher starter Jay Woolfolk tweaked his right knee after allowing Ferrer’s first homer, a solo shot in the fourth inning. Joe Savino came in to relieve Woolfolk a few batters later.

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Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. He can be contacted by email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.



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