GAINESVILLE — A Florida newlywed allegedly killed his bride and kidnapped a friend before surrendering to deputies after a dramatic six-hour standoff.
Charles Edwin Duke, 23, was taken into custody Thursday in Levy County. Investigators say he fatally shot 22-year-old Felicia Fine Duke in an argument at their Cedar Key home, then fled with a friend who was staying with them.
Authorities caught on after the friend, Justin White, secretly sent a cryptic text message to the victim’s sister.
Duke finally called the sheriff himself, saying his wife’s body was in a nearby hunting camp and he had a hostage.
Florida widow, hospital settle strangling lawsuit
DAYTONA BEACH — A Daytona Beach hospital has agreed to pay $200,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by the widow of a man strangled by a fellow psychiatric patient.
John Hill claimed voices told him Jimmie Lee Douglas was evil and should be killed. The 21-year-old was found was not guilty by reason of insanity and ordered into a psychiatric facility.
But the state faulted Halifax Health for inadequate supervision, given Hill’s previous threats. The hospital was ordered to install video cameras, upgrade intercoms and hire more staff.
Elizabeth Douglas filed her lawsuit last week,.
Charge dropped against man in hotel death
ORLANDO — Prosecutors have dropped a murder charge against a central Florida man they had accused of pushing his girlfriend off a hotel balcony to her death, citing a lack of forensic evidence.
The second-degree murder charge against Jonathan Justin Speegle, 27, was dropped Thursday. Authorities had claimed he caused the death of Nichole Hammond, 30, who fell 16 stories from the balcony of their room at Marriott World Center near Walt Disney World, shortly after midnight Dec. 31.
Burglar allegedly looted place he got caught
GAINESVILLE — A Gainesville man who served a year and a half in jail for burglarizing a home allegedly broke into the same place weeks after he was freed.
Police say Joel M. Small this time stole $4 in quarters and 11 pairs of athletic shoes from the 77-year-old victim.
Small was arrested Wednesday after police say blood and fingerprints left at the scene matched his profile.
Small was being held on $15,000 bond for felony grand theft and burglary charges.
Rolex-obsessed thief to be sentenced
KISSIMMEE — A Florida thief with a peculiar penchant for Rolex watches faces up to 25 years in jail.
Leonardo Perez has pleaded guilty to charges he stole eight gold Rolex Presidential edition watches, each worth $50,000, over four months in 2007.
Perez was supposed to be sentenced Thursday in Orange County, but the hearing was delayed.
He’s picky, but prolific. The 2007 crime spree began just after Perez finished a 17-year sentence for stealing Rolexes in South Florida.
— Herald wire services
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