The Tampa Free Press

As newspapers nationwide adapt to the shifting demands of their audiences, The Free Press, based in Hillsborough County, Florida, is focused on current needs while also preparing for the future.

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South Carolina Man Gets Life For Horrific Ambush Murder Of Ex-Girlfriend

14 hours ago | tampafp.com | Maria Hernandez |María Hernández

A calculated act of violence has landed a Bluffton man a life sentence behind bars after he ambushed his ex-girlfriend while she was driving her 6-year-old son to school. John Patrick Shea, who turns 30 this Saturday, pleaded guilty to the 2023 murder of Jillian Angner, bringing an abrupt halt to his jury trial on Wednesday.
From Firearm Fury To Fleeing With A Lawnmower: MCSO Nabs Two

18 hours ago | tampafp.com | Maria Hernandez |María Hernández

MONROE COUNTY, Fla. – The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office announced two unrelated arrests on Thursday, June 26, 2025, involving a man charged with aggravated assault and another with burglary. Man Arrested in Gun IncidentDavid Casares, a 42-year-old resident of Little Torch Key, Florida, was arrested Thursday on multiple charges stemming from an incident earlier this month where he allegedly threatened another man with a firearm.
Massachusetts Crackdown: Previously Deported Man Indicted

18 hours ago | tampafp.com | Maria Hernandez |María Hernández

A 32-year-old Salvadoran national, Jose Leonardo Gutierrez-Mendez, has been federally indicted in Boston on one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien, following an operation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston. Gutierrez-Mendez was unlawfully residing in Lynn after having been previously deported in 2014.
Florida Horror: Landlord Attacker Jailed After Hospital Release

19 hours ago | tampafp.com | Maria Hernandez |María Hernández

A man accused of a shocking and brutal attack on his landlord, which included a vehicle ramming into their shared home, is now behind bars. On Thursday. Brian Thomas Leach, 69, was released from medical care and is currently in custody at the Martin County Jail, facing charges of attempted murder. READ :Armed Bandit Targets Kissimmee RaceTrac, Deputies Seek Public’s HelpThe incident unfolded at a two-story residence on NE Ocean View Circle.
Reckless Fleeing Incident Leads To Kidnapping, DUI, And Multiple Charges For Big Pine Key Teen

1 day ago | tampafp.com | Maria Hernandez |María Hernández

BIG PINE KEY, Fla.– A 19-year-old Big Pine Key man faces a litany of charges, including kidnapping and multiple felony traffic offenses, following a dramatic attempt to evade law enforcement on Wednesday afternoon. Romeo Leonardo Hernandez was arrested after a pursuit that spanned multiple keys, involved a collision, and saw him allegedly refuse to let a passenger exit his vehicle.
Georgia Duo Handed Federal Prison Time For Violent South Carolina Jewelry Heist

1 day ago | tampafp.com | Maria Hernandez |María Hernández

Two Georgia men have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in the armed robbery of a Greenville jewelry store in May 2023, a crime that terrorized employees and customers alike. Tony Nico Clark, 35, received a sentence of nine years, while Dedrek Jaquon Hale, 30, was sentenced to nine-and-a-half years. Both men from Atlanta will also face five-year terms of court-ordered supervision upon release, with no possibility of parole in the federal system.
Maryland Man Pleads Guilty To Murdering Girlfriend's Husband

1 day ago | tampafp.com | Maria Hernandez |María Hernández

A Maryland man, Keyon Slaughter, 28, pleaded guilty to the December 2022 murder of Dana Bailey, Jr. The plea agreement, which is subject to court approval, recommends a 16-year prison sentence. Sentencing is scheduled for August 29, 2025. Following his prison term, Slaughter will face five years of supervised release.
Florida Pharmacy Owners, Daughter Busted Again In Expanding Pill Mill Probe

1 day ago | tampafp.com | Maria Hernandez |María Hernández

The owners of Pace Pharmacy, Stephen Allen Burklow and Monique Hunter Burklow, along with their adult daughter, Laikyn Noel Burklow, have been arrested on new charges of illegal drug possession. This latest development comes as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) continues its aggressive crackdown on an alleged “pill mill” operation centered at the Pace establishment.
Supreme Court Opens Door For Texas Death Row Inmates To Seek DNA Testing

1 day ago | tampafp.com | Maria Hernandez |María Hernández

The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that a Texas death row inmate can sue state officials in federal court to pursue post-conviction DNA testing, a decision that could significantly impact how Texas provides access to forensic evidence after conviction. In a 6-3 decision, the high court reversed a Fifth Circuit ruling, finding that Ruben Gutierrez has standing under federal civil rights law to seek a declaratory judgment challenging Texas’s DNA testing procedures as unconstitutional.
Florida Woman Nabbed After Allegedly Swiping Over $20K In Merch From Ulta Beauty, Walgreens

1 day ago | tampafp.com | Maria Hernandez |María Hernández

A notorious “career criminal” who allegedly pilfered more than $20,000 worth of merchandise from South Florida retailers is now facing justice. Attorney General James Uthmeier’s Office of Statewide Prosecution has charged Zatorya Daniels with two counts of organized retail theft, potentially bringing an end to a spree that spanned multiple counties.