In Leigha Mumby’s trial on a vehicular homicide charge over the death of her boyfriend subsequent to a 2025 car crash, defense attorney Reid Hart effectively dismantled portions of the state reconstruction testimony while the state fell short of proving homicidal intention behind Mumby’s driving. Jurors hear closing arguments Wednesday morning.
Cops/Courts
Crash Histories and Personal Traumas Frame Jury Selection in Leigha Mumby’s Vehicular Homicide Trial
Jurors faced questioning about their histories of personal trauma, especially car crashes, in the first day of Leigha Mumby’s trial on a homicide charge in the death of Daniel Waterman, her boyfriend at the time of the crash on I-95 in Palm Coast in 2025. A jury of five women and three men was seated.
DeSantis Withdraws Death Warrant for Sick Inmate Who’d Been Refused Care
Gov. Ron DeSantis has withdrawn the death warrant for William Lee Thompson, who was scheduled to be one of two inmates executed on Tuesday.
DeSantis didn’t state a reason for the change in his Thursday afternoon letter to Florida State Prison Warden Randall Polk, but it comes as Thompson’s counsel and opponents of the death penalty have reported the 74-year-old inmate has several health issues including dementia and heart failure
She’s Accused of Intentionally Crashing Her Car in Anger at Her Boyfriend. He Died. Trial Starts Monday.
Leigha Catherine Mumby faces trial on two felony charges, including vehicular homicide, for the crash that eventually took the life of her boyfriend, Daniel Waterman. Pre-trial rulings exclude his statements he made before he died and suggesting that she wanted to hurt him, significantly strengthening the defense’s position.
Memory Hole: Court Erases Hope Florida Grand Jury Report, Silencing Anyone Who’d Defend It
The grand jury report that put Attorney General James Uthmeier at the center of a “sophisticated scheme” to move $10 million from a Medicaid settlement into his political committee was erased Wednesday by a state appeals court, in an appeal in which no one was allowed to argue in defense of the report, the court’s own opinion shows.
Modern Palm Coast Fire Station 22 Marks Ceremonial Opening as Its Historic Kin Awaits Money and Makeover
Palm Coast celebrated the opening of modern Fire Station 22 in a decoupling ceremony this morning. The facility replaces a 1977 building the City Council hopes to transform into a visitor center and the home of the Palm Coast Historical Society. Chief Kyle Berryhill praised community support for emergency services and referred to the station as “a very hopeful place.”
Old Kings Elementary Teacher Arrested in Theft of Colleague’s Prescription Drugs
A 51-year-old exceptional student education teacher at Old Kings Elementary school was arrested on a felony charge of drug possession after allegedly stealing prescription pills from a colleague at work.
Palm Coast Fire Station 22 Grand Opening Set for Thursday Morning
The City of Palm Coast and the Palm Coast Fire Department will host a grand opening and hose uncoupling ceremony Thursday morning for the new Fire Station 22, replacing a facility that served the community for more than 50 years.
15 Years in Prison for 18-Year-Old West Flagler Burglar, 20 Years for 64-Year-Old CSAM Collector
Circuit Judge Dawn Nichols sentenced an 18-year-old property thief to 15 years in prison and 10 on probation and a 64-year-old child exploitation offender to 20 years in prison and 15 on probation this morning.
29-Year-Old Arrested at Taco Bell for Exposure in May Now Faces 10 Felony Charges for CSAM
Brandon Augustin Irizarry was served time at the Flagler County jail for petty theft and a probation violations as authorities in another county were investigating illicit material on his phone. Detectives transferred the case from Broward County to Flagler County, leading to 10 new felony charges.
DeSantis Signs 2nd Death Warrant in a Week for Record 20th Execution of Year
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed his second death warrant within a week, putting the state in position to exceed its modern-era record for executions in a single year set in 2025. DeSantis on Monday signed a warrant for Jesse Guardado, 64, to be executed Nov. 5 at Florida State Prison for the murder of a Walton County woman in 2004.
Three-Vehicle Crash on State Road 100 Leaves One Dead and 3 Seriously Injured
A man whose age and name the Florida Highway Patrol did not release was killed in a three-vehicle crash Friday night on State Road 100 near Black Point Road, west of Bunnell. A 28-year-old Bunnell man and an elderly couple from Keystone Heights were seriously injured.
Bunnell Commission Rejects Severance for Alvin Jackson and Appoints Police Chief Brannon as Interim Manager
Bunnell commissioners unanimously accepted the abrupt resignation of City Manager Alvin Jackson and subsequently voted to deny his controversial requests for severance, holiday payouts, and unearned benefits. Former police chief Dave Brannon was appointed the interim city manager by a unanimous vote, setting the stage for new municipal leadership.
County Fire Rescue Hires Three Graduates of Flagler Schools’ Fire Academy
A trio of fire rescue specialists from Flagler Schools is putting their education and training to work in service to their community. Flagler Palm Coast High School (FPC) graduates Joseph Mione, Bradley Loughran, and Victoria King, began their careers with Flagler County Fire Rescue.
Florida Prison Officials Refusing Care to ‘Profoundly Sick’ Inmate Scheduled for Oct. 13 Execution
Florida prison officials are refusing to give “profoundly sick” William Lee Thompson, 74, medical care while he waits for his scheduled execution October 13, drawing objections from more than 100 doctors. Thompson is the first known gravely ill prisoner who has been forced to live on death watch, a specialized and highly restrictive housing unit in Starke where inmates with signed death warrants await their execution, and where medical care is limited.
Bunnell Manager Alvin Jackson Resigns Even as He Withholds Decision From Staff in Closed-Door Meeting
Bunnell City Manager Alvin Jackson has resigned, ending an eight-year tenure that in the past several months unraveled as he was criticized by commissioners and members of the public for a lack of transparency, of machinating secret deals, and of improper, possibly illegal conduct. Bunnell Police Chief Dave Brannon is set to be named interim manager at a special meeting Monday.
16-Year-Old Palm Coast Girl Arrested for Reporting Repeated Swatting Threats on FortifyFL
A 16-year-old Palm Coast girl faces felony charges for making multiple false threats through FortifyFL, the tool for students and others to report security concerns, diverting significant law enforcement resources.
2nd Palm Coast Murder-Suicide in 5 Weeks Leaves Two Dead; Shooter Had Planned It, Note Reveals
Flagler County Sheriff’s Office detectives are investigating the second murder-suicide in Palm Coast in five weeks following the shooting death of a couple in the W-Section late Wednesday night. Rakim-Shakur Khalil-Abdullah Brooks, also known as David Brooks, 55, shot his wife of two years, Dawn Estrella, 47, several times in her bedroom, killing her, then shot himself in the head in the garage at 42 Weyanoke Lane.
Flagler Forum Exposes Deep Uncertainty and Evasions on Proposed Amendment 3 Homestead Exemptions
At a Flagler Tiger Bay Forum Wednesday evening, former Sen. Jeff Brandes warned of catastrophic local revenue losses and severe service cuts if Amendment 3, the proposal to raise the homestead exemption and sharply cut local tax revenue is approved in November. Constitutional officers voiced alarm as well, contrasting sharply with Palm Coast City Council member Theresa Pontieri, who defended the tax shift through user fees and dismissed opposition as “propaganda.”
Sheriff Staly Introduced New Helicopter, Soon to Extend Flagler’s Policing and Medevac Capabilities
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly publicly presented the agency’s newly acquired Bell helicopter this morning at the Operations Center in Bunnell. Acquired after talks regarding a joint 24-hour rescue operation stalled with the county, the aircraft provides night vision and rapid medical transport capabilities, filling critical operational gaps during evening and early morning hours for local residents.
Vice President JD Vance’s Mother Shares Raw Recovery Journey in Talks at Jail and Sheriff’s Operations Center
Beverly Vance Aikins addressed inmates at the Flagler County jail and, later, an audience of officials and members of the addiction recovery community at the Sheriff’s Operations Center today, detailing her descent into severe drug addiction, her near-fatal overdose, and her ultimate recovery. Invited by Sheriff Rick Staly, the mother of the vice president shared her personal redemption story to encourage individuals battling substance abuse.
College Professor Re-Arrested on 3 Counts of Molesting 15-Year-Old Runaway in Palm Coast
Former college professor Richard Tapia faces new felony child molestation charges after an initial arrest for interfering with minor custody. He is being held on $350,000 bond at the Flagler County jail and three charges of raping a 15-year-old at the Microtel in Palm Coast.
Florida Launches Newly Designed Driver Licenses and Identification Cards
Beginning Wednesday (Sept. 30), the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) will begin issuing a newly designed Florida driver license and identification card featuring elements of Florida’s history.
How AI-Powered Bungling by Jacksonville Cops Cost a Father His Freedom and $45,000
Nick was the latest victim of artificial intelligence-powered law enforcement, which has been misused to arrest the innocent by lazy or bumbling police officers from coast to coast – in this case, cops working for the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. The 38-year-old man’s case is among a string of wrongful arrests linked to faulty use of facial recognition and a lack of investigative rigor.
57-Year-Old Bunnell Man Killed in Pick-Up Truck Crash on U.S. 1 Near RV Park
Thomas L. Tigner, a 57-year-old resident of Bunnell (formerly of Palm Coast), was killed moments before midnight Friday in a single-vehicle crash on U.S. 1, south of Education Way and Royal Palms Parkway.
Sheriff’s Investigative Services Chief Graduates From FBI Executive Development Seminar
Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Investigative Services Division Chief Augie Rodriguez graduated from the FBI Florida Executive Development Seminar Session XXVII in Destin.
Investigators Find Millions of Dollars Wasted in Trump Immigration Detention Dragnets
Government investigators released a report that found the Department of Homeland Security wasted more than $20 million in federal funding in its rapid expansion of immigration detention, including warehouse purchases strongly opposed in numerous U.S. communities.
Foregoing Surprises This Time, Palm Coast Council Approves Tax Rate and Budget, With 2 New Deputies
The Palm Coast City Council approved the coming fiscal year’s budget and property tax rate during a brief final hearing. Council members had resolved previous disputes by restoring funding for two sheriff deputies through departmental cuts. The budget includes significant borrowing and drawing down the reserves to settle buy land in Town Center as part of a settlement of a lawsuit with the Town Center developer.
Nearly 10 Years in Prison for Man Who Threatened Randy Fine; Defense Signals “Disparities”
Edwin Guerrero received a nearly 10-year federal prison sentence for sending graphic antisemitic threats to U.S. Rep. Randy Fine when he was a Florida legislator. The defense highlighted a difficult childhood and sentencing disparities compared to similar cases, while Fine condemned the threats against his family.
Former Flagler County Engineer Faith al-Khatib Lawsuit Heads Toward Mediation and High Stakes Trial
A mediation session in the civil case of former Flagler County Engineer Faith al-Khatib’s two-year-old lawsuit against her former employer is scheduled for Oct. 1. Failing that, a two-week trial beginning Oct. 26 has been scheduled before Circuit Court Judge Sandra Upchurch at the Flagler County courthouse. The trial may open the widest window yet into the inner workings of the county administration.
Melvin Adona Defense Appeals 10-Year Prison Sentence for Hit-and-Run Deaths Over Procedural Error
The defense attorney for Melvin Adona, the man Circuit Judge Dawn Nichols sentenced to 10 years in prison for the hit-and-run deaths of two people in Bunnell in 2023, is asking an appellate court to vacate the sentence and order a new sentencing hearing, but before a different judge. The defense argues Nichols committed a fundamental error, imposing sentence before hearing closing statements from the defense and the prosecution.
Ring Camera Helps Lead to Arrest of Palm Coast Man on Molestation Charges, Exposing Him to Life in Prison
Christopher Campbell, 35, of Palm Coast, was arrested on two felony charges of molestation that carry a maximum penalty of life in prison for the alleged molestation of a girl younger than 12, including an incident that was captured on a Ring doorbell camera.
Flagler Sheriff’s Detention Cmdr. Nolie St. Fleur Graduates from FBI National Academy
Commander St. Fleur began his FCSO career as a detention deputy in August 2006. In his current role as a Detention Watch Commander within the Court and Detention Services Division, he oversees the care, custody and control of inmates at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility. Outside of his regular duties, Commander St. Fleur is also a member of FCSO’s Honor Guard team and a Creole interpreter.
How Flagler County’s $10 Million Dedicated Emergency Shelter and Expo Hall Became a Cat-5-Resistant Reality
For the first time in its history, Flagler County has a dedicated emergency shelter: the $10 million Expo Hall is opening at the County Fairgrounds, with a ribbon-cutting next Wednesday. The 16,000-square-foot facility is the brainchild of County Commission Chair Leann Pennington and Emergency Management Director Jonathan Lord.
Palm Coast Circle K Assistant Manager Arrested For Stealing Thousands In Lottery Tickets
Palm Coast resident and Leandra S. Tarpley faces a third-degree felony grand theft charge after deputies determined she stole thousands of dollars in lottery tickets from the Circle K on State Road 100 where she was the assistant manager.
Firefighters Rescue Two Horses Trapped in Deep Mud
Flagler County Fire Rescue’s Technical Rescue Team 312 on Wednesday assisted the Volusia County team with the rescue of two horses trapped in deep mud within the Dexter-Mary Farms Wildlife Management Area. Both horses were extricated and evaluated.
Sheriff Staly Was Set to Fire Ex-Chief Deputy Joe Barile: Documents Cast Harsh Light on Resignation
A pair of documents, a public one by former Flagler County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Joe Barile and an internal one by Sheriff Rick Staly, cast a much harsher but clearer light on what led to the sudden resignation of Barile last week after less than two years on the job. Barile was about to be fired. He chose the resignation route the sheriff offered, and has signaled his intention to be sheriff one day.
The Eagle, or At Least the Sheriff’s Bird, Has Landed at Mosquito Control After Months of Storage in Lakeland
The Flagler County Sheriff’s newly acquired helicopter landed at the East Flagler Mosquito Control District Tuesday and is now permanently housed at the district’s hangar. Both agencies signed an interlocal agreement outlining shared ground operations. An attempt to run Flagler County FireFlight 24 hours, before the acquisition of the new helicopter, failed.
Alligator Alcatraz Used Small Cages to Confine Migrants
When federal investigators showed up unannounced at the sprawling pop-up prison in the Florida Everglades in January, they found something they had never seen at any other immigration detention center in the country: Detainees at “Alligator Alcatraz” were being held for up to nearly two hours in small metal cages roughly the size of a phone booth.
Cyclist Is Killed in Dawn Collision with Pick-Up Truck on U.S. 1 North of Royal Palms Parkway
A cyclist was killed in a collision with a pick-up truck shortly after 6 this morning on U.S. 1 just north of Royal Palms Parkway, in the northbound lanes. A Ford F-150 appears to have struck the cyclist head-on.
County Joins Mounting Challenges Against Bunnell Board’s Approval of 610-Acre Garbage Dump
Flagler County commissioners unanimously agreed to appeal the Bunnell planning board’s approval, barely past months of secrecy, of a 610-acre landfill, initiating administrative pushback, and exploring dispute resolutions ahead of a potential lawsuit. The county’s actions may not be the only litigation Bunnell will face over the landfill.
Flagler County Man Faces Felony Animal Cruelty Charge After Starving a 27-Year-Old Horse
Jim Tyrone Lee, 41, faces a third-degree felony charge for aggravated animal cruelty after investigators found a 27-year-old horse severely emaciated at a property on County Road 13 in Bunnell. Medical exams revealed inadequate nutrition compounded by untreated pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction. The animal gained weight in rescue care.
Lawsuit Filed Against Trump Move to ICE-Up Polling Places
Latino advocacy groups and voting rights organizations Thursday filed a suit in federal court challenging the Trump administration’s policy of allowing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to enter polling locations in certain circumstances to conduct immigration enforcement during the 2026 midterm elections.
Commander Rob Tarczewski Graduates Florida Sheriffs Association’s Academy
The Florida Sheriffs Association (FSA) honored 41 graduates from the prestigious FSA Commanders Academy. Among the graduates was Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Commander Rob Tarczewski.
Flagler County Memories of 9/11, pt. 2:
‘A Day Remembered for Unimaginable Courage and Sacrifice’
In the second of two parts commemorating the 25th anniversary of 9/11, 19 prominent members of the Flagler County community remember that day and reflect on how it changed them, and how it changed the nation. Today’s contributors are Bobby Bossardet, Colleen Walsh Conklin, Ty Miller, Howard Holley, Jonathan Lord, Lance Blanchette, Jay Livingston, Kyle Berryhill, Michael Rodriguez, Brynn Newton, Kyle Totten, Jane Mealy, Michael McGlothlin, David Ayres, Jeff Douglas, Rick de Yampert, Linda Hansen, Alvin Jackson and Monica Campana.
Florida Kills Daniel Conahan Jr. for 1996 Murder of Richard Montgomery in 43rd Execution on DeSantis Watch
Daniel Owen Conahan Jr. was put to death by lethal injection Thursday at Florida State Prison for the 1996 strangulation of 21-year-old Richard Allen Montgomery in Charlotte County. Conahan is the 15th inmate killed this year by the state after a modern-era record 19 in 2025. It is the 43rd execution on Gov. Ron DeSantis’s watch.
Flagler County Memories of 9/11, pt. 1:
‘Who Will Soothe This Nation’s Soul?’
In the first of two parts commemorating the 25th anniversary of 9/11, 16 prominent members of the Flagler County community remember that day and reflect on how it has changed the nation since. Today’s contributors are Patrick Juliano, Andrea Totten, Penny Overstreet, LaShakia Moore, Al Hadeed, John Phillips, Stephen Bickel, Rick Staly, Tom Leek, Dale Martin, Cari Presley, Jake Scully, Brittany Kershaw, Marc Dwyer and Craig Uppercue.
Flagler Chief Deputy Joseph Barile Resigns Abruptly as Sheriff Scraps the Position and Alludes to Budget
Flagler County Chief Deputy Joseph Barile abruptly resigned today after serving in the position since January 2025. Sheriff Rick Staly said in a release that the agency will eliminate the administrative post to offset municipal and county budget shortfalls. There was no further explanation about Barile’s resignation, though in retrospect, his absence alongside the sheriff at a high-profile press conference two weeks ago may be telling.
Florida Attorney general Uthmeier Sues Netflix, Claiming It Targets Children
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed a lawsuit against Netflix today, claiming it violated state law by telling consumers it wouldn’t track and sell their data to advertisers, and that it’s keeping targeting children to keep them “tethered to the screen.”
Darnell Hairston, Kidnapper and Torturer of 11-Year-Old Boy, Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison
Circuit Judge Dawn Nichols today sentenced Darnell Hairston, the 61-year-old felon and sex offender charged with kidnapping and torturing a minor late last year, to two 30-year prison terms and a five-year prison term, all to be served concurrently. Assistant State Attorney melissa Clark had sought a life term for Hairston, who has a violent, lurid past.