Warren Bendix, the Stuart resident who found $3,100 hidden inside a framed picture that had been discarded in a Dumpster, received the money Thursday. The Stuart Police Department issued a press release that read, in part: “All claims to that property were relinquished by the family of the original owner. … Stuart police turned the funds over to Mr. Bendix. He immediately deposited them in the bank.” (more…)

VERO BEACH — A woman killed Monday as part of a murder-suicide at a nursing home had been staying there for about two months, police said.

Mary P. Lett, 84, and her husband, Frederick R. Lett, 91, of the 4700 block of Bethel Creek Drive, Vero Beach, were found dead in the courtyard of the Royal Palm Convalescent Center about 8:50 a.m., Vero Beach police said. The center is in the 2100 block of 10th Avenue.

Police believe Frederick Lett shot his wife during a visit and then turned the gun on himself.
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ST. LUCIE COUNTY — One person is dead and another was in surgery after an attempted murder/suicide involving a husband and wife, St. Lucie County sheriff’s deputies said.

Authorities suspect William Beck, 54, used a .32-caliber gun to shoot his wife Jacqueline Beck, 54, twice - once in the face and once in the chest - before killing himself inside his home in the 8400 block of Fort Walton Boulevard shortly after 5 p.m. Wednesday. (more…)

STUART — A Palm City man authorities say killed his father and then buried the body in the family’s back yard has been indicted by a Martin grand jury on charges of first-degree murder and tampering with evidence.

The grand jury returned the indictment against Tyson Larimer Chaffin late Wednesday after spending the day hearing evidence presented by Assistant State Attorneys Erin Kirkwood and Bernie Romero.

Chaffin, 26, who is being held without bail at the Martin County jail, is accused of shooting to death his 54-year-old father, Charles Franklin Chaffin. Authorities found his body buried behind his Palm City Farms home on Wisteria Way, near the entrance to Florida’s Turnpike on Martin Downs Boulevard,

A murder investigation was launched by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office after the suspect’s 23-year-old girlfriend, Keisha Stamper committed suicide and her grandmother in Kentucky told deputies she killed herself because she was upset about the murder.

Authorities believe Chaffin shot and killed his father Aug. 1, but the body wasn’t discovered until Aug. 13.

When confronted, Chaffin told detectives he shot his father in the forehead with a .44 caliber handgun during a domestic dispute when he was attempting to remove his belongings from the home, according to arrest reports.

Chaffin said the day before the murder, he’d told his father Stamper had threatened to call police with information that the elder Chaffin was growing marijuana at the home.

On Aug. 1, as Chaffin attempted to get his belongings, he said he saw his father was angry, carrying a handgun and tearing apart the siding on an outside wall near his room.

As a dispute between the two men escalated, according to Chaffin’s statements to authorities, he became fearful for his life and grabbed his gun and fired, striking his father in the head.

He said he then panicked and used a wheelbarrow to carry the body to the back of the property, where he buried Charles Chaffin. After that, he planted three trees over the area.
Melissa E. Holsman, TCPalm.com

VERO BEACH — Absenteeism has doubled at Vero Beach High School in the last week with bomb threats starting off four school days.

And for many students who did show up for school this week, the decision came after a serious conversation at home.

“My daughter tried not to go Monday because of the Columbine anniversary,” parent Darby Dickerson said. “But I told her you can’t let two dead folks from 10 years ago stop you.”
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OKEECHOBEE — A 16-year-old boy was found dead at his Okeechobee County jail cell on Tuesday, his death likely a suicide, officials said.

Shortly before 4:30 p.m., detention deputies found Nelson Brewer hanging by a bed sheet from the top bunk, about five feet from the floor, according to a news release from the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office.

Fire Rescue was called to the scene, but Brewer was pronounced dead soon after its arrival.
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Tristan Allegra

Eryn Allegra

PORT ST. LUCIE — Eryn Allegra said she was sorry in all the letters she wrote to her son.

That’s what police say they found when they searched the Holiday Inn where 8-year-old Tristan Allegra was suffocated to death on Christmas morning.

“You’ll always be my sweet boy,” one letter read.

“You deserved a better mother,” said another.

People who know Allegra, 31, say she is someone who keeps to herself. Doesn’t like to share what she’s thinking. Polite but prefers to keep quiet.

With pen and paper, though, the words just seemed to flow out of her, according to court documents recently released.

Audio

Listen to her talk about her son’s death:

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