Freel was found dead at his home in Jacksonville, Fla. on Saturday afternoon, victim of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police confirmed via the Florida Times-Union. Freel was 36 years old, leaving a wife, Christie, along with at least two daughters, notes C. Trent Rosecrans of CBS Eye on Baseball. First Coast News of Jacksonville reported his death first. Freel played in parts of eight major league seasons, seeing action in 594 games — 544 with the Cincinnati Reds — and four other teams, from
A family finally gets justice three years later Florida Teenager Sentenced To 11-Years For Setting His Classmate On Fire A Florida teenager who was convicted of aggravated battery for setting his classmate on fire in 2009 was recently sentenced to 11 years in prison….even though he maintains that he is innocent. via CBS News A Florida teenager convicted of orchestrating a burning attack on a middle school classmate continued to insist on his innocence as he was sentenced to 11 years in prison Thursday. Circuit Judge Matthew Destry agreed with prosecutors that 18-year-old Matthew Bent was just as much to blame in the 2009 attack on Michael Brewer, who was soaked in alcohol and then set on fire. Brewer was 15 years old at the time. Bent was convicted of aggravated battery in June. Before he was sentenced, Bent turned and apologized to Brewer but said he was not the ringleader. “I didn’t intend for any of this to happen,” he said. “I didn’t tell nobody to do that.” Brewer survived by leaping into an apartment complex swimming pool, but suffered severe burns over two-thirds of his body. In court Thursday, he looked in good shape physically but family members said his skin grafts still cause pain and he suffers from frequent nightmares. Sounds like justice for this boy and his family was long overdue. Images via Shutterstock
Authorities have arrested America’s “Most Wanted” deadbeat dad, according to reports. Robert Sand, 50, of New York, was arrested upon his arrival at Los Angeles International Airport on Tuesday after being deported from the Philippines. He is believed to owe more than $1.2 million in child support. Over the last 10 years, Sand has underreported his income and moved from New York to Florida to Thailand to evade child support payments. Surprisingly, he has “only” three children from two previous marriages. Sand was taken into custody in the Philippines earlier this week. The Office of the Inspector General maintains a list of the most wanted deadbeat parents with info about their possible whereabouts and the sum of money they owe. Until Tuesday, Sand and his seven-figure debts topped the federal list. They have since updated Sand’s mugshot with a “captured” banner. Thank goodness.
A Florida man has been charged with second-degree murder after allegedly shooting his drunken roommate in an argument over a pork chop … seriously. Thomas Hahn, 55, killed one of his three roommates on Tuesday night after the roommate arrived home drunk, according to the Orlando Sentinel . The two had argued about how to cook pork chops and police said the alleged murderer took a .22-caliber Ruger rifle and fired at least three shots. Two shots struck the roommate, killing him immediately . When police arrived at their home, they found Hahn’s 35-year-old victim lying dead on the floor with the alleged shooter sitting nearby. “This appears to be a senseless act of violence stemming from a minor domestic dispute between roommates,” said police Chief Mark Barker in a statement. “There is no clear answer as to why [he] acted with such extreme violence.” Never is. No matter how much views differ on what the best pork chop or pork tenderloin recipe might be, just put the guns down, people. Put them down.
So sad … Teenage Girl Commits Suicide Because Of Online Bullies Jessica Laney, 16, of Hudson, Florida, was a popular soccer-playing high schooler in her real-life, but when she got home to the privacy of her computer she had a busy social media alter-ego on sites such as Tumblr, and Ask.fm, where people can ask questions and make anonymous comments… Via RadarOnline reports: The student at Fivay High School bantered with other users on the site under the name Jessica Marieee1, and while many posts were about boys, songs and make-up, some took on a much more sinister tone, calling her fat and a loser. One visitor asked her, “Can you kill yourself already?” and another commented “nobody even cares about you.” While many of her real friends believe that the taunts from Internet trolls are to blame for Jessica’s death by hanging, an official from the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office says neither Laney’s parents nor Laney’s boyfriend were aware of any bullying in her life. “Our thoughts and prayers go to the Jessica Marie Laney’s family as they deal with their loss. (Pasco County Sheriff’s Office) is not aware of any formal complaint to the Pasco School District or PSO about her being bullied,” said Doug Tobin, Public Information Officer for the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office. However, some telling online comments from Jessica herself on Ask.fm hint at deep rifts in her home-life and trouble with her family. “I miss so many people, but honestly I miss my brother, not the person he is now, but the one he use to be,” she wrote two days before her death. “I know he doesn’t miss me, but it still hurts to know he will never come back and more than likely never talk to me again.” Many of Jessica’s friends are now campaigning to have the controversial website taken down and have launched a petition on Change.org, that has already garnered thousands of signatures. “After I saw that, I thought they should just delete the website. Nobody should have that, to have people say stuff like that on there,” said school pal Laney Torres. The old adage “sticks and stones will break bones, but words will never hurt” is so far from the truth. Parents need to be into their kids business, all of it. Our deepest sympathies to this young girl’s family.
Manuel Pardo was a decorated Florida highway patrolman and police officer, but went off the rails in epic fashion, committing nine murders for which he will be executed Tuesday. Almost 27 years after his killing spree, Pardo, 56, will be put to death Tuesday night at Florida State Prison in Starke, fulfilling a request he made at his 1988 trial. “I am a soldier, I accomplished my mission and I humbly ask you to give me the glory of ending my life and not send me to spend the rest of my days in state prison,” he told the jury. Pardo’s attorneys want to block his execution, arguing in federal appeals that he is mentally ill, something his trial attorney also believed more than two decades ago. “I think that anyone who would get up and ask a jury sentence him to death is insane,” lawyer Ronald Guralnick said recently; his victims have no such qualms. Regino Musa, the brother of one of Pardo’s victims, said it’s difficult to grasp that the execution will finally happen. He and his elderly mother plan to attend. “It’s about time. It’s been so long, you just want to get it over with,” said Musa, whose sister, Sara Musa, was killed by Pardo. “I still have nightmares.” “I don’t have words to describe it. I can’t believe that it’s happening.” Pardo, a former Boy Scout and Navy veteran, began his law enforcement career in the 1970s with the Florida Highway Patrol, graduating at the top of his class. But he was fired from that agency in 1979 for falsifying traffic tickets. He was soon hired by the police department in Sweetwater, a small city in Miami-Dade County. In 1981, Pardo was one of four Sweetwater officers charged with brutality. He was fired four years later after he apparently flew to the Bahamas to testify at the trial of a Sweetwater colleague who was accused of drug smuggling. Pardo lied, telling the court they were international undercover agents. Then over a 92-day period in early 1986, Manuel Pardo committed a series of robberies and worse, killing six men and three women in the process. He took photos of the victims and recounted some details in his diary, which was found along with newspaper clippings about the killing in his home. Pardo was linked to the killings after using credit cards stolen from the victims. He had become fascinated with Adolf Hitler, collecting Nazi memorabilia. His dog, a Doberman pinscher, had a swastika tattoo. “He was very cold,” retired prosecutor David Waksman told the Herald . “He was doing robberies and went home and slept like a baby. He was proud of what he did.”
Lohan catches band’s Philly performance a week after NYC club scuffle with Florida woman, supposedly motivated by Max George. By Jocelyn Vena Lindsay Lohan and The Wanted’s Max George Photo: Getty Images
Just one day after Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez shared a late-night dinner in New York City – where witnesses say they were giggling and in love – this famous twosome was spotted out again in The Big Apple. Following his sold-out show at Madison Square Garden (which was attended by a certain redhead prior to the latest Lindsay Lohan arrest ) yesterday, Bieber and Gomez stopped by Dave and Buster’s in Times Square. And reportedly had themselves a blast! Justin and Selena walked in “arm in arm,” an onlooker tells Us Weekl y, prepared to “play a bunch of games.” They even rode the venue’s indoor roller coaster. Fun! It’s rather clear at this point that the couple has reconciled. They “stole a kiss here and there,” the source adds, and “definitely seemed happy and in love and had a great time.” Earlier in the evening, Gomez was one of thousands to watch Bieber perform at the self-proclaimed World’s Most Famous Arena. A witness says she just stared at her man throughout the show, “transfixed.” That’s so sweet! And only the tiniest bit scary.
George Zimmerman’s autograph is being sold to fund his defense in the high-profile Trayvon Martin murder case … just in case you thought you’d heard everything. Yes, the man who shot and killed Trayvon Martin is sending personally signed thank-you cards to anyone who donates money to his legal defense fund. Each card will be individually signed by George, the identity of all donors will be kept confidential, and the envelope of the cards will not bear his name. Just in case you don’t want the mailman finding out. Why go this route? He’s burdened with hefty “living expenses and legal costs,” according to GZDefenseFund (dot) com, though this claim is debatable. Donors who support George Zimmerman ‘s self-defense claim have reportedly already raised hundreds of thousands for his defense and protection. In any case, Zimmerman will plead not guilty to second-degree murder, citing Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law, at a hearing that could happen as soon as April.
What an idiot . According to FOX News , the woman was photographed by shocked folks on the beach: A Florida woman who was photographed riding a manatee in Fort De Soto Beach, near Tampa Bay, in September, was arrested Saturday on a misdemeanor warrant, authorities said. Ana Gloria Garcia-Gutierrez, 53, of St. Petersburg, was arrested at a Sears store where she works on suspicion of violating the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. Witnesses in the area at the time notified law enforcement of the incident and were able give deputies a description, including photos, of the woman and her location in the waterway. Garcia-Gutierrez turned herself in on Oct. 3, after pictures of her riding the endangered sea mammal were released to the media by law enforcement authorities. During an interview with deputies, Garcia-Gutierrez admitted to touching and riding the manatee, claiming she was new to the area at the time and did not realize it was against state law to touch or harass manatees. The Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act reads in part, “It is unlawful for any person at any time, by any means, or in any manner intentionally or negligently to annoy, molest, harass, or disturb or attempt to molest, harass, or disturb any Manatee”. Gutierrez was released on $1,500 bail, according to The Associated Press. The maximum penalty is a $500 fine and six months in jail. Speechless. Images via tumblr
