Crime Archive

The Florida Department of Financial Services arrested a 46-year-old Gulf Breeze woman Oct. 12 on charges of insurance fraud.

Derrick Ray Thompson, 42, of the 5700 block of Star Lane in Panama City, was arraigned Monday in the murders of 60-year-old Steven Zackowski and 59-year-old Debra Zackowski of Milton.

A 63-year-old Milton woman is facing a felony charge after deputies said she shot a victim in the head in connection with a domestic dispute.

First Judicial Circuit Judge John Miller has sentenced 35-year-old John David Thomas Jr., of Alvin, Texas, to serve the remainder of his natural life in prison for the molestation of an 8-year-old Gulf Breeze girl.

When officers searched a Hillview Court home in early October, they found a grocery list and a related recipe. But the list wasn’t for Saturday errands, and the recipe wasn’t for apple pie. Instead, it was an outline of ingredients and directions to produce methamphetamines.

70-year-old Paul Frank Small, Jr. has been found guilty by a Santa Rosa County jury of two counts of sexual battery upon a child less than 12 years of age, lewd or lascivious molestation and lewd or lascivious exhibition in the presence of a child. Small was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences with an additional 15 year sentence.

A local carjacker has been sentenced to 20 years minimum mandatory in a state prison. 19 year old Brianna Nicole Armour used the social media website “tagged.com” to lure three victims into meeting her at which point she either stole or attempted to steal their car each time.

A vehicle theft ring that targeted victims along Hwy 98 in Navarre and Gulf Breeze has been stopped. A total of five suspects were arrested and all six vehicles including a Chevy Tahoe and a Z71 have been recovered.

A Craigslist search for a “female companion” apparently turned into a violent robbery in the early hours of Aug. 27 in Gulf Breeze. Steven Carl Struck told Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office deputies that he had been corresponding via e-mail and text messaging with a woman as a result of the ad. The woman, later identified as Holly Caudle, identified herself as “Gloria,” upon arrival at his home at 2 a.m.. She was accompanied by another man, later identified as Robert Fraser. According the report, Struck allowed both into his home after they asked to use the restroom.

20-year-old James “Hunter” Gates of Pace, Fl has been charged with homicide-negligent manslaughter after firing a shotgun while under the influence of alcohol.