TPD Offers Reward on Anniversary of Unsolved Murder [SLIDE SHOW]

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Tallahassee, Florida-Tallahassee Police are offering a monetary  reward in hopes of closing a year-old double-murder investigation.

Last October, three people where shot inside a home on Veda Drive.

Two of them died. A third, a teenage girl, was critically hurt. She’s since recovered.

Tallahassee Police are now offering a $10,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest and conviction in the shooting.

“As time goes by, cases tend to fade away. But what we want the public to know is that we are still trying to find the person who did this. We are not letting this go,” says Officer David Northway, public spokesperson for the Tallahassee Police Department.

Police have named Fletcher Smith a person of interest. Smith was arrested shortly after the shooting on an unrelated charge sexual battery on one of the shooting victims.

Anyone with any information is asked to call the Tallahassee Police Department.

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TPD Release

TPD Offers Reward for Information in Unsolved Murder:

On October 24, 2011 Tallahassee Police officers responded to 2703 Veda Drive in reference to a shooting. Once inside the home, officers found two people deceased and another shot with life threatening injuries. The victim who was shot was immediately transported to a local hospital for treatment where she eventually recovered from her injuries.

During the course of the investigation, TPD discovered one of the shooting victims was also the victim of a sexual battery. Fletcher Smith has been arrested for the sexual battery and is also a person of interest in the homicide investigation.

TPD Homicide investigators are continuing to follow all leads and review the evidence in this case. TPD is asking anyone with information about this case to please contact Investigator Phil Hinds at 891-4731. On the one year anniversary of this tragedy, Chief Dennis Jones has authorized a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who is responsible for this crime.

“We will continue to aggressively investigate this case until all avenues are exhausted and will not stop until the responsible parties are brought to justice. We will work in conjunction with the State Attorney to bring peace to the surviving family members,” said Chief Dennis Jones.

UPDATED 4.10.2012 by Julie Montanaro

A man considered a “person of interest” in a Tallahassee double murder is trying to get out of jail.

Fletcher Smith has never been charged with the killings and his attorney has asked the judge to set bond. He was in court for a bond hearing today.

The murder victims’ family spoke out for the first time today since the early morning murders.

Fletcher Smith has been in jail for the past six months. He’s accused of molesting a young girl.

State Attorney Willie Meggs says Smith is also a person of interest in a shocking double murder.

Yet Smith has never been charged with that crime. So his attorney asked the judge to let him out of jail to await trial.

“It was a big surprise to us when they told us that he was trying to get out,” John Bell said. “My main concern was the kids and everything, making sure everybody was fine.”

John Bell’s younger sister Yamada Bell and her husband Jermaine Siplin were murdered in their Hartsfield Woods home in October 2011.  Court documents say they were shot and killed in their own bed.

Prosecutors are fighting to keep Smith behind bars. Court documents stop short of calling him a suspect in the murders, but the state attorney now admits Fletcher Smith is a “person of interest.”

“Your honor, quite candidly I have not spoken to Mr. Smith yet,” said defense attorney David Collins.

Smith’s family hired a new lawyer just one day before the bond hearing.  He’s the third attorney assigned to the case.

The judge allowed Collins to postpone the bond request.

“Mr. Smith is being held without bond until anything happens,” Circuit Judge Mark Walker said.

Family members of the murdered couple had planned to testify.  They say they’re disappointed, but will be back to make sure Fletcher Smith stays behind bars.

“We know it’s a long process,” John Bell said, “but in due time, we know things are going to work out and we believe in the Lord that everything is going to come to an end and everything is going to be alright.”

The judge did not set a new date for the bond hearing. He says he’ll try to do that by April 24th.

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UPDATED 11.3.2011 by Julie Montanaro

Tallahassee Police are not releasing any new information in a double murder that claimed the lives of Yamada Bell and Jermaine Siplin back on October 24th.

TPD Spokesman David Northway says investigators are still following leads and evaluating evidence in the case. He says TPD has not named any suspects and is not commenting on a motive.

We were the first to report that one of Bell’s ex-boyfriends was arrested on an outstanding warrant the same day as the murders. The sexual battery warrant was issued back in March.

TPD still will not comment on whether he is a suspect or if he is linked to the crime in any way.

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UPDATED 11.3.2011 by Julie Montanaro

FAMU’s college radio station, WANM, launched a food and clothing drive today to help the children of the victims in this double homicide and the family of a slain cab driver.

In each case, three young children were left behind.

WANM is hoping to provide a Thanksgiving basket to each family and clothes for the children.

WANM is airing an announcement every hour in hopes that listeners will donate items and bring them to the station in FAMU’s School of Journalism.

“We obviously can’t bring their parents back,” said programming director Jacquell Lawson (known on the air as “The Apostle), “but we can try to uplift their spirits so we just kinda want to help out and say we’re there, we love you and you know, anyway we can be there we want to try to do that.”

Here is the wish list provided by WANM:

For the children of victims in the double homicide:

FOR AN 8 YEAR OLD GIRL –  CLOTHES SIZE 12 OR 14

FOR AN 11 YEAR OLD GIRL –  CLOTHES ADULT SIZE 1, SHOE SIZE 5

FOR A 9 YEAR OLD BOY –  SIZE 10 PANTS, CHILDREN’S LARGE SIZE SHIRTS AND SIZE 4 SHOES

For the children of slain cab driver O’Bryan Brandy:

FOR AN 8 YEAR OLD BOY – SIZE 8 OR 10 PANTS, MEDIUM OR LARGE SHIRTS

FOR A 10 MONTH OLD BABY-  SIZE 12 MONTHS OR 2T CLOTHES

FOR AN 8 YEAR OLD GIRL – SIZE 10 OR 12 CLOTHES, MEDIUM OR LARGE SHIRTS

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UPDATED 10.26.2011 by Julie Montanaro

Tallahassee Police are not releasing any new information about a double homicide in Hartsfield Woods Monday.

A TPD spokesman could not provide an update on the condition of the third person who was injured.

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UPDATED 10.25.2011 by Julie Montanaro

A double murder that stunned neighbors in Hartsfield Woods is still a whodunnit.

Tallahassee police revealed today the family was targeted, but will not say why or by whom.

Police revealed today that not only had Jermaine Siplin and Yamada Bell been killed, but there were other family members there at the time and one of them was hurt.

Forensic crews were still at work at 2703 Veda Street Tuesday, more than 24 hours after police were called to a disturbance and found 31 year old Jermaine Siplin and 30 year old Yamada Bell dead inside the home.

Police say they are trying to find out who did it and why.

“Are you releasing any information on who you are looking for or if there are any vehicles you’re looking for?”

“If and when that information becomes available to me, I will certainly get it to you as fast as I possibly can,” TPD spokesman Dave Northway said.

We interviewed Yamada Bell in May as she fretted over how she would pay a $1200 electric bill.

“I’ve got four kids, I have to keep the lights on.” she said.

Police revealed that there were other family members home at the time Siplin and Bell were murdered and one of them was hurt.

Sources tell us a teenage daughter is hospitalized, but police won’t confirm that or reveal the extent of the person’s injuries.

“She was injured in the incident, the details are not available to me at this time. Again, because we believe that the family was targeted, we want to take all precautions and keep everybody’s best interest at heart, which is the safety of the family,” Northway said.

The other family members are safe and staying at an undisclosed location while police try to track down the killer. If you have information, call Crime Stoppers at 850-574-TIPS.

We did discover today that one of the mother’s ex-boyfriends was arrested late last night on an outstanding felony warrant that was issued back in March.

U.S. Marshals confirm he was arrested in Midway after police asked for their help tracking him down.

Neither marshals nor police will comment on whether that man is being questioned or if he is considered a person of interest in the double murder.

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Tallahassee, FL — October 25, 2011

Pictures of the crime scene can be found by clicking on the “Photos” tab above.

A third victim sustained injuries in the incident and is currently receiving medical attention at an appropriate facility.

The information about the third victim was not released previously to ensure all security measures were in place for the safety of this victim.

The on-going investigation has led investigators to believe the family is being targeted and for this reason the details of the case are being withheld, allowing the investigators currently working the crimes to develop and work all aspects of the case.

The other family members, who were home at the time, were not injured in the incident and are all safe in an undisclosed location.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Tallahassee Police Department at (850) 891-4200 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 574-8487.

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Tallahassee, Florida – October 25, 2011 -

A double homicide stumped neighbors in Hartsfield Woods and police are tight lipped about what happened inside the house, and who, if anyone, they’re looking for.

Two police forensic vans are parked outside a home on 2703 Veda Street and crime scene crews are working behind those doors.

31-year-old Jermaine Siplin and 30-year-old Yamada Bell were found dead at this home early yesterday morning. Police will not say how they died or if they have a motive or suspect in the case at this point. Neighbors tell us several children live here. Sources tell us the teenage daughter is hospitalized, but we do not yet know why.

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UPDATE 10-24-2011 TPD Press Release

TPD INVESTIGATES DOUBLE HOMICIDE

This morning at approximately 4:30a.m., the Tallahassee Police Department responded to 2703 Veda Street in reference to a disturbance called in by a neighbor. Once on scene, officers located two people deceased inside the residence.

TPD’s Criminal Investigation Division and the Forensic Unit responded to the location and began to investigate what has now been determined to be a double homicide. At this time, investigators are following all leads and exploring all possible scenarios, in this on-going investigation.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Tallahassee Police Department at (850) 891-4200 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 574-8487.

Victims identified as follows: Jermaine Wendell Siplin Black Male DOB: 07/27/80 Yamanda Sheree Bell Black Female DOB: 11/11/80

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UPDATE 10-24-2011 by Jerry Askin

Tallahassee, FL –

At least two people are found dead inside a Tallahassee home. Family and friends have lots of questions what happened inside that house in Hartsfield Woods.

“It’s a huge shock, and definitely something that would worry someone, but hopefully this would be the first and last time.”

Marissa Gajos has lived in her Hartsfield Woods neighborhood for only a few months. She says it’s usually quiet, but now she’s more alert after hearing that multiple people were found dead in this home around 4:30 Monday morning.

Gajos says, “The road that it happened on is the road that my sister and I walk my dog on every single day, so I’m definitely not gonna be taking anymore late night strolls.”

Police would not tell us how many people were killed or how they died, but they call the multiple deaths “suspicious.”

Dustin Pelt/Neighor says, “It’a a shame, I wish everyone could just get along. When you fight and argue you sometimes do things you otherwise wouldn’t do.’

Family and friends have been out here all day, they’re in shock and disbelief, just wanting answers about what happened here at this home.

Family members grieved outside the home all day,  demanding answers from police about what happened and why? Neighbors – worried about their own safety – are anxious to know too

Gajos  adds,”Definitely upsetting, I just can’t believe something like this would happen here.”

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Tallahassee, Florida – October 24, 2011 – Noon -

At least two people are found dead inside a Tallahassee home early this morning. TPD received the call around 4:30 this morning and they’re still working to figure out who is responsible for the multiple deaths at this home.

Caution tape and forensic trucks crowded the home on the 2700 block of Veda Street in Tallahassee. Police say they got the call from a neighbor who heard loud noises coming from the home early Monday morning.  Police would not tell us how many people were found dead or any other information.  About 20 friends and family members were gathered at the scene, but did not want to go on camera. Many of them were very emotional and crying, all still waiting for answers. People living nearby are in shock that this happened in their quiet neighborhood.

Officers say it’s an ongoing investigation and they’ll release more information later.

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Tallahassee, Florida – October 24, 2011 -

The Tallahassee Police Department is investigating suspicious deaths at 2703 Veda Street in the Hartsfield Woods subdivision, according to Officer David Northway with TPD.

Around 4:30 this morning, a neighbor called police about a disturbance.

We will bring you more information as it becomes available.

We have a reporter on the scene. Stay with WCTV for details.

Crime Scene 2

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Tallahassee, FLa. (WTXL) - The Tallahassee Police Department has responded to several incidents involving violence within a short time period.

Police Warn Against Stealing Political Signs

 Tallahassee, Fl-October 31, 2012

The election is less than a week away, and it’s hard to miss the political signs plastered all over town. But if you’re one of those people making these signs disappear, you may  be hit with a hefty fine or even some jail time.

“The reality is, taking anything off of someone else’s property that does not belong to you is a theft,” says Officer David Northway, spokesman for the Tallahassee Police Department.

In Florida, stealing a political sign is considered petty theft, a misdemeanor. It can land you up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine. But if the sign is worth more than $300, that misdemeanor becomes a felony charge that carries a $500 fine and up to five years behind bars.

While none of the agencies WCTV spoke to track the number of stolen signs, they say it’s not uncommon for them to missing. Sometimes, though, it’s not a thief but the city who takes them.

“Sometimes signs are picked up by code enforcement because you may not place a sign of any kind in the median or near a roadway,” says Northway.

If you are worried about your signs being stolen, police say you can request  extra patrols in your neighborhood.

However, police say the best thing you can do is simply bring your signs in at night and put them back out in the morning..

TPD Hosts Sobriety & Safety Checkpoints, Honoring Late Capitol Sgt.

Tallahassee, FL – This evening, the Tallahassee Police Department will be hosting two safety and sobriety checkpoints in the Tallahassee area.

The first checkpoint will run from 9:00pm to 10:00pm and will be in the 1100 block of Thomasville Road. This checkpoint will be dedicated to the late Sgt. Glenn Edrington of the Capitol Police. Sgt. Edrington was killed in a traffic crash in Crawfordville on 9/26/12 while riding his motorcycle.

He was a member of the Leon County DUI Strike Force representing the Capitol Police and was a strong proponent of DUI enforcement in our area. His presence at local checkpoints and Strike Force meetings will be missed.

The second checkpoint will be in the 2500 block of West Tharpe Street from 11:30pm-12:30am.

This checkpoint will be dedicated to the late Samuel “Brooks” Rogers. Brooks was the designated driver on 10/30/11 when his vehicle was struck by an impaired driver.

Brooks lost his life that night. Brooks’ family will be on site providing helpful information and incentive items for those who are found in the checkpoint to be using a designated driver.

The purpose of the checkpoints are to detect drivers who are too impaired to operate a motor vehicle, detect vehicles with faulty equipment, and those operating a vehicle without a driver’s license.

The checkpoints will be well-marked by signage, marked patrol vehicles, and uniformed officers. The checkpoints are designed to have a minimal impact on traffic flow and to save lives.

Events to Honor Slain Officer

• Car Show Registration

Early Morning Shooting at Tom Brown Park

Tallahassee Police Department Release

TPD is currently investigating a shooting which occurred at Tom Brown Park November 23rd at approximately 2:30am. The incident appears to be drug related with the victim refusing to cooperate with TPD officers.  The victim was transported to a local hospital where he is currently being treated for non-life threatening injuries.  The victim would not provide any more information and did not want the police involved.

If anyone has any information about this or any other TPD case, please call (850) 891-4200.

Charges can be dropped any time between arrest and conviction.

Police Investigating Indecent Exposure Incidents

Tallahassee Police Department Release

Tallahassee, FL – The Tallahassee Police Department has responded to two separate incidents of individuals exposing themselves to adult females in the Southwood Community.

It is unknown if the incidents are related and they are actively being investigated at this time.

A description of the suspect provided is:

Suspect: White Male 22-23yoa, 5’9-5’10″ Tall, 170lbs, Medium length brown curly hair, Clean shaven.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PROTECT YOURSELF:

1. Maintain an awareness of your surroundings.
2. Scream Loudly to bring attention to yourself and the perpetrator.
3. Try to remember identifying marks such as: Hair, Eye Color, Tattoos, Piercings,Age, Weight and Height.
4. Notify Law Enforcement immediately; provide dispatcher with as much detail about the incident as possible.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN:

• Do not leave younger children unattended, especially outside.

• Teach you children to never approach a vehicle if someone is in the car trying to get their attention. If someone tries to lure them into a vehicle they should immediately begin yelling for help and run away to a familiar place or adult.

• Teach them that if an adult approaches them when they are alone, in public they should immediately run to the nearest familiar adult or building and tell what happened.

• Teach your child that if they are inappropriately touched by a stranger or a family member, it’s important that they tell you about it.

• Teach your children their address and phone number, including the area code. Instruct them how to use the telephone to call home, and in an emergency, 911. Tell them that it’s all right to share this information with the police.

• Pay close attention to the clothing your child is wearing each day and never display your child’s name on his/or clothes or books. Children will often respond to strangers who call them by name.

For more information about personal safety and other crime prevention techniques, contact The Tallahassee Police Community Relations Division at (850) 891-4251 or the Criminal Investigative Division at (850) 891-4200 if you have information relating to this case.

Tallahassee Loan Business Robbed, Suspect on Loose

Tallahassee, FL – On February 5th at approximately 10:15 AM the Tallahassee Police Department responded to the Advance America located at 3111 Mahan Dr. for an armed robbery.

The suspect entered the business, displayed a handgun, and demanded money from the employee. He fled the area on foot with an undisclosed amount of money.

The suspect is described as a black male wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt over a white button down shirt and a black and white striped tie.

The suspect appeared to be wearing oversized glasses and possibly a fake mustache and goatee.

Anyone with information about this robbery is asked to contact the Tallahassee Police Department at (850) 891-4200.

Deputy Leaves LCSO ‘Not in Good Standing’

Please Click Here To Watch WCTV Video

By: Andy Alcock | WCTV.Tv

Gross insubordination – that finding against a Leon County Sheriff’s Detective led to his leaving the department “not in good standing”.

Records obtained exclusively by Eyewitness News show it wasn’t Derek Terry’s first issue with the sheriff’s department.

The most recent report shows pictures of the wall investigators with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office say Derek Terry punched in October, leaving a hole.

According to the report obtained exclusively by Eyewitness News, Terry punched the wall out of anger at being the focus of back and forth joking with his fellow vice squad members.

The report goes on to say, Terry refused a direct order.

After hearing a second order, the report says Terry cursed and then started walking towards his sergeant with clenched fists stating he would have to be put in handcuffs to stop him from leaving.

The report says a lieutenant had to intervene to stop Terry from advancing.

LCSO legal counsel Major Alan Griner says the investigation is now complete.

“With all the facts, it rose to the level of gross insubinordination,” said Griner.

An LCSO panel recommended Terry’s dismissal from the department.

However, he ultimately accepted a separation agreement.

As part of the agreement, he left LCSO “not in good standing”.

“The separation agreement basically says that the employee agrees to resign in lieu of termination,” said Major Griner.

Terry’s separation from LCSO was not the first internal investigation resulting in a finding against him.

Ten years ago, Terry was the subject of a criminal sexual battery complaint.

He was never arrested or charged with a crime.

However, according to a 2003 Tallahassee Police Department investigation, by his own admission, he had sex three different times with a woman who called LCSO for help.

Terry told investigators the first sexual encounter took place in her bedroom after she agreed to let him set up a surveillance camera there.

The woman told Terry she thought an intruder had been in her bedroom and was also making harassing phone calls.

TPD records show after Terry had sex with the woman in his bedroom, he destroyed the tape.

Terry told TPD investigators he had sex two other times with the woman in his taxpayer funded sheriff’s vehicle.

Following the 2003 TPD investigation, Terry was suspended from the sheriff’s office for twenty days, given six months probation and was reassigned to work at the jail.

Major Griner says Terry kept his job in part because it was his first LCSO misconduct.

“Was his behavior acceptable to the sheriff’s office? No it wasn’t. But was it investigated pursuant to our policies? Yes it was. Was he disciplined? Yes he was,” said Griner.

LCSO records show Terry has been reprimanded two other times.

Once in 2007 for shooting a deer in Kansas without a license…and most recently in 2012 for using a piece of sheriff’s department equipment to look for deleted text messages from his wife’s phone.

Major Griner describes that misconduct as relatively minor.

But he says the gross insubordination on top of the other incidents is not.

“It was kind of a last straw if you will,” said Griner. “He had been given chances,” he said.

We spoke to Terry at his home.

He declined our request for an interview.

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Related Information Regarding Derek Terry:

Herald-Tribune Information On Derek Terry

Tallahassee Police Criminal Investigation For Sexual Battery

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Tallahassee police are looking for a man that shot at an employee of a local Subway restaurant after attempting to rob the business.

Tallahassee police say the incident happened when a man walked into the restaurant, located at 3806 North Monroe Street, with a gun. The employee inside ran out the back door. The man then ran out of the building as well, firing one shot at the worker.

Chris Petley with Leon County Schools said that a nearby school, Springwood Elementary, was on a “heightened sense of alert” as a precautionary measure. Police say the robbery suspect ran in the direction of the school as he fled the scene. Officials released an all-clear notice at 10:23 a.m. Monday morning.

The suspect in the robbery is still at large. He’s described as a 5’8″ -5’9″ tall, 160 pound, African-American man. He was reportedly wearing a ski mask, a black hooded sweatshirt, and blue jeans.

If you have informaton about this incident, contact Tallahassee Police Department at 850-891-4200.

For Your Protection – Burglar-proofing your home