Venice man accused of chloroforming, killing missing woman told nurse he killed 4: Affidavit
VENICE, Fla. - A Venice man has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with a Bradenton woman who vanished in 2024 and is believed to be dead. On Friday, Venice police arrested Ronald Chester Racki, 75, for the murder of 24-year-old Laikyn Marie West. The backstory:. According to the...
El Greco to return in south Sarasota
A Greek eatery that served downtown Sarasota under its original owners for nearly 20 years is reopening in South Sarasota location in the coming months. El Greco Kitchen & Market will be located at 4035 Clark Road in the Expo shopping center near the Sawyer Road intersection. Relatives of the founders of El Greco...
Sarasota County, FL – Rescue Alert: Missing Hiker Found at Deer Prairie Creek Preserve
Country Herald is Local News, Independent Pulse. Covering breaking local news, sports, lifestyle and events. Sarasota County, Florida – A missing hiker was located within minutes of deputies arriving at Deer Prairie Creek Preserve, prompting a coordinated rescue response Thursday. According to the Sarasota County...
Three charged in gas station robbery, Sarasota Police say
SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - Three teenagers have been arrested by Sarasota Police in connection with an armed robbery at a gas station Feb. 18. Christopher Woo-Piner, 18, a 16-year-old and a 15-year-old were arrested Feb. 20. They are facing charges of armed robbery with a firearm. On Feb. 18, at...
Sarasota’s Leonard Reid House turns 100
The non-profit that runs a cultural center in the historic building is throwing a party this weekend. JW: Now, we’re taking a journey back through a century of our city’s history. The Leonard Reid House is marking its 100th anniversary this Saturday—a milestone that celebrates not just a building, but the very...
Arrest in 1999 Sarasota murder prompts renewed push for cold case tips
SARASOTA COUNTY, Fla. — A breakthrough in a 26-year-old murder case is renewing calls for more information on cases that remain unsolved. The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of a man accused of killing Esco Hunter Jr. in 1999. His van was found on fire and his body was discovered the next day.
Sheriff’s Office launches educational campaign about use of electric vehicles, including e-motos and golf...
Increasing number of complaints and injuries prompted initiative, deputy says. This week, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office formally launched a campaign to educate the public about the legal use of electric bikes and “e-motos,” an issue that communities across the country are addressing as the vehicles are being...
Questions remain about changes coming to Stickney Point Plaza
SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - Sarasota County commissioners are moving forward with the $21 million purchase of the Stickney Point Plaza, which sits just before the South Bridge to Siesta Key. The seller, Big Main LLC, had purchased the property in 2024 for $8.9 million. County commissioners are now planning to...
Three High School Students Dead After Principal’s Hypnosis Exercise: Full Story, Aftermath, and Legal...
You step into a story that started in a small Florida high school and quickly spun into national headlines. Three teens who had private hypnosis sessions with their principal died within weeks of one another, and families, the school district, and the public demanded answers about what went wrong. You will learn who...
Iconic Sarasota ‘dive bar’ site sells for $3.35 million
Cock & Bull , an iconic Sarasota craft beer bar and live music venue, has a new owner after a local real estate investor and past patron purchased the property for $3.35 million. The decision was an easy one for Frank Giuffre, who purchased roughly two acres that include the establishment at 975 Cattlemen Road and...
