ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The Orange County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) says it is closing homicide cases at a clip most agencies would envy. Its 2023 annual report lists 61 homicides and 50 “cleared” — an 82% rate. On paper, that performance outpaces Florida’s statewide clearance range and the nation’s recent averages.
But the closer you look, the more the numbers rely on accounting choices the public can’t see, and the more unresolved questions remain for families waiting on answers.
What the numbers say versus what they don’t say…