Woman Indicted For Murder Of Private Investigator
November 8, 2017
An Escambia County grand jury has indicted Ashley McArthur for the first degree murder of Taylor Wright.
McArthur, 40, was arrested last month for the death of 33-year old Wright, a private investigator and former police officer. Wright’s body was found off Britt Road, just west of County Road 97 near Muscogee Road in Cantonment. Wright was reported missing to police on September 7.
On September 14, Wright’s girlfriend reported that she was missing. The girlfriend gave a sworn statement to Pensacola Police that Wright had not been seen or heard from since September 8. Prior to her disappearance, Wright had told her girlfriend that she had placed a large amount of money in a safe deposit box that belonged to McArthur, her friend. Wright said she had tried to get her money back from McArthur several times with no success. Wright was trying to get the money back from McArthur for court proceedings related to Wright’s pending divorce.
On September 8, Wright and McArthur met so Wright could get her money. Wright and the girlfriend communicated back and forth via text until about 11:20 a.m. When the girlfriend did not hear back from Wright after numerous texts, she called McArthur. McArthur answered and said Wright could not come to the phone because she was riding a horse.
The girlfriend continued to try to communicate with Wright with no success until 7:58 p.m. when she received a text from Wright’s phone stating that she needed time to think and get her life on track.
On September 18, McArthur met with a Pensacola Police detective. She told the detective that she had picked Wright up on the morning of September 8 and they drove to various locations during the day before going to McArthur’s family property in East Milton to ride horses. She said they were there for about an hour before heading back to McArthur’s residence in the Pensacola city limits about 4:45 p.m. McArthur claimed that she went inside her house, and when came back out shortly, Wright was gone.
During the investigation, McArthur’s bank records and cell phone records were obtained. Bank records show that on August 16, McArthur deposited a cashier’s check in Wright’s name for the amount of $34,000 into McArthur’s personal checking account. The money has since been spent.
On September 14, Wright’s girlfriend reported that she was missing. The girlfriend gave a sworn statement to Pensacola Police that Wright had not been seen or heard from since September 8. Prior to her disappearance, Wright had told her girlfriend that she had placed a large amount of money in a safe deposit box that belonged to McArthur, her friend. Wright said she had tried to get her money back from McArthur several times with no success. Wright was trying to get the money back from McArthur for court proceedings related to Wright’s pending divorce.
On September 8, Wright and McArthur met so Wright could get her money. Wright and the girlfriend communicated back and forth via text until about 11:20 a.m. When the girlfriend did not hear back from Wright after numerous texts, she called McArthur. McArthur answered and said Wright could not come to the phone because she was riding a horse.
The girlfriend continued to try to communicate with Wright with no success until 7:58 p.m. when she received a text from Wright’s phone stating that she needed time to think and get her life on track.
On September 18, McArthur met with a Pensacola Police detective. She told the detective that she had picked Wright up on the morning of September 8 and they drove to various locations during the day before going to McArthur’s family property in East Milton to ride horses. She said they were there for about an hour before heading back to McArthur’s residence in the Pensacola city limits about 4:45 p.m. McArthur claimed that she went inside her house, and when came back out shortly, Wright was gone.
During the investigation, McArthur’s bank records and cell phone records were obtained. Bank records show that on August 16, McArthur deposited a cashier’s check in Wright’s name for the amount of $34,000 into McArthur’s personal checking account. They money has since been spent.
McArthur’s phone records never showed her in the area of the family property in East Milton, instead her phone showed her in the area of Beulah on September 8 from 11:52 a.m. until 1:44 p.m. and again from 2:40 p.m. until 3:33 p.m. Police discovered that McArthur’s family has property at 2201 Britt Road, in the same area as her phone indicated.
Pictured top and bottom: Taylor Wright. Pictured mugshot, inset: Ashley McArthur.
Ernest Ward Middle Honors Veterans (With Photo Gallery)
November 8, 2017
Ernest Ward Middle School paused to honor veterans from the across the area Thursday morning.
The school’s chorus performed patriotic music and a special dramatic presentation centered around the men of Iwo Jima was performed by the drama class. Guest speaker was Master at Arms First Class Wartley-Banks from Pensacola.
The annual Veterans Day program at Ernest Ward is a longstanding community tradition, held annually for about the last 25 years.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Pictured top: An Ernest Ward Middle School drama presentation centered around the men of Iwo Jima. Pictured inset: EWMS Assistant Principal Virkeisha Palmer performs “God Bless the USA”. Pictured below: Numerous local veterans were recognized, including World War II veteran Raymond Norris. Pictured bottom: Another scene from the Iwo Jima presentation. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Florida House Plan Would Make It Harder To Raise Taxes
November 8, 2017
After a brief pep talk from Gov. Rick Scott, House members got moving Tuesday on an election-year proposal that would make it harder for future lawmakers to raise taxes.
The Republican-dominated House Ways & Means Committee, voting along party lines, backed the proposal (PCB WMC 18-01), which would ask voters in November 2018 to pass a constitutional amendment that would require approval from two-thirds “supermajorities” of the House and Senate to raise taxes and fees in the future. Currently, tax and fee hikes can be approved by simple majorities of 50 percent plus one.
Scott, who is widely expected to run for U.S. Senate in November 2018, made a rare appearance before the House committee to lobby for the measure, along with a nearly $180 million package of tax and fee cuts he introduced Monday.
“I think it (the proposed constitutional amendment) will pass, and I think it will make sure our state continues to be the state that all over our kids and grandkids can get a great education and also get great jobs,” Scott told the committee, which didn’t ask any questions.
If lawmakers go along with the proposal, it would need support from 60 percent of voters during the November 2018 election to pass.
Scott later told reporters that he appeared before the committee because it’s important “we don’t raise taxes,” a stance he credits for helping the state’s economic and employment growth.
Asked if there was a concern the proposal could tie lawmakers’ hands in generating revenue during a future downturn, Scott replied that “you shouldn’t raise them anytime, but it’s even worse for a family when they’re struggling.”
The Ways & Means Committee is typically where the House crafts an annual tax-cut package.
Rep. Tom Leek, an Ormond Beach Republican who is sponsoring the measure, said lawmakers will find a way if they want to raise taxes.
“If the position is that we won’t have the political will to do what is necessary in an emergency, I think history proves you wrong,” Leek said.
Kurt Wenner, vice president for research at Florida TaxWatch, preferred a three-fifths threshold.
“It doesn’t get to where, basically, a third of the members could defeat something,” he said.
Rich Templin, a lobbyist for the Florida AFL-CIO, argued against the proposal, saying it will limit future lawmakers from enacting “sound fiscal policy” when the economy sours.
“Contrary to what many in this building will say, Florida is not doing well right now, and this locks us into not just mediocrity, but at the bottom,” Templin said. “This is a bumper-sticker issue, easy to oversimplify, easy to pass. But that doesn’t make it right.”
Brian Pitts, who is with the group Justice-2-Jesus and is known in the Capitol for providing commentary on a wide range of issues, questioned why the issue is being advanced through the Legislature instead of the Florida Constitution Revision Commission.
“If we’ve got them installed to do this, and this body, its leadership appointed members to it, let them do it,” Pitts said.
The 37-member commission, whose members were mostly appointed by Scott, House Speaker Richard Corcoran and Senate President Joe Negron, is reviewing potential constitutional amendments to put on the ballot in November 2018. The commission meets every 20 years.
by The News Service of Florida
FWC Law Enforcement Report
November 8, 2017
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the two-week period ending November 2 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
No report was received for Escambia County.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Hutchinson was patrolling in Blackwater WMA when he observed a man parked near an area where a small food plot had been illegally planted. He located the hunter overlooking the small plot. The hunter admitted to planting the food plot and baiting that site as well as another site in Blackwater WMA. Officer Hutchinson issued the man a notice to appear for hunting over bait in a WMA.
Officer Hutchinson received information that a subject had caught an oversized redfish and kept it. He located the carcass and interviewed the suspect who admitted taking the 33” redfish. Officer Hutchinson issued the man a notice to appear for harvesting an oversized redfish.
Over the past week, Officer Jones answered a total of six nuisance bear complaints in residential neighborhoods. These complaints ranged from Midway in the Navarre/Gulf Breeze area to East Milton. All were directly related to human attractants being left unsecured creating a hazard to people, pets and bears. Officer Jones assisted the residents in the area on living in bear country through educational literature and documentation of noncompliance letters.
Officer Ramos was notified in the early morning that three men were stranded on Yellow River WMA. The men were cold and thirsty after spending the night stuck in the woods with very limited cell phone service. Officer Ramos located the men, and with the assistance of Officers Rockwell and Tolbert, got their vehicle running so that the men could return home.
This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
First Degree Murder Indictment For 325-Pound Woman That Sat On Child
November 8, 2017
An Escambia County Grand Jury has indicted Veronica Green Posey, 64, for first degree murder in the death of a nine-year old child. The child died after Posey, who weighs 325 pounds, sat on her while administering punishment.
Posey is facing a mandatory sentence of life in prison if she is convicted.
Posey was released on bond after her arrest; however, following the indictment Judge Jan Shackelford issued a warrant to take Posey into custody and hold her without bond.
Authorities say Posey told deputies and paramedics responding to a 911 call from the family’s home in Pensacola that she sat on her cousin, Dericka Lindsay, because the girl had been out of control. Deputies said the girl told Posey and her adoptive parents during the punishment that she couldn’t breathe.
The parents have been charged with child neglect.
Escambia County To Consider Agreement For Escambia Community Clinics Funding
November 8, 2017
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners will consider a letter of agreement with the Agency for Health Care Administration on behalf of Escambia Community Clinics during the Thursday Committee of the Whole meeting. The letter of agreement will allocate $351,365 in previously-approved funding to AHCA on behalf of ECC.
This is not a new funding request from ECC, but was already approved in the board’s 2017-18 budget for outside agency funding. The item is coming back before the board to consider routing the $351,365 through AHCA, allowing ECC to leverage the money for matching funds from the state.
The funding will be used to increase the provision of health services for ECC through Low Income Pool Medicaid programs.
The board’s vote at the November 9 Committee of the Whole meeting will be ratified at the Thursday, November 30 regular BCC Meeting.
The Committee of the Whole meeting will begin at 9 a.m. in the board chambers of the Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, located on the first floor of 221 Palafox Place.
Pictured: The June 2017 grand opening of ECC Cantonment Pediatrics and Dental Clinic in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
A Little Rain, Then A Little Cooler
November 8, 2017
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after noon. . Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. North wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Rain likely. Cloudy, with a low around 55. North wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of rain. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 65. North wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 47. North wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 68. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 47. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Veterans Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71. East wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 54. East wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 73.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 51.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 48.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 73.
Student Athletes Honored At FCA Banquet
November 8, 2017
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes “Go the Distance” Awards were presented recently at a banquet hosted by the First Baptist Church of Pensacola.
Athletes from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties were honored for their participation in cross country, golf, swimming and volleyball. The winners were chosen by their teammates based upon their integrity, dedication, character, and FCA values. Each received a medal and congratulations from Congressman Matt Gaetz.
(North Escambia area winners are in bold.)
Go the Distance Award Banquet
Swimming and Cross Country
- East Hill Christian School Girls Cross Country-Katie Blaine
- East Hill Christian School Boys Cross Country-Max Wenzel
- Jay High School Girls Cross Country-Carsen Arrant
- Jay High School Boys Cross Country-Austin Lang
- Gulf Breeze High School Girls Cross Country-Tabitha Labrato
- Gulf Breeze High School Boys Cross Country-Ryan VonBrock
- Gulf Breeze High School Girls Swimming-Abby Wolfe
- Gulf Breeze High School Boys Swimming-Matthew Rodgerson
- Milton High School Girls Cross Country-Caitlyn Frizzell
- Milton High School Boys Cross Country-Brett Kaniper
- Milton High School Girls Swimming-Kyrsten Fehl
- Milton High School Boys Swimming-Alex Ruffini
- Navarre High School Boys Cross Country-Anthony Green
- Navarre High School Girls Swimming-Natalie Roberts
- Navarre High School Boys Swimming-Caedmon Becker
- Northview High School Girls Cross Country-Aurora McCann
- Northview High School Boys Cross Country-Tanner Levins
- Pace High School Girls Cross Country-Evie Spurgin
- Pace High School Girls Swimming-Zoe Hall
- Pace High School Boys Swimming-Ben Quarles
- Pensacola Catholic High School Girls Cross Country-Brianna Wyer
- Pensacola Catholic High School Boys Cross Country-Joey Blake
- Pensacola Catholic High School Girls Swimming-Georgia Smith
- Pensacola Catholic High School Boys Swimming-Ryan Dockery
- Pensacola High School Boys Cross Country-Riley Laggan
- Pine Forest High School Girls Swimming-Savannah Atchley
- Tate High School Girls Cross Country-Riley Orr
- Tate High School Boys Cross Country-Jake Alexander
- Tate High School Girls Swimming-Angelina Barco
- Tate High School Boys Swimming-Paul Ashton
- University of West Florida Girls Swimming-Lacey Radloff
- University of West Florida Girls Cross Country-Jasmine Lee
- University of West Florida Boys Cross Country-Ben Zalanka
- Washington High School Girls Cross Country-Jane Major
- West Florida High School Girls Cross Country-Skylar Grant
- West Florida High School Boys Cross Country-Phillip Gindl
- West Florida High School Girls Swimming-Bryce Howell
- West Florida High School Boys Swimming-Alex Smith
Volleyball and Golf
- East Hill Christian School Volleyball-Lauren Bryan
- Escambia High School Girls Golf-Madeline McCollum
- Escambia High School Boys Golf-Jason Bryant
- Escambia High School Volleyball-Genesis Martinez
- Central School Volleyball, Lindsey Smith
- Gulf Breeze High School Girls Golf-Kasey Richards
- Gulf Breeze High School Boys Golf-Brent Williams
- Gulf Breeze High School Volleyball-Olivia Hepworth
- Jay High School Volleyball-Haylee Watson
- Jay High School Boys Golf-Blayne Miller
- Milton High School Girls Golf-Megan Robertson
- Milton High School Boys Golf-Beau Martin
- Milton High School Volleyball-Meagan Hodge
- Navarre High School Volleyball-Lauren Robbins
- Navarre High School Girls Golf-Kathryn Serenio
- Northview High School Girls Golf-Meredith McGhee
- Northview High School Boys Golf-Braxton Edwards
- Northview High School Volleyball-Natasha Walker
- Pace High School Girls Golf-Elise Schultz
- Pace High School Volleyball-Alexis Van Norman
- Pensacola Catholic High School Girls Golf-Conlan McKernan
- Pensacola Catholic High School Boys Golf-Nicholas Dimitroff
- Pensacola Catholic High School Volleyball-Ellen Floyd
- Pensacola High School Boys Golf-Leo Zhang
- Pensacola High School Volleyball-LiAna Patterson
- Pensacola State College Volleyball-Sydney Robertson
- Pine Forest High School Girls Golf-Rachel Rudd
- Pine Forest High School Boys Golf-Tyler Woodward
- Pine Forest High School Volleyball-Desia Robinson
- Tate High School Girls Golf-Grace Atteberry
- Tate High School Boys Golf-Brandon White
- Tate High School Volleyball-Logan Hamlin
- University of West Florida Volleyball-Katy Kuhlmeier
- Washington High School Boys Golf-William MySlak
- West Florida High School Volleyball-Autumn Carter
- West Florida High School Girls Golf-Madison Kaser
- West Florida High School Boys Golf-Cameron Bonner
Pictured top: Northview cross country FCA “Go the Distance” award winners Tanner Levins and Aurora McCann. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida ‘PIP’ Auto Insurance Repeals Speeds Toward House Floor
November 8, 2017
An attempt to end the state’s no-fault auto insurance system is on the fast track in the Florida House.
As in past years, the legislation, which has been projected to save motorists an average of about $80 a year, faces opposition from some insurers, business groups and medical providers.
Meanwhile, the House and Senate are comparing different models to change the system.
The House Commerce Committee voted 18-7 on Tuesday to back a measure (HB 19) by Rep. Erin Grall, R-Vero Beach, that would end the no-fault system, which requires motorists to carry personal-injury protection, or PIP, coverage to help pay for medical care after accidents.
Under the bill, motorists would instead be required to carry bodily-injury coverage.
The change would fully open drivers at fault in accidents to liability for damages and could shift some costs to health-care premiums.
“I understand that it’s going to be difficult and that change is hard,” Grall said. But she added that “we will have more adequate levels of coverage for the severity of accidents on our roads.”
Grall, an attorney, did not want to add issues to the bill, such as increasing enforcement of uninsured motorists and making changes in the state’s bad-faith laws.
Bad-faith lawsuits typically involve allegations of misconduct by insurers that handle claims and can be costly.
Grall said a number of interests are trying to make the proposal “more complicated than it needs to be.”
The Personal Insurance Federation of Florida, the Florida Justice Reform Institute and the Institute for Legal Reform, an offshoot of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, are among those that want a no-fault repeal to also address changes in the bad-faith laws.
“Florida’s third-party insurance bad faith laws create a perverse incentive for persons injured in auto crashes to game the system in order to set up an insurer for a bad faith claim that could greatly exceed the amount of coverage purchased by the insured,” said Michael Carlson, president of the Personal Insurance Federation of Florida.
With approval Tuesday from the Commerce Committee, Grall’s bill is positioned to go to the House floor when the 2018 legislative session starts in January.
The House has considered bills annually since 2013 that would have repealed PIP, with the House passing a Grall bill during the 2017 session. The bill died in the Senate.
Under no-fault, motorists must carry $10,000 in PIP coverage, an amount that essentially hasn’t changed since 1979. The system is designed to help limit lawsuits stemming from traffic accidents.
Lawmakers in 2012 passed a package of changes — championed by Gov. Rick Scott and then-state Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater — that were considered a last-ditch effort to maintain the system after rates increased due to an increase in fraudulent claims.
Repealing PIP would eliminate the system’s limits on lawsuits. Drivers at fault in accidents would be fully liable for damages, with the minimum bodily-injury coverage under Grall’s proposal being $25,000 for damages for injury or death of one person and $50,000 for injury or death of two or more people.
In the Senate, Thonotosassa Republican Tom Lee is sponsoring a measure (SB 150) that differs in the way it would revamp the system. Among the differences are in the levels of required bodily-injury coverage.
With the House bill ready for the floor, Grall said she hopes to have time to talk with Lee about their conflicting proposals.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Bratt Elementary Releases Latest Honor Roll
November 8, 2017
The following students were named to the first nine weeks honor roll at Bratt Elementary School:
First Grade A Honor Roll
Alexis Amerson
Eric Anthony
Nola Barber
Alexa Beasley
Abigail Brown
Jaxon Byrd
Addison Carpenter
Carson Eady
Aubrey Flowers
Pryce Flowers
Josyah Fontenot
Olivia Garrett
Nathan Gilmore
Kyndal Hadley
Autumn Heist
Mason Helton
Sophia Ikner
Maybree Johnson
Noah Luker
Jonathan Patrick
Keylashia Randle
Madison Rice
Caden Sanspree
James Thompson
Kinley White
Mi’Kavion White
First Grade A-B Honor Roll
Sadie Baker
Jerrilynn Barlow
Landen Barlow
Harmony Cruz
Kaedyn Eady
Kintley Flowers
Christian Fountain
Jepp Godwin
Alexa Hardy
Denis Lambeth
Jeremy Lisenby
Parker Marsh
Mya McCants
Briley Moore
Natalia Morales
Layla Pettway
Jade Presley
Ashton Roberts
Kimmora Thomas
Summer Weaver
Second Grade A Honor Roll
Landon Allcock
Gabrielle Boatwright
Logan Diller
Sawyer Gilmore
Brody Hall
Camden Jacobson
John McAnally
Brooklyn Reynolds
Christian Roberts
Makinzi Roley
Wyatt Spence
Lani Steadham
Kennedy Ward
Kaylee Wilson
Second Grade A-B Honor Roll
Govan Alexander
Tyler Amerson
Eli Anthony
Marquis Banks
Kasei Barlow
Jack Carpenter
Jamarreai Davison
Jacob Dove
O’Neshia DuBose
Brayden Faircloth
Zachary Flowers
Parker Ganey
Emmalee Grimes
Evelyn Jones
Logan Kaul
Jaivion Kyles
M’kenzie Mcghee
Caleb Nichols
Brian Pardue
Hunter Parker
Madalynn Pittman
Kain Pompa
Breah Shelly
Adalynn Southard
Cassandra Stilwell
Kameryn Thompson
Third Grade A Honor Roll
Montgomery Baker
Amara Campbell
Christian Caraway
Jacobi Dougall
Cathryn Greenwood
Presley Johnson
Kylee Langham
Kaylee Long
Mikayla McAnally
Dakota Richardson
Miles Smith
Avery Stuckey
Third Grade A-B Honor Roll
Presley Amos
William Classen
Janessa Crook
Caley Daharsh
Carlie Davis
Crimson Davis
Kylar Davis
Annberly Dunn
Nolan Eady
Hayden Gipson
Laila Hadley
Jackson Helton
Dallas Kelson
Savannah Lowry
Victoria Mason
Makayla Plato
Anna Claire Sanspree
Jake Taylor
Tomiyah Thomas
Raleigh Warr
Cobie Wiggins
Fourth Grade A Honor Roll
Desiray Bagwell
Jackson Bridges
Jackson Simmons
Maggie Stewart
Fourth Grade A-B Honor Roll
Lauren Abbott
Ellie Adkins
Claire Amerson
Wade Bailey
Bailey Blackwell
Lindsey Brown
Nevaeh Bush
Luke Chavers
Kenslee Chavira
Addison Classen
Tristan Crumm
Aakira Davis
Jordan Dawson
Addison Eicher
Talise Gregson
Joseph Hardenbrook
William Heard
LanDon Johnson
Tristan Johnson
Samantha Minchew
Carley Moore
Christopher Odom
Braylan Shelly
Justy Starns
Jeremy Thomas
Mya Wilson
Jasmine Zisa
Fifth Grade A Honor Roll
JaCee Dortch
Jamison Gilman
Ja’Marrion Hooks
Mary Catherine Hughes
Laura Laborde
Adannaya Mondaca
Colby Pugh
Ally Richardson
Maggie Scott
Zakyla Smith
Fifth Grade A-B Honor Roll
Ayden Atallah
Evan Chick
Kinslee Coker
Ashton Covan
Beau Daw
Payton Daw
Noah Faulkner
Aliyah Fountain
Brayden Hawkins
Taliyah Johnson
Derek Kinley
Kamryn Langham
Michael McGhee
Anthony Miller
Landen Robertson
Daygen Slate
Bryce Stabler
Ashkia Weaver
Jayden White