On July 27th 1976 at approximately 10:12 a.m. the skeletal remains of 17 year old Marilyn Elizabeth McKenzia were discovered in a wooded lot off of Jackson Street in Wildwood, Florida. She was possibly last seen in the Wildwood area getting into a 1970's model blue and white Buick Electra 225 with two unknown black males. McKenzia had left Pennsylvania in November of 1975 to pick apples and later traveled with the seasonal farm laborers picking watermelons between Immokalee, Florida and Wildwood, Florida. Marilyn McKenzia's cause of death was determined to be a homicide and it is suspected that she was physically beaten just prior to her death. It was estimated that McKenzia had been killed approximately two months prior to the discovery of her body. Anyone with any possible information, please contact Captain Gary Brannen at the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office by telephone at (352) 793-0222 or (352) 793-0278, fax # (352) 568-6653. 

On February 22nd 1972 at around 8 a.m. the bodies of 19 year old Shirley Elizabeth Whitten and 26 year old Roger Dale Higgins were discovered in the Oak Grove Cemetery at the end of CR 232 in Wildwood, Florida. Both persons were determined to be the victims of homicide as they were both stabbed multiple times. Shirley Whitten worked at the Union 76 Truck Stop at the time of her death. Roger Dale Higgins had just accepted a new position as a lumper for a moving company and had stopped in to rest at the truck stop with his employer. If you or someone you know has information regarding this case, please contact Captain Gary Brannen at the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office by telephone at (352) 793-0222 or (352) 793-0278, fax # (352) 568-6653. 

On Friday November 6th 1970 the body of Erith Wybert Hall was discovered at the Super Test Station formerly located at 210 N. Main St. Wildwood, Florida. Hall an employee at the station was the victim of homicide, the incident was believed to have occurred during the commission of a robbery. Hall was shot multiple times with a small caliber firearm. No witnesses have ever come forward in the case. This incident is believed to have occurred while a Wildwood High School Football game was being played nearby. If you or someone you know has information regarding this case, please contact Captain Gary Brannen at the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office by telephone at (352)793-0222 or (352) 793-0278, fax # (352) 568-6653.  

SYNOPSIS:
The body of an unidentified white female homicide victim was found 2/19/1971 under the Lake Panasoffkee Bridge on I-75, in Sumter County, Florida. The victim’s age was estimated to be 18 - 23 years old. The cause of death was determined to be strangulation. Detectives have named the victim Little Miss Lake Panasoffkee until they can positively identity her.
DESCRIPTION:
White female of possible American Indian ancestry. Born around 1949 -1952, 5’0”, 120 pounds, medium length dark brown hair, probably brown eyes, small to medium build, and probably right- handed.
She wore a small, thin, yellow neck chain, a yellow ring with a clear stone on the right hand, a yellow metal watch (17 jewel Baylor) with repaired metal band on her left wrist. The victim had four lower and two upper teeth missing. Six teeth had silver fillings and there was one porcelain cap in the upper front. There were possibly two pregnancies. She probably suffered repeated ankle sprains and instability of the right ankle, which resulted in orthopedic surgery, utilizing the Watson-Jones Technique, at about age 15 – 18. Numerous reconstructive facial composites have been created depicting what Little Miss Lake Panasoffkee may have looked like.
Anyone with any possible information, please contact Captain Gary Brannen at the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office by telephone at (352) 793-0222 or (352) 793-0278, fax # (352) 568-6653. 

On May 2nd 1979 the skeletal remains of 19 year old Virginia Mary Ries were discovered in a wooded median strip on Interstate 75 just north of the Webster Exit #309. Virginia Ries was last seen leaving her mothers home located in Punta Gorda, Florida with her boyfriend. Her boyfriend reportedly dropped her off at Interstate 75 and Bush Blvd in Tampa, Florida. From there Virginia was to hitchhike her way back to Columbus Airforce Base in Mississippi where she had been serving in the Air Force. Her cause of death was determined to be a homicide as a result of stabbing. Anyone with any possible information, please contact Captain Gary Brannen at the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office by telephone at (352) 793-0222 or (352) 793-0278, fax # (352) 568-6653. 

In the early morning hours of Sunday June 17th 1979 the Webster Fire Department responded to a report of a residential structure fire at the home of 89 year old Addie Torrance. The body of Addie Torrance was later found inside of her bedroom. Her death was determined to be a homicide and evidence suggested that her body had been doused with gasoline and then ignited causing her death. Anyone with any possible information, please contact Captain Gary Brannen at the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office by telephone at (352) 793-0222 or (352) 793-0278, fax # (352) 568-6653. 

On October 11th 1979 the body of 21 year old David Richard Edwards was discovered just off of W. CR 48 approximately three miles west of Interstate 75 in Bushnell, Florida. David Edwards was determined to be the victim of homicide resulting from multiple gunshot wounds. He was last seen as he left his home in Ocala on the way to the Super Bowl Bowling Alley also in Ocala on October 8th 1979. The victim's 1979 Silver Pontiac Trans Am was later found parked and abandoned at the Tampa International Airport. The victims credit card was also found to have been used in Tampa with two suspects being present at the time of sale. Anyone with any possible information, please contact Captain Gary Brannen at the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office by telephone at (352) 793-0222 or (352) 793-0278, fax # (352) 568-6653.  

On January 23rd 1977 at approximately 4:45 p.m. the skeletal remains of an unidentified male were discovered off of S.R. 44 approximately 5 miles west of Interstate 75. The remains were uncovered inside what is known as the Ventura Ranch just inside the fence line. The cause of death was determined to be a homicide as a result of trauma to the head. The remains were that of a black male estimated to be between 57 and 62 years of age. The victim was believed to be approximately 5'6" and 170 lbs. He would likely have had a muscular build and his upper row of teeth were missing with three remaining on the lower row. The victim was found wearing a brown shirt, brown pants, and bright blue - size 10 penny loafer style shoes. The victim had in his possession a men's stainless steel Ermano brand diver's style watch. Anyone with any possible information, please contact Captain Gary Brannen at the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office by telephone at (352) 793-0222 or (352) 793-0278, fax # (352) 568-6653. 

On April 6th 1981 at approximately 3:30 p.m. the body of 53 year old Luellen Gadson was discovered in a wooded area off of CR 219 approximately one mile west of the City Limits of Wildwood, Florida. Gadson had been shot in the face with a shotgun. An eyewitness reported seeing Luellen Gadson being forced into a brown Ford Station-Wagon around midnight on the night she was last seen. According to the eyewitness, the vehicle was occupied by two black males. The occupant's pulled along side Gadson at which time the driver exited the vehicle and pushed her inside. She was not seen again until her body was discovered four days later. Anyone with any possible information, please contact Captain Gary Brannen at the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office by telephone at (352) 793-0222 or (352) 793-0278, fax # (352) 568-6653. 

On April 13th 1992 at approximately 6:55 a.m. the body of 44 year old Jan David Fox was discovered along N. C.R. 475 just south of CR 470/Interstate 75. The cause of death was determined to be a homicide as a result of a single gunshot wound to the head. The victim had recently been seen with two unidentified large men described as "biker types" at the Fuel City Truck Stop located at C.R. 470 and Interstate 75. During the initial investigation, numerous sources suggested that members of the Outlaws Motorcycle Gang had put a hit out him. Anyone with any possible information, please contact Captain Gary Brannen at the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office by telephone at (352) 793-0222 or (352) 793-0278, fax # (352) 568-6653.  

On May 7th 2006 at approximately 1:01 p.m. the body of 30 year old Robert Lee Preston was discovered in a wooded area off of Interstate 75 in Sumter County. The victim's death was determined to be a homicide as a result of multiple gunshot wounds. He had previously been reported missing by his girlfriend after she last saw him on April 23rd 2006 in St. Petersburg, Florida. Anyone with any possible information, please contact Captain Gary Brannen at the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office by telephone at (352) 793-0222 or (352) 793-0278, fax # (352) 568-6653. 

On September 17th 2007 the body of 20 year old Jaime Ortiz-Morales was discovered in a wooded area off of CR 656-G in the "Croom" area of Sumter County, Florida. The cause of death was determined to be homicide as a result of multiple gunshot wounds. The time of death was estimated to be sometime between the early evening hours of September 13th 2007 and the morning hours of September 14th 2007. The victim had a unique tattoo on his left upper bicep which may help someone remember seeing him. Anyone with any possible information, please contact Detective Darrin Segrest at the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office by telephone at (352) 793-0222 or (352) 793-0278, fax # (352) 568-6653.