News Cast for November:
Okeechobee man convicted of killing former wife
An Osceola County jury convicted Charles Bell, 73, of killing his former wife Patricia Davis on August 28, 2021.
The two had gotten into an argument at the victims home over Bell wanting her to clean his house, authorities said.
The jury found Bell guilty of 2nd degree murder. He will face a sentence of 25 years to life when he returns to court on Dec. 17.
A neighbor he saw Bell leaving the victims home in the 5600 block of Magnolia Avenue. The neighbor added that Bell asked him to take care of his pets.
Osceola County Sheriff Deputies said they found a handgun and shells on Bell’s property that matched the murder weapon.
Okeechobee Police said they found a bicyclist who possessed eight grams of a mix of methamphetamine and fentanyl.
Tracy Wayne McKinney was pulled over in the 1700 block of SR 70 West for operating the bicycle at 12:44 AM with no lights.
McKinney consented to a search and a clear baggie was located with the crystal-like substance. It was field tested and came back positive for the illegal narcotics.
Bond was set at $500,000.
The Okeechobee Board of County Commissioners want to resolve storage issues at the Agri-Civic Center. The County Fair Board and the Youth Livestock Show have expressed concerns about a lack of space.
Matt Vinson with the OYLS said they use the horse barn for storage but it takes four days to take the stalls down and three weeks to put the stalls back.
Commissioner Terry Burroughs said he felt the situation was absurd and should be able to be worked out.
“If we have to put it in writing so that everybody knows how to place nice in the play pen. I’m okay with it. This is ridiculous. We are all adults out there. If you guys need help we should try to help one another.”
In the courts, Alphonso Morris Junior received 26 months in prison after he pled no contest to charges of cocaine sales and possession with the intent to sell near a church.
The Okeechobee Narcotics Task Force said Morris sold cocaine within 600 feet of a church in Douglas Park on January 2, 2024.
He faced a guideline sentence of 62 months in jail.