Here are some of the most famous arrest records and criminal cases from Florida:
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Ted Bundy
Ted Bundy, one of America’s most notorious serial killers, committed several murders in Florida in 1978 after escaping custody in Colorado. He killed two Florida State University students in their sorority house and abducted and murdered 12-year-old Kimberly Leach. Bundy was arrested in Florida, convicted of these murders, and executed by electric chair in 1989 at Florida State Prison.
Aileen Wuornos
Aileen Wuornos gained infamy as one of the few female serial killers in American history. Between 1989-1990, she murdered at least seven men in Florida while working as a prostitute. Wuornos was arrested in 1991, convicted of six murders, and executed by lethal injection in Florida in 2002.
Justin Bieber
Pop star Justin Bieber was arrested in Miami Beach in 2014 for driving under the influence, resisting arrest, and driving with an expired license. His mugshot from the Miami-Dade Police Department became widely circulated.
Tiger Woods
Golf legend Tiger Woods was arrested in Jupiter, Florida in 2017 on suspicion of driving under the influence. His mugshot from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office made headlines.
Travis Scott
Rapper Travis Scott was arrested in Miami in 2023 on charges of trespassing and disorderly intoxication. He was booked into Miami-Dade County Jail but released on bond the same day.
Jeremy Dewitte
Jeremy Dewitte gained notoriety in Florida for repeatedly impersonating police officers. He has been arrested multiple times since 2001 for police impersonation and other charges. His case received significant media attention in recent years.
These high-profile arrests and cases represent some of the most famous in Florida’s history, ranging from serial killers to celebrities. Florida’s reputation for unusual crimes and the “Florida Man” phenomenon has made many of its criminal cases gain national attention.
Casey Anthony Case
One of the most infamous Florida cases involved Casey Anthony, who was accused of murdering her 2-year-old daughter Caylee in 2008. The case gained national attention and became a media sensation. Casey was ultimately acquitted of murder charges in 2011, but convicted of providing false information to law enforcement. The controversial verdict and unanswered questions about Caylee’s death continue to spark debate.
Gainesville Ripper
In 1990, Danny Rolling, known as the “Gainesville Ripper,” murdered five college students in Gainesville over a four-day period. He broke into their apartments, raped and mutilated his victims. The brutal killings terrorized the college town. Rolling was eventually convicted and executed in 2006.
Jennifer Kesse Disappearance
Jennifer Kesse vanished from her Orlando apartment in 2006 at age 24. Her disappearance remains one of Florida’s most baffling unsolved cases. Security footage captured a person of interest parking Kesse’s car, but their face was obscured in every frame. Despite extensive searches and investigations, Kesse has never been found.
Adam Walsh Abduction
In 1981, 6-year-old Adam Walsh was abducted from a Sears department store in Hollywood, Florida. His severed head was found two weeks later, but his body was never recovered. The case led Adam’s father, John Walsh, to become a victims’ rights advocate and host of “America’s Most Wanted.” Serial killer Ottis Toole was eventually named as Adam’s likely killer.
Vampire Clan Murders
In 1996, five teens in Eustis, Florida, who called themselves the “Vampire Clan,” murdered the parents of one of the group members. Led by Rod Ferrell, who claimed to be a 500-year-old vampire, the group engaged in occult practices before committing the brutal double homicide. Ferrell was sentenced to death, later commuted to life in prison.
These cases, along with the ones mentioned previously, represent some of the most notorious and widely-publicized criminal incidents in Florida’s history. They have not only captured public attention but also influenced legal proceedings and victim advocacy efforts in the state and beyond.
Source List:
- Oxygen – Florida Man Murders
- Recovery First – Florida History: Drugs and Crime
- Boca Magazine – Florida’s Most Notorious Serial Killers
- MyQ105 – Florida Celebrity Mugshots
- ABC News – Ted Bundy’s Brutal Crimes
- WFLA – Rapper Travis Scott Arrested in Florida
- ABC 7 NY – Rapper Travis Scott Arrested for Disorderly Intoxication
- Pumphrey Law – Florida’s Most Notorious Serial Killers
- WKRG – Ted Bundy Arrested in Pensacola