Violent crime is up in Southwest Florida. In response the state attorney has created a new specialized unit to try to reverse the current trend. WGCU’s Luis Hernandez reports.

Sheriff’s Detectives in Charlotte County are investigating the theft of forty thousand dollars worth of aluminum side rails taken from an area bridge. Valerie Alker reports.

There’s been a nearly 50-percent increase in boat thefts so far this year in Florida. And law enforcement officials say the fact that more large boats are being stolen points to an increase in smuggling of both drugs and people. WGCU’s Mike Kiniry reports.

The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office is increasing its efforts to stop the exploitation of the elderly by bringing investigators and bank tellers together. WGCU’s Luis Hernandez has more.

A Florida couple is using a mobile approach to finding missing children. Their mission has brought them to Ft. Myers. WGCU’s Luis Hernandez reports.

Producers of the program America’s Most Wanted now have permission to air an episode about the eight sets of bones found in Fort Myers back in March. WGCU’s Luis Hernandez has the latest.

Southwest Florida has more cases of human trafficking than most states. Now there’s a push to create a national headquarters at Florida Gulf Coast University promote human trafficking awareness. WGCU’s Luis Hernandez reports.

Police are asking for help to identify 8 skeletons found back in March, a few miles east of downtown Fort Myers. They say they’re still ruling nothing out, and remain guarded with details, but they allude to it being a potential dumping ground. WGCU’s Mike Kiniry has more.



Here are the details released Friday by the Fort Myers Police Department:

Individual #1

Age: Late 20’s to early 40’s, height 5 feet2 inches to 5 feet 7 inches tall, in life he had sustained injuries to his legs, forearm and chest. He has three wisdom teeth and has not had current dental care. He could have lived a transient lifestyle.

Individual #2

Age: 20’s to 30’s, height 5 feet 6inches to six feet tall. This person had healed fractures to his right fibula, nose and collarbone. He does not have wisdom teeth and he may have had braces.

Individual #3

Age: 20’s to 30’s, height 5 feet seven inches to 6 feet 3 inches, very good dental care with all four wisdom teeth.

Individual #4

Age: 20’s to 30’s, height 5 feet 5 inches to 5 feet 11 inches tall, with some dental fillings and all four wisdom teeth intact.

Individual #5

Age: 18 to early 20’s, height 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet four inches tall, excellent dental care. One of this individual’s wisdom teeth were removed. The other three remain.

Individual #6

Age: late 20’s to early 40’s, height 5 feet 5 inches to 5 feet 11 inches tall. This individual could have complained of hip or back problems. All four wisdom teeth are present and there are dental fillings in other teeth.

Individual #7

White male, possibly Hispanic, age 20’s to 30’s, height 5 feet 11 inches to 6 feet 3 inches. This individual still has all four wisdom teeth. He fractured his right wrist in life.

Individual #8

Age: 20’s to 30’s, height 5 feet six inches to 6 feet tall, with god dental work and all four wisdom teeth intact. He might have been an athlete, weight lifter, or had a job that required heavy lifting.

Anyone with information can call police at 1-877-667-1296, or 239-339-4008.

There were ceremonies around Florida Wednesday recognizing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. WGCU’s Amy Tardif attended an event in Lee County and prepared this report.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement Fort Myers crime lab will soon provide DNA analysis.

Right now evidence submitted for DNA analysis in the ten county southwest Florida area goes to the FDLE Crime lab in Tampa, which is one of only five in the state. This results in back-logs. FDLE Spokesman Larry Long says the DNA testing facility in Ft. Myers will speed things up.

“we’re hopeful by opening up the DNA lab and services in SWFL it will also help the backlog issue we have in our Tampa office so we’re hopeful when we get operations set up and running we will help reduce that backlog not only in Tampa but also across the state”

The DNA processing facility in Ft. Myers will cost about a million and a half dollars and will requiring hiring additional staff. Long says it should be up and running by October – greasing the wheels of justice from Manatee County south to Collier and east to Okeechobee.