Crime Stoppers increases cash reward for man missing since 2020Collier County creates food truck park policy
NORTH FORT MYERS Crime Stoppers increases cash reward for man missing since 2020 The Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers has announced an increased cash reward regarding a case of a missing person from North Fort Myers.
Collier County creates food truck park policy Food trucks have become increasingly popular due to their convenience, affordability and unique offerings, especially for employees seeking a quick breakfast or lunch at businesses and commercial areas.
SWFL celebrates MLK Day with community gatherings and service In Southwest Florida, Martin Luther King Jr. Day is marked with parades, rallies, and community service events that honor the civil rights leader’s legacy.
Fatal multi-vehicle crash closes all lanes on SR-82 in Lehigh Acres The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash involving multiple vehicles on SR-82 west of 40th Street in Lehigh Acres.
port charlotte Tribute breakfast to be held for Charlotte County Sgt. Elio Diaz A tribute breakfast is set to be held for Charlotte County Deputy Sgt. Elio Diaz, who was killed in the line of duty in December.
winter haven Gov. DeSantis calls for stricter immigration reform Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis held a news conference in Winter Haven to discuss stricter immigration laws while cracking down on illegal immigration.
FORT MYERS Shell Factory & Nature Park announces online auction liquidation of remaining inventory Fans of the now-closed Shell Factory & Nature Park will have a final chance to own a piece of nostalgia with two virtual auctions.
the weather authority More clouds than sun for your Wednesday The Weather Authority is tracking an increased cloud coverage along with cooler conditions this Wednesday afternoon.
Web Exclusive: Rachel Cox-Rosen’s Construction Heads-Up As construction may dampen your commute, WINK News traffic anchor Rachel Cox-Rosen knows the best way to traverse the roadways in this web-exclusive feature.
PORT CHARLOTTE ‘It’s devastating’: Neighbor reflects on fatal fire in Port Charlotte A devastating house fire Monday night in Port Charlotte has left one person dead and another hospitalized while neighbors mourn the possible loss of a beloved member of their community.
‘The sound of death;’ Neighbors concerned by amount of crashes on Joel Blvd. A woman is heartbroken from witnessing crash after crash outside her Lehigh Acres home.
Fort Myers get 15% increase on flood insurance discount WINK News is finding out what led to the city of Fort Myers going from just a 5% FEMA flood insurance discount to a 20% discount.
FORT MYERS Locals house California wildfire victims The effects of the California wildfires are being felt worldwide, and as people evacuate, some are in Southwest Florida.
LOVERS KEY Couple returns to Lovers Key condo post Ian While Hurricane Ian is long gone from Southwest Florida, many are still feeling its impacts.
EVERGLADES Biden signs Water Resources Development Act, its effect on SWFL President Biden recently signed into law the Water Resources Development Act with an aim to improve rivers and harbors across the country and provide for the conservation of water. Southwest Florida was included in that act. Putting the 240-page plan together took a lot of work, not just from state and federal lawmakers, but also […]
NORTH FORT MYERS Crime Stoppers increases cash reward for man missing since 2020 The Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers has announced an increased cash reward regarding a case of a missing person from North Fort Myers.
Collier County creates food truck park policy Food trucks have become increasingly popular due to their convenience, affordability and unique offerings, especially for employees seeking a quick breakfast or lunch at businesses and commercial areas.
SWFL celebrates MLK Day with community gatherings and service In Southwest Florida, Martin Luther King Jr. Day is marked with parades, rallies, and community service events that honor the civil rights leader’s legacy.
Fatal multi-vehicle crash closes all lanes on SR-82 in Lehigh Acres The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash involving multiple vehicles on SR-82 west of 40th Street in Lehigh Acres.
port charlotte Tribute breakfast to be held for Charlotte County Sgt. Elio Diaz A tribute breakfast is set to be held for Charlotte County Deputy Sgt. Elio Diaz, who was killed in the line of duty in December.
winter haven Gov. DeSantis calls for stricter immigration reform Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis held a news conference in Winter Haven to discuss stricter immigration laws while cracking down on illegal immigration.
FORT MYERS Shell Factory & Nature Park announces online auction liquidation of remaining inventory Fans of the now-closed Shell Factory & Nature Park will have a final chance to own a piece of nostalgia with two virtual auctions.
the weather authority More clouds than sun for your Wednesday The Weather Authority is tracking an increased cloud coverage along with cooler conditions this Wednesday afternoon.
Web Exclusive: Rachel Cox-Rosen’s Construction Heads-Up As construction may dampen your commute, WINK News traffic anchor Rachel Cox-Rosen knows the best way to traverse the roadways in this web-exclusive feature.
PORT CHARLOTTE ‘It’s devastating’: Neighbor reflects on fatal fire in Port Charlotte A devastating house fire Monday night in Port Charlotte has left one person dead and another hospitalized while neighbors mourn the possible loss of a beloved member of their community.
‘The sound of death;’ Neighbors concerned by amount of crashes on Joel Blvd. A woman is heartbroken from witnessing crash after crash outside her Lehigh Acres home.
Fort Myers get 15% increase on flood insurance discount WINK News is finding out what led to the city of Fort Myers going from just a 5% FEMA flood insurance discount to a 20% discount.
FORT MYERS Locals house California wildfire victims The effects of the California wildfires are being felt worldwide, and as people evacuate, some are in Southwest Florida.
LOVERS KEY Couple returns to Lovers Key condo post Ian While Hurricane Ian is long gone from Southwest Florida, many are still feeling its impacts.
EVERGLADES Biden signs Water Resources Development Act, its effect on SWFL President Biden recently signed into law the Water Resources Development Act with an aim to improve rivers and harbors across the country and provide for the conservation of water. Southwest Florida was included in that act. Putting the 240-page plan together took a lot of work, not just from state and federal lawmakers, but also […]
Evidence released to WINK News shows the chaotic scene of the Zombicon shooting in 2015. (CREDIT: WINK News) Evidence in the Zombicon shooting shows what lengths investigators and prosecutors went to solve one of Fort Myers’ most notorious murders. The Zombicon mass shooting ended the life of 20-year-old Expavious Tyrell Taylor and injured many others. In an exclusive, WINK News shows you the panic, confusion and terror felt by the crowd of thousands who were spectators in downtown Fort Myers on Oct. 17, 2015, when gunshots rang out toward the end of Zombicon, a horror-themed annual festival. Authorities arrested then 24-year-old Jose Bonilla in 2018 and charged him with the case. Bonilla, now 26, took a 30-year plea deal in 2020. Prosecutor Dan Feinberg leads the cold case unit at the State Attorney’s Office Twentieth Judicial Circuit. He and a task force took the case that had gone cold, went through each piece of evidence and arrested Bonilla. “You have a crime scene that is completely trampled over by a number of people,” Feinberg said. “We found shell casings that were kicked 50 feet away from the shooting because they were kicking them with their shoes as they were running by.” Feinberg said it wasn’t a good crime scene. “Very little evidence came from the crime scene,” Feinberg said. “The best evidence was the actual shell casings which we recovered. And we don’t even know if we recovered all the shell casings.” In addition to the shell casings, the evidence included Fort Myers police body camera video and surveillance footage near the shooting. Body camera footage shows officers encountering costumed people, including a woman with fake blood on her, adding to the chaos. “This case was solved based on the phones, based on his statements, admissions he made, both in jail to inmates and out of jail to people he knew,” Feinberg said. Authorities used Bonilla’s cellphone to track him to downtown Fort Myers the night of the shooting. When he was in jail on an unrelated charge, he confessed to the shooting to an informant. It was all recorded. At first, Bonilla denied it was him on the jailhouse recording. But then, almost 30 minutes into this interview with the FBI, he started to crack. “I didn’t mean to shoot nobody,” he said. “They were walking up” Bonilla said another man walked up with a gun so he pulled out his handgun and started firing. “I did not mean to shoot and kill him. I swear to God I didn’t,” Bonilla said of Taylor. Feinberg said he has to tune out when he is looking over cold cases like the Zombicon shooting that get so much attention. He said he goes back to the beginning and looks over the evidence from scratch because you only get one chance.