ALVA Woodpeckers build home in woman’s house You may have heard of squatters, but this woman is dealing with squawkers. Who needs a rooster to wake up when you have woodpeckers?
FORT MYERS Man claims he was trapped in a high-rise for 5 days A 77-year-old man wants justice after he claims he spent days trapped on the 24th floor of a high-rise apartment building.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte Correctional prisoner arrested for death of another inmate State Attorney Amira Fox convened a grand jury, which decided to move forward with a case against a Charlotte Correctional inmate.
SANIBEL Construction near Dairy Queen eagle nest on Sanibel raises concerns While many eagle nests may be a bit difficult to see, one nest has always been a favorite for Sanibel residents and tourists.
The environmental effects of artificial sweeteners Experts are studying how the foods we eat affect the environment, especially after we flush our waste down the toilet.
Victim reacts to man exposing himself to her Ring camera You get a notification on your phone from your ring camera app that someone is at the door, only to find out it is someone exposing themselves. It’s the last thing victim Maria Kivi wanted or expected to see last week.
LEE COUNTY The art of capturing your eye and drawing you in How do you capture young, hip, trendy, fun, movers and shakers, all in a pose? We take you behind the scenes of a Gulfshore Life cover shoot.
FORT MYERS The lives of two SJC Boxers changed in the ring Two SJC Boxers, Mario Nunez and Arbon Kurtishi, help each other in the ring as each of them had their lives changed because of boxing.
FORT MYERS Chlamydia cases rising sharply in Lee County If you think about a crowded space- something with more than 250 people- if it’s in Lee county, statistically one person has chlamydia.
SANIBEL Sanibel resort day passes hope to get more business on the island A pass will allow vacationers to hang out at a Sanibel beach club for a day in hopes of drumming up some business.
Voting equipment tested ahead of Lee County elections Voting equipment is being tested in Lee County. This is to ensure all ballots are printed and counted correctly for the upcoming election.
Collier County teen assaulted after leaving party The teen has been charged and the sheriff’s office said they’re aware that many believe felony charges are in order, but under Florida law, there are very specific criteria that must be met for felony charges to be filed.
WINK weather team watching tropical wave over Atlantic Ocean The Weather Authority is watching a tropical disturbance over the Central Atlantic Ocean.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral drug bust leads investigators to fake fentanyl, cash and guns Cape Coral man arrest on drug charges. Investigators said they found, guns, drugs, and more than $32,000 in Richard Riley’s home.
NAPLES Naples youth flag football team to compete in Ohio tournament This weekend, the Naples Lunatics Green will compete in the Superhero Sports tournament in Canton, Ohio.
ALVA Woodpeckers build home in woman’s house You may have heard of squatters, but this woman is dealing with squawkers. Who needs a rooster to wake up when you have woodpeckers?
FORT MYERS Man claims he was trapped in a high-rise for 5 days A 77-year-old man wants justice after he claims he spent days trapped on the 24th floor of a high-rise apartment building.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte Correctional prisoner arrested for death of another inmate State Attorney Amira Fox convened a grand jury, which decided to move forward with a case against a Charlotte Correctional inmate.
SANIBEL Construction near Dairy Queen eagle nest on Sanibel raises concerns While many eagle nests may be a bit difficult to see, one nest has always been a favorite for Sanibel residents and tourists.
The environmental effects of artificial sweeteners Experts are studying how the foods we eat affect the environment, especially after we flush our waste down the toilet.
Victim reacts to man exposing himself to her Ring camera You get a notification on your phone from your ring camera app that someone is at the door, only to find out it is someone exposing themselves. It’s the last thing victim Maria Kivi wanted or expected to see last week.
LEE COUNTY The art of capturing your eye and drawing you in How do you capture young, hip, trendy, fun, movers and shakers, all in a pose? We take you behind the scenes of a Gulfshore Life cover shoot.
FORT MYERS The lives of two SJC Boxers changed in the ring Two SJC Boxers, Mario Nunez and Arbon Kurtishi, help each other in the ring as each of them had their lives changed because of boxing.
FORT MYERS Chlamydia cases rising sharply in Lee County If you think about a crowded space- something with more than 250 people- if it’s in Lee county, statistically one person has chlamydia.
SANIBEL Sanibel resort day passes hope to get more business on the island A pass will allow vacationers to hang out at a Sanibel beach club for a day in hopes of drumming up some business.
Voting equipment tested ahead of Lee County elections Voting equipment is being tested in Lee County. This is to ensure all ballots are printed and counted correctly for the upcoming election.
Collier County teen assaulted after leaving party The teen has been charged and the sheriff’s office said they’re aware that many believe felony charges are in order, but under Florida law, there are very specific criteria that must be met for felony charges to be filed.
WINK weather team watching tropical wave over Atlantic Ocean The Weather Authority is watching a tropical disturbance over the Central Atlantic Ocean.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral drug bust leads investigators to fake fentanyl, cash and guns Cape Coral man arrest on drug charges. Investigators said they found, guns, drugs, and more than $32,000 in Richard Riley’s home.
NAPLES Naples youth flag football team to compete in Ohio tournament This weekend, the Naples Lunatics Green will compete in the Superhero Sports tournament in Canton, Ohio.
Suzanne LaPierre and James Lally. Credit: Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers A community is rallying behind a mother who is mourning the loss of her daughter. Lee County deputies say Suzanne LaPierre was murdered in her home by her boyfriend. LaPierre was not the only person who lived in the home she was killed in; her mother also lives there. As WINK News Reporter Justin Kase walked to LaPierre’s mother’s home, multiple neighbors approached him asked that he not go to the house, saying LaPierre’s mother has been experiencing overwhelming grief. WINK News respected their wishes. Neighbors said their goal now is to rally around LaPierre’s mother and show her that she’s not alone. On Wednesday afternoon, neighbor Earl LaFollette stopped by the home of LaPierre’s mother and gave her a hug. “She’s lost a couple kids, so it’s very devastating for her. The people in here are all good people. They’re all here to help each other out,” said LaFollette. LaFollette is one of the neighbors showing support for the family after investigators say LaPierre was brutally murdered by her boyfriend James Lally. While thanking his detectives for their hard work in a news conference on Wednesday, Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said Lally confessed to the crime. “They literally went everywhere and got the confession. And I couldn’t be more proud of their work,” Marceno said. Investigators say LaPierre wanted to break up with Lally, and sometime later he used a hammer to kill her. Investigators say they found LaPierre’s remains in a wooded area along a dirt road in Lee County. They also say Lally pawned her valuable possessions at a Sarasota pawn shop before driving to Jacksonville. “Instead of waiting for a lengthy extradition process, I sent a helicopter to pick him up and expedite justice,” said Marceno. Lally is now back in Lee County, where he’s currently being held without bond. The brutal murder is a shock for neighbors, especially since they describe LaPierre as a kind person who would help anyone. “It’s a matter of disbelief. Until there’s time to really absorb that this has actually happened,” said neighbor Micki Larimer. LaFollette said he lost his son in a hit-and-run crash, so he understands the pain LaPierre’s family now feels. “I went to see Barb and gave her a hug, and she said she couldn’t talk to nobody. So, I said, ‘that’s ok, I understand,'” said LaFollette. The sheriff explained why Lally was charged with second-degree murder and not first. Based on the evidence they have, he said that is the charge that fits the criteria. FGCU legal expert, Doctor Pamella Seay, said for the state to charge Lally with first-degree murder, there would have to be evidence and witnesses to prove that the murder was planned before it happened.