16 transported after 2 airboats crash in Collier CountyNew bill filed: Auto shop and law enforcement must work together to solve hit-and-run crashes
16 transported after 2 airboats crash in Collier County According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, two airboats crashed south of U.S. 41 east between mile markers 74 and 75, leaving well over a dozen people injured.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA New bill filed: Auto shop and law enforcement must work together to solve hit-and-run crashes There could be new detectives on the block, located in your nearest auto shop. A new state bill aims at trying to stop hit-and-run drivers from getting away.
CAPE CORAL New leash on life; Cape Coral shelter dog beats cancer with drug being tested for humans A drug now being studied in human trials to kill cancerous tumors, is already approved and helping animals.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral planning a new interchange with I-75 The city of Cape Coral is in the early stages of planning a new interchange with I-75, an idea that has been discussed for more than a decade.
Tracking invasive species after hurricanes Hurricanes Helene and Milton didn’t just bring wind and rain, they brought new threats to southwest Florida’s ecosystem.
PUNTA GORDA Woman in Punta Gorda shooting charged with 2nd degree murder A woman in a homicide investigation on Nasturtium Drive in Punta Gorda has been charged with 2nd-degree murder.
Lee County mother continuing fight to get children a bus stop The school district already told her she lives too close to the school to qualify for a bus route but she has not given up.
NORTH NAPLES Grant Thornton Invitational returns to Tiburon Golf Club Stars on the PGA and LPGA Tours are back in Southwest Florida for the Grant Thornton Invitational at Tiburon Golf Club.
FORT MYERS Black Flag brings classic punk energy to The Ranch in Fort Myers Legendary punk band Black Flag made their mark in Southwest Florida during the Fort Myers stop of their “First Four Years” tour.
Charlotte Technical College breaks ground on aviation facility The Charlotte County School District is flying high and keeping its “Space Academy” designation with a new aviation training facility for students.
CAPE CORAL Man arrested in connection with Cape Coral home invasion The Cape Coral Police Department has announced the arrest of one of three men suspected in a home invasion that took place earlier this month.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral residents react to $100M North Cape land deal The city of Cape Coral is seeing two projects that will change the city. One is called one of the most lucrative deals in county history.
Royal Palm Coast Realtor Association breaks ground on new Fort Myers headquarters As Royal Palm Coast Realtor Association’s president pointed out, about 1,000 people are still moving to Florida every day, and many of them are finding their way to Southwest Florida.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte County drug trafficker sentenced to 10 years A Charlotte County man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for drug trafficking.
lehigh acres ‘How to sign away parental rights?’; Lehigh Acres woman accused of killing her 4-month-old baby The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a woman accused of killing her 4-month-old baby.
16 transported after 2 airboats crash in Collier County According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, two airboats crashed south of U.S. 41 east between mile markers 74 and 75, leaving well over a dozen people injured.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA New bill filed: Auto shop and law enforcement must work together to solve hit-and-run crashes There could be new detectives on the block, located in your nearest auto shop. A new state bill aims at trying to stop hit-and-run drivers from getting away.
CAPE CORAL New leash on life; Cape Coral shelter dog beats cancer with drug being tested for humans A drug now being studied in human trials to kill cancerous tumors, is already approved and helping animals.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral planning a new interchange with I-75 The city of Cape Coral is in the early stages of planning a new interchange with I-75, an idea that has been discussed for more than a decade.
Tracking invasive species after hurricanes Hurricanes Helene and Milton didn’t just bring wind and rain, they brought new threats to southwest Florida’s ecosystem.
PUNTA GORDA Woman in Punta Gorda shooting charged with 2nd degree murder A woman in a homicide investigation on Nasturtium Drive in Punta Gorda has been charged with 2nd-degree murder.
Lee County mother continuing fight to get children a bus stop The school district already told her she lives too close to the school to qualify for a bus route but she has not given up.
NORTH NAPLES Grant Thornton Invitational returns to Tiburon Golf Club Stars on the PGA and LPGA Tours are back in Southwest Florida for the Grant Thornton Invitational at Tiburon Golf Club.
FORT MYERS Black Flag brings classic punk energy to The Ranch in Fort Myers Legendary punk band Black Flag made their mark in Southwest Florida during the Fort Myers stop of their “First Four Years” tour.
Charlotte Technical College breaks ground on aviation facility The Charlotte County School District is flying high and keeping its “Space Academy” designation with a new aviation training facility for students.
CAPE CORAL Man arrested in connection with Cape Coral home invasion The Cape Coral Police Department has announced the arrest of one of three men suspected in a home invasion that took place earlier this month.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral residents react to $100M North Cape land deal The city of Cape Coral is seeing two projects that will change the city. One is called one of the most lucrative deals in county history.
Royal Palm Coast Realtor Association breaks ground on new Fort Myers headquarters As Royal Palm Coast Realtor Association’s president pointed out, about 1,000 people are still moving to Florida every day, and many of them are finding their way to Southwest Florida.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte County drug trafficker sentenced to 10 years A Charlotte County man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for drug trafficking.
lehigh acres ‘How to sign away parental rights?’; Lehigh Acres woman accused of killing her 4-month-old baby The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a woman accused of killing her 4-month-old baby.
Jose Maldonado, 21. Credit: Lee County Sheriff’s Office A man was arrested in Palm Beach County on Wednesday in connection with the June 4 shooting homicide of a man in the back of a car in Cape Coral. According to a booking report from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, Jose Maldonado, 21, of Lexington, Kentucky, was arrested at a home on Norris Road in Wellington after law enforcement learned he had arrived there two days before and was staying with the homeowner. Maldonado was transported to PBSO’s jail. He was later extradited to Lee County for a warrant related to a homicide investigation. According to a report from the Cape Coral Police Department, detectives established probable cause to arrest Maldonado after investigating the shooting death of Fernando Batista Montero in the backseat of a car near SW 10th Terrace. Scene of the shooting on SW 10th Terrace in Cape Coral on June 4, 2022. (Credit: WINK News) A neighbor connected to Montero told detectives that he had seen the victim hanging out with men he had never seen before, saying he believed that the two men were going to rob Montero because he was wearing a lot of expensive jewelry. The neighbor asked detectives if Montero had been found with his black satchel, saying he brought it everywhere with him and was known to carry large sums of money within it. The victim was wearing the satchel while he was inside the garage but no longer had it after being declared dead, according to the police report. A woman who works in Kentucky and was in Cape Coral visiting her boyfriend told detectives that she knew the two unidentified men only as “Jose” and “the Dominican.” She told detectives that the men frequented the Kentucky strip club where she works and that she knew they were going to be in Southwest Florida when she was. She described both men to CCPD and provided what she thought were their phone numbers. The phone number for “Jose” led detectives to Jose Maldonado. An eyewitness told CCPD that Maldonado arrived at the scene of the homicide with the other unidentified man before hanging out with Montero and another mutual friend. According to the witness, everyone appeared to be getting along, and he did not witness anyone arguing. According to the police report, around 20 minutes after arriving at the house, Montero walked to his car, which was parked “nose-to-nose” in the driveway with Maldonado’s car. When the victim backed his car out of the driveway to allow the suspects to exit, the witness said he saw Maldonado point and shoot his firearm several times at Montero’s car, continuing to shoot while walking towards it. The witness said he never saw the victim with a firearm. Law enforcement was able to find a home surveillance video that showed Maldonado and the other man firing handguns toward Montero’s car. In the video, police say Maldonado was seen opening the driver-side door and forcefully removing what appeared to be a satchel from the Montero before fleeing with the unidentified man in their car. The mutual friend who was hanging out with the two suspects, Montero, and the other eyewitness told CCPD he was inside the vehicle with the victim when the shooting began and that he did not see the victim with a firearm. He said he believed Maldonado and the other suspect killed Montero in order to rob him. Neighbors in the area still remember waking up to their street being a crime scene. “I heard all this noise. And I’m saying, ‘what is that noise,'” said neighbor Bay DeMarco. “It’s scary you find out your husband or your boyfriend is shot to death in the middle of the street.” Police have arrested Maldonado, but DeMarco wants to know where the other man involved is. “I mean, is he in Kentucky? Or wherever somewhere else? You know, so I guess it’s not going to be easy finding the second guy,” said DeMarco. WINK News reached out to the Cape Coral Police Department for more information, and they only said that it is still an active investigation. WINK News also spoke with Montero’s daughter, who said the arrest brings clarity to the case of her father’s death but not a conclusion. Maldonado faces charges of second-degree murder and armed robbery. He is being held in the Lee County Jail without bond.