ALVA Woodpeckers build home in Alva 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 Alva 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.
Destiny Padilla (Credit: Mullin’s Memorial) Family members of a girl who accidentally shot herself in the face with a ghost gun are telling their story. Destiny Padilla’s mother and grandmother are heartbroken but also angry after the accident. Destiny’s family says she was playing with the gun in a home that wasn’t supposed to have firearms. Andrew Byrd admitted to building the gun. Andrew Byrd, 18. (Credit: Lee County Sheriff’s Office) No guns were supposed to be in the home that Andrew Byrd lived in because his mom is a convicted felon and his younger brother is the subject of an active risk protection order. Byrd’s younger brother, 14-year-old Phillip Byrd, is facing charges of plotting a Columbine-like school shooting at Harns Marsh Middle School. Worst of all, the 17-year-old girl didn’t die at a stranger’s house. Andrew Byrd is her cousin. “She was so proud of that robot she built,” said Ashley Pironti, Destiny Padilla’s mother. Pironti can’t look at pictures of her daughter without tears filling her eyes. “I just felt like it wasn’t her time to go.” Destiny was only 17 years old when deputies say she accidentally shot herself in the face with a ghost gun that was made by her second cousin Andrew Byrd. “When she was going to Pathways, he was in there,” said Destiny’s grandmother Margaret Osen. Pathways is a program for kids on probation. That is how Destiny and Andrew started hanging out. “They weren’t even supposed to be hanging together. They were both on probation,” said Pironti. Destiny’s family saw her turn a corner in this program. They said she was happy and she was a light in her friend’s life. “She always had a smile on her face. Always giggling, always dancing,” said Pironti. That doesn’t make the family’s loss any easier. “Very hurt, hurt or heartbroken. I cry every morning. I cry throughout the day, and I cry myself to sleep,” Pironti said. Ashley believes her pain and her loss could have been prevented if the probation officer checked up on her more. “She said her PO officer allowed her to be over there, which her PO officer was here July 19 or July 20. Telling her that she didn’t get a phone call from Destiny. She didn’t talk to Destiny. Well, how are you not doing your job?” said Pironti. The only thing that can ease this mother’s pain is remembering the person her daughter was. “Just know Destiny it was a loving, caring, very lovable, wore her heart on her sleeve,” said Pironti. Destiny’s family is hosting a celebration of life this Sunday at Veteran’s Parks from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The only charge Andrew Byrd is facing is a violation of his probation. Despite the fact that he wasn’t allowed to be around guns and definitely wasn’t allowed to build them.