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.
Dr. Eric Salata, a Naples doctor accused of raping patients, was on house arrest when the Collier County Sheriff’s Office went to check on him. The reason for the welfare check? His ankle monitor showed no movement for eight hours. Deputies found him dead of a gunshot wound to the head and have said it is not under suspicious circumstances. Salata was never ordered to give up his weapons after his arrest. He paid his $200,000 bond, was sent home with an ankle monitor and just a week after his arrest, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office said he died by suicide. He was arrested more than a week ago after at least two patients said he raped them during cosmetic procedures at the Pura Vida Medical Spa on 5th Avenue South in Naples. Pura Vida Medical SpaCredit: WINK News The suicide was preventable, according to one lawyer close to the case. Salata was found in a ditch in remote East Naples woods off Radio Road. “Three acres or so, very dense, you know, wooded area,” said Adam Homan, who lives nearby. Homan was shocked to hear about what happened and even more so to hear what the doctor was accused of. “It seems the way that he reacted to it kind of proved he was possibly guilty,” Homan said. But now, Salata will never get a guilty verdict. Adam Horowitz, who represents one of Salata’s victims, calls it frustrating, especially after learning he was never ordered to surrender his weapons. During Salata’s first appearance hearing on Nov. 22, a prosecutor asked the judge if Salata should surrender his firearms. “I’m not gonna do that,” said Judge Michael Provost. Horowitz is surprised to hear that. “I’m learning it for the first time. So that’s a bit of a surprise to me. I did not know that. We may not be here today, having this conversation if the order had been entered,” he said. WINK News asked to speak to Provost but a court representative said judicial decision-making is confidential. Dr. Eric Salata, 54. Credit: Collier County Sheriff’s Department The Collier County Sheriff’s Office said they are looking into where the pistol came from. Meanwhile, the medical spa where Salata worked at is no more. It’s locked up and mail is stuffed in its door handle. “When someone dies, the claim against them doesn’t go away in terms of a civil lawsuit. But it does change form, you have to file a claim against their estate, right,” said Horowitz. Horowitz said his client has mixed feelings about Salata’s suicide. “I will say she was relieved to learn that no, no other women will be harmed, that he can’t do this to anyone again. And but at the same time, it was discouraging and frustrating. She wanted to have her day in court where she could look him in the eye and confront him and hold him criminally accountable,” he said. Horowitz said he has been contacted by someone else who is a possible victim. Meanwhile, the Naples Police Department is asking the public to provide information while they continue to investigate.