Pedestrian dead after crash on McGregor BoulevardSunday brings sun and clouds with chance for a stray shower
FORT MYERS Pedestrian dead after crash on McGregor Boulevard The Fort Myers Police Department is investigating a crash that left at least one person dead Saturday night.
Sunday brings sun and clouds with chance for a stray shower The Weather Authority forecasts another seasonal day across Southwest Florida, with temperatures reaching the upper 70s to low 80s this afternoon.
Family of Eagles: FGCU volleyball star graduates with Master’s Degree Saturday marked a special day for Florida Gulf Coast University as more than 1,800 students graduated. For one student-athlete, graduating from FGCU runs in the family.
lehigh acres LCSO: Man shot by car owner protecting property The Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting in Lehigh Acres early Saturday morning.
NORTH FORT MYERS Lee County residents wait hours for D-SNAP assistance The supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) is at the Lee Civic Center all weekend, ready to help southwest Florida.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA First eaglet hatches in famous SWFL eagle nest Welcome E24! The third eaglet from the nest of M15 and F23 has hatched according to the Southwest Florida eagle camera.
Rock for Equality: SWFL non-profit hosts benefit concert for Palestine A Southwest Florida non-profit hosted a benefit concert on Friday night to help with humanitarian aid in Palestine.
Warm, breezy Saturday with a few showers possible The Weather Authority is forecasting a breezy, warm weekend in store across Southwest Florida, with the chance of a few showers, particularly on Saturday.
CAPE CORAL Active investigation underway in South Cape Coral Cape Coral police are investigating at a home on Southwest 49th Terrace in South Cape Coral early Saturday morning.
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.
FORT MYERS Pedestrian dead after crash on McGregor Boulevard The Fort Myers Police Department is investigating a crash that left at least one person dead Saturday night.
Sunday brings sun and clouds with chance for a stray shower The Weather Authority forecasts another seasonal day across Southwest Florida, with temperatures reaching the upper 70s to low 80s this afternoon.
Family of Eagles: FGCU volleyball star graduates with Master’s Degree Saturday marked a special day for Florida Gulf Coast University as more than 1,800 students graduated. For one student-athlete, graduating from FGCU runs in the family.
lehigh acres LCSO: Man shot by car owner protecting property The Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting in Lehigh Acres early Saturday morning.
NORTH FORT MYERS Lee County residents wait hours for D-SNAP assistance The supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) is at the Lee Civic Center all weekend, ready to help southwest Florida.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA First eaglet hatches in famous SWFL eagle nest Welcome E24! The third eaglet from the nest of M15 and F23 has hatched according to the Southwest Florida eagle camera.
Rock for Equality: SWFL non-profit hosts benefit concert for Palestine A Southwest Florida non-profit hosted a benefit concert on Friday night to help with humanitarian aid in Palestine.
Warm, breezy Saturday with a few showers possible The Weather Authority is forecasting a breezy, warm weekend in store across Southwest Florida, with the chance of a few showers, particularly on Saturday.
CAPE CORAL Active investigation underway in South Cape Coral Cape Coral police are investigating at a home on Southwest 49th Terrace in South Cape Coral early Saturday morning.
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.
Cape Coral police continue to investigate the disappearance of Barry Schmalbach, a 56-year-old Cape Coral resident, who is no believed to have been murdered by his live-in boyfriend Christopher Davis. Below is a timeline of the investigation gathered from police reports and interviews. Wednesday, July 19, 2023 Schmalbach reportedly argues with Davis at Cruiser’s Lounge, a gay bar in Cape Coral and walks out while Davis chases after him. Christopher Davis headshot CREDIT Lee County Sheriff’s Office At 8:21 p.m., Miguel Blanco, a friend of Schmalbach, receives a voicemail from Schmalbach saying he needs help. Thursday, July 20, 2023 Blanco hears the voicemail and returns Schmalbach’s call but gets no answer. Davis sends Blanco a screenshot of text messages purported to be between him and Schmalbach. However, Blanco and his husband doubt the authenticity of the message. Friday, July 21, 2023 Schmalbach’s friends arrive at his apartment to check on him at around 9 p.m. They find the apartment in disarray. Blanco confirms with mutual friends that no one else has heard from Schmalbach. Saturday, July 22, 2023 At 1:21 p.m., Davis calls the Cape Coral Police Department to report Schmalbach missing, noting he did not believe he was in danger. An officer arrives at the home, but a missing person’s report is not completed. Blanco contacts CCPD at 8:21 p.m. and reports Schmalbach’s disappearance, and Schmalbach is officially entered as a missing person. Cape Coral police speak to Davis who claims he reported his boyfriend missing earlier that day and tells investigators a story they later dispel that he last saw him on July 20 leaving in someone else’s vehicle. Barry Schmalbach. CREDIT: WINK News Blanco arrives at the home as police are leaving. He gives them a statement calling it suspicious that Schmalbach left his Jeep in the apartment parking lot. A Cape Coral officer determines Davis provided the first officer he met earlier that day with an incorrect birthdate. His real date of birth is June 8, 1988 and he is wanted on two active arrest warrants in Georgia for probation violation for fraud and in South Carolina for probation violation for larceny. Wednesday, July 26, 2023 CCPD announce and begin their search for Schmalbach, calling his disappearance suspicious. Cape Coral Police at Schmalbach’s apartment. CREDIT: WINK News Thursday, July 27, 2023 Cape Coral Police return to Schmalbach’s condo, banging on the door to gain entry. Davis declines to comment to WINK News. Monday, July 31, 2023 An anonymous donor donates $3,000 to increase the reward for information leading to Schmalbach. The total was at $6,000, according to a Facebook post. Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers says an anonymous donor has increased the reward to $16,000 to help find Schmalbach. Davis is arrested on the South Carolina warrant and is taken into custody by Cape Coral police at a gym on Del Prado Boulevard North. Christopher Davis (CREDIT: Kirkland Correctional Center) Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023 Schmalbach’s half-sister Emily Scaletta speaks to WINK News and says Cape Coral police have not told the family if any leads have been found. Schmalbach’s landlord asks Davis to leave the property because his name is not on the lease. There is a sign taped to the property’s door, purportedly dated Aug. 1. A notice to evict on Schmalbach’s apartment. CREDIT: WINK News Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023 Davis’ arrest is made public. Friday, Aug. 4, 2023 Cape Poral police hold a press conference announcing they have a person of interest in Schmalbach’s disappearance but do not name them. They say detectives suspect foul play and are searching multiple counties for Schmalbach. They also update the timeline to say Schmalbach is last seen and heard from on Wednesday, July 19, making the voicemail to Blanco the last known attempt at communication. Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023 Schmalbach’s family go to Jaycee Park to hand out flyers, hoping for information on his disappearance. Flyers Schmalbach’s family handed out during their search. CREDIT: WINK News Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023 Cape Coral police search the sewer system near Schmalbach’s apartment. Friday, Aug. 11, 2023 Davis is extradited to a South Carolina jail. Friday, Jan. 26, 2024 Cape Coral police announced Davis has been charged with Barry Schmalbach’s murder and issue an arrest warrant to have him transferred from South Carolina jail to Lee County to face charges. Thursday, June 27, 2024 Davis is booked into the Lee County Jail at around 1:45 a.m. on 18 charges, including murder, tampering with evidence and fraud. Schmalbach’s body remains missing. Friday, June 28, 2024 Davis was ordered held without bond ahead of the murder trial.