12-year-old collecting donations for the needy during the holidaysFort Myers man facing homelessness before the holidays
NAPLES 12-year-old collecting donations for the needy during the holidays A 12-year-old Naples boy isn’t worried about what he’s getting for Christmas. Instead, he’s working on his 6th annual “Holiday Sock Drive.”
Fort Myers man facing homelessness before the holidays A 75-year-old man is on the brink of homelessness despite working over 80 hours a week.
NAPLES Adoptee uses non-profit to provide suitcases for foster children This holiday season, a Naples woman is on a mission to bring foster children something many take for granted: a suitcase filled with dignity.
MARCO ISLAND City of Marco Island discusses lead awareness during city council meeting The city of Marco Island sent out 4900 letters to residents warning them that their pipes could contain plastic or lead.
NAPLES The future of electric planes in Southwest Florida Features of living near an airport include persistent headache-inducing engine rumbles and foul-smelling jet fuel, but electric planes could play a part in the solution.
PORT CHARLOTTE Neighbors awaiting answers on Port Charlotte Beach Park repairs Neighbors said a contractor hired by the Florida Division of Emergency Management mishandled the boats at Port Charlotte Beach Park.
FGCU introduces new technology for cognitive health screenings Ten minutes. That’s all it takes for doctors to assess how well you remember, how quickly you learn things, and how your brain is working overall.
WINK Investigates: Disgraced contractor faces new lawsuits and allegations Paul Beattie, a disgraced home builder is back doing business but legal challenges continue as another one of his businesses gets sued. Former employees of Beattie speak out, only to WINK.
SWFL reacts to UNC hiring Bill Belichick Southwest Florida reacts to North Carolina hiring Bill Belichick as its new head football coach and how that could impact the decisions of local recruits.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Some Floridians want more alone time during the holidays The holidays are all about spending time with family and friends, but nearly half of Americans say they really want more alone time during the holiday.
LABELLE Hendry County rolls out cameras for school speed zones The Hendry County Sheriff’s Office has rolled out a new way of enforcing school zone speed limits by using cameras that will target drivers traveling over a certain speed in a school zone.
Aggressive driving concerns on the rise in Southwest Florida The arrest of a man who, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said, killed a motorcyclist after crashing into him on purpose is raising concerns over aggressive driving in Southwest Florida.
SANIBEL Sanibel School students prepare for community Christmas performance The school that has had to claw and fight its way back more than once to reopen is getting the chance to celebrate.
FORT MYERS Rock For Equality: SWFL music scene to hold benefit concert for Palestine A two-venue, eight-band benefit concert is coming to Southwest Florida.
NAPLES Naples man sentenced in deadly bar shooting A man has been sentenced for a deadly shooting that took place at a Naples bar in March 2021.
NAPLES 12-year-old collecting donations for the needy during the holidays A 12-year-old Naples boy isn’t worried about what he’s getting for Christmas. Instead, he’s working on his 6th annual “Holiday Sock Drive.”
Fort Myers man facing homelessness before the holidays A 75-year-old man is on the brink of homelessness despite working over 80 hours a week.
NAPLES Adoptee uses non-profit to provide suitcases for foster children This holiday season, a Naples woman is on a mission to bring foster children something many take for granted: a suitcase filled with dignity.
MARCO ISLAND City of Marco Island discusses lead awareness during city council meeting The city of Marco Island sent out 4900 letters to residents warning them that their pipes could contain plastic or lead.
NAPLES The future of electric planes in Southwest Florida Features of living near an airport include persistent headache-inducing engine rumbles and foul-smelling jet fuel, but electric planes could play a part in the solution.
PORT CHARLOTTE Neighbors awaiting answers on Port Charlotte Beach Park repairs Neighbors said a contractor hired by the Florida Division of Emergency Management mishandled the boats at Port Charlotte Beach Park.
FGCU introduces new technology for cognitive health screenings Ten minutes. That’s all it takes for doctors to assess how well you remember, how quickly you learn things, and how your brain is working overall.
WINK Investigates: Disgraced contractor faces new lawsuits and allegations Paul Beattie, a disgraced home builder is back doing business but legal challenges continue as another one of his businesses gets sued. Former employees of Beattie speak out, only to WINK.
SWFL reacts to UNC hiring Bill Belichick Southwest Florida reacts to North Carolina hiring Bill Belichick as its new head football coach and how that could impact the decisions of local recruits.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Some Floridians want more alone time during the holidays The holidays are all about spending time with family and friends, but nearly half of Americans say they really want more alone time during the holiday.
LABELLE Hendry County rolls out cameras for school speed zones The Hendry County Sheriff’s Office has rolled out a new way of enforcing school zone speed limits by using cameras that will target drivers traveling over a certain speed in a school zone.
Aggressive driving concerns on the rise in Southwest Florida The arrest of a man who, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said, killed a motorcyclist after crashing into him on purpose is raising concerns over aggressive driving in Southwest Florida.
SANIBEL Sanibel School students prepare for community Christmas performance The school that has had to claw and fight its way back more than once to reopen is getting the chance to celebrate.
FORT MYERS Rock For Equality: SWFL music scene to hold benefit concert for Palestine A two-venue, eight-band benefit concert is coming to Southwest Florida.
NAPLES Naples man sentenced in deadly bar shooting A man has been sentenced for a deadly shooting that took place at a Naples bar in March 2021.
CREDIT: CCSO WINK News has been given a look at advances in crime-fighting technology that authorities used to give them crucial help to solve a nearly four-decades-old murder. In November 1988, Robert Hecht was found in his home on Rio Togas Road in Charlotte County with multiple wounds to the back of his head. For 36 years, Hecht’s murder went unsolved. CREDIT: WINK News What made it so difficult was that detectives couldn’t identify one of the possible suspects. According to witnesses, the unidentified man was the last person to be seen with Hecht back in 1988. With new methods in DNA testing and matching, investigators found their man with the evidence they already had. Closure was brought to the family of the late 58-year-old Hecht’s family by the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office’s cold case unit. “Friends went to the house and observed what they thought was a body lying on the couch,” said Kurt Mehl, a detective for the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office’s cold case unit. “They reported that to the sheriff’s department, and the investigation began. At the time, there were a substantial number of suspects in this case, and there was an exhaustive investigation, including trying to determine who Ray was.” RELATED: New DNA results help close 36-year-old murder cold case According to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, both Robert and Ray were last seen at an Oyster Bar in Fishermen’s Village. Robert told one friend they were going to one more bar before heading home. Investigators could not identify Ray at the time, but with some help from evidence found in Robert’s home and car and advancements in DNA tech, detectives found their guy. Evidence collected was reexamined and matched with genealogical DNA information, which all pointed to Kenneth Ray Miller. CREDIT: CCSO “One of the things that was found in the car was a cigarette butt; Mr. Hecht did not smoke,” said Mhel, “and this is a brand-new car, his pride and joy, and he did not let anyone smoke his car. Why that was interesting to us in 2021 because at the scene, Mr. Hecht was found lying face down on his couch, and he had been murdered by the use of the ashtray, a big heavy ashtray that was found in the house.” Miller died back in 2006, and while he isn’t alive to do time for the crime, Hecht’s family has their long sought-after answers. “I talked to his sister; she was obviously very happy to have the case resolved,” said Mike Vogel, a detective for the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, “and thankful for all the work that cold case put into the investigation.” Mehl told WINK News at the end of the day, a cold case is a cold case for a reason, so they cannot guarantee a successfully sovled case for everyone. However, it won’t keep them from trying as they did for Hecht and his family, who can now live with the closure they’ve needed for almost 40 years.