THE NEWSCASTER
THE NEWSCASTER
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Deborah Russell - Editor
A Publication of
Wednesday March 22, 2017
Inglis, FL 34449
Tom Russell - Publisher
Newscaster Publishing
Permit No. 14
Mike Moore - Photojournalist
Please visit our website thenewscaster.com
News Beat
FHP Looking for
Hit & Run Driver
Shortly before 10 pm. Monday
3-20-17, 19 year old Philip Studnicka
of Homosassa was walking in the east-
bound bicycle lane of West Fort Island
Trail near US-19, Crystal River. An un-
known vehicle was traveling eastbound
on West Fort Island Trail and collided
with Studnicka.
Following the collision, the
hit and run vehicle left the scene of the
crash. Anyone with information regard-
ing this case is asked to contact the FHP
or Crime Stoppers (1-888-ANY-TIPS).
The victim was transported to Bayonet
Pt. Hospital with serious injuries. Charg-
es are pending.
Two foot cobra snake
missing from
Ocala residence
The Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission (FWC) has
confirmed that search efforts were un-
derway, as of March 13, for a missing
suphan cobra snake in the vicinity of the
900 block of NE Ninth Street in Ocala.
The body of 47 year old Tricia Freeman of Palmetto was located by law enforcement personnel with the Levy County Sheriff's Office, the Chief-
Residents in the area have been
land (FL) Police Department and the District 8 Medical Examiner's Office which will evaluate the remains at the UF Forensic Medicine Unit in
urged to use caution until this snake has
Gainesville, FL. See story below. Photo courtesy LSCO.
Citrus County
been captured. Although reclusive by
Body of murdered Palmetto
nature, cobras are highly venomous and
will strike out if they feel threatened.
scam alert from
The snake is about 2 feet in length, with
woman found in Levy County
distinctive multicolor markings. If any-
Clerk of Court
one sees this snake, they should remain
murder, and Ms. Colyer was charged with
From Levy County Sheriff Dept. &
at a safe distance and immediately call
accessory to murder. The two gave detailed
Palmetto PD
the FWC's Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-
confessions to detectives with the Ashland
The body of a Palmetto, Florida
404-3922 (FWCC) or *FWC or #FWC
(Kentucky) Police Department. Mr. Nichols
woman was discovered in Chiefland, about
From Citrus County Sheriff Dept.
on cellphones. Members of the public
confessed to killing Ms. Freeman after an
11:00 am, Monday morning, March 20, in a
should not approach or attempt to cap-
The Citrus County Clerk of Circuit
argument, during which she said something
shallows grave at an "undeveloped lot" off
ture this snake. The FWC is investigat-
Court and the Citrus County Sheriff s Office
that set him off. Ms. Freeman's daughter
SW 10th Circle, according to Lt. Scott Tum-
ing this incident.
have received several calls from citizens,
confessed to helping Nichols dispose of her
mond, head of the Professional
Monday night, March 13, about
recently, regarding email and phone call
mother's body. The two headed north in Ms.
Standards Division of the Levy
11:15 pm, Venomous Reptile Permit
scams falsely notifying them of an alleged
Freeman's vehicle after allegedly killing her
County Sheriff s Office. The
(VRC) licensee Brian Purdy contacted
missed court hearing or jury duty.
on Tuesday.
murdered woman, 47 year-old
the FWC to inform investigators that
According to the Citrus County
Police Chief Todd Kelley of the
Tricia Freeman, had last been
his 24-inch long cobra had escaped its
Sheriff s Office, a person claiming to be Lt.
Ashland, KY P.D. gave a detailed account
seen the previous Monday, Nichols
enclosure, about 9:00 pm that evening.
Calvin Harris of the Citrus County Sheriff's
of the investigation leading up to the arrests
March 13, in Palmetto (Mana-
An FWC captive wildlife investigator
Department has called residents and/or left
of the duo. On Thurs., March 16, Mrs. Free-
tee County).
responded to the licensee's house where
a voice message informing them that they
man's car, a green 2016 Chevrolet Sonic,
After an investigation
the snake was kept, along with the Ocala
have missed a court date or jury duty and
was found in Central Park in Ashland, KY.
involving numerous law en-
Police Department and Marion County
have a warrant for their arrest. The caller in-
It was determined that the car had been there
forcement agencies in several
Fire Rescue. After an initial search,
structs the intended victim to purchase and
for two days. Human blood was found in-
states, Ms. Freeman's daughter,
nearby residents were notified of the es-
send a preloaded gift card for $1,000. The
side the vehicle, from which fingerprints
Kayla R. Colyer, 21, and her Colyer
cape. All of Mr. Purdy's other remaining
citizen is instructed to phone 1-866-279-
had been collected, as well. Investigators
boyfriend, Roy C. Nichols, Jr.,
reptiles in inventory were accounted for
7880 where a recorded message - allegedly
learned from the Palmetto (FL) P.D. that Ms.
26, were charged in Ms. Freeman's murder.
and secure.
Mr. Nichols was charged with second degree
Continued on page 11 - Body Found
Continued on page 8 - Scams