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HOMICIDE SUSPECT ARRESTED

July 10, 2001

Hannam

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department received information early this morning that the NY/NJ HITDA Fugitive Task Force had arrested Douglas Hannam in the Ozone Park area of Queens New York. Hannam was wanted for the May 12, 1999 murder of Spurgeon Bowen.

Bowen was shot and killed at his place of business, Bowen Auto Body, 717 NW 1 Street after what was described as a dispute between three suspects and Bowen. All three suspects fled the scene, however as Crime Scene Detectives processed the scene they found a human thumb inside the business. Through the investigation the thumb was confirmed to be Hannam’s.

The two other suspects, Andre Andrew Hall and Oliver Jones were taken into custody on May 20, 1999 however Hannam remained at large.

Hannam was featured on the show America’s Most Wanted, which aired for the second time three weeks ago; detectives received approximately 30 tips on Hannams whereabouts. Fort Lauderdale Detective Chuck Morrow along with the F.B.I. Fugitive Task Force were able to confirm the address that Hannam was reported to be at and with the co-operation of the NY/NJ Task Force surveillance was set up on the Queens address. This morning shortly after 6:00 a.m. task force members hit the home located at 97-39 77 Street and Hannam was found hiding in a rear bathroom. Hannam was taken into custody without incident.

Hannam will be extradited back to Fort Lauderdale to face the state charge of First Degree Murder and the Federal charge of Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution.

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HOMICIDE SUSPECT ARRESTED

July 11, 2001

Fort Lauderdale Police Department Detectives have arrested and charged Luis Aviles, 05-24-64, with one count of First Degree Murder in connection with the death of Diana Lynn Yee.

Miami-Dade Firefighters found Yee on Monday July 2, 2001, after they extinguished a vehicle fire at NW 146 Street & NW 7 Avenue in Dade County. Yee was in the back seat of the vehicle. Miami-Dade Police homicide investigators responded to the scene and began their investigation.

Detectives found that Yee had been murdered prior to being burned in the vehicle fire and that the homicide possibly had occurred in the City of Fort Lauderdale. Miami-Dade Detectives contacted Fort Lauderdale homicide detectives and began a joint investigation.

Detectives learned that the homicide had occurred at the Lafayette Motor Lodge, 2231 N. Ocean Blvd. room 208 and immediately responded to the scene where they did in fact find evidence consistent with their investigation.

On Tuesday, July 10, 2001, at approximately 5:45 p.m. detectives from both Miami-Dade County and the City of Fort Lauderdale Police Departments took Aviles into custody without incident after a meeting was arranged with him at a location in downtown Fort Lauderdale.

Aviles has been co-operating with detectives in the case, and it was found that Yee was murdered on Saturday June 30th.

VICTIM: Diana Lynn Yee, 10-05-67
ARRESTED: Luis Aviles, 05-24-64

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NOTIFICATION MEETING

July 12, 2001

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department will be holding their quarterly Sexual Predator/Offender Community Notification Meeting on Wednesday July 18, 2001 at 7:00 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, 1300 West Broward Blvd. in the second floor-training classroom. The meeting is open to the public.

For further information or directions call 828- 5700.

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BARRICADED SUBJECTSUICIDE THREATS

July 16, 2001

Fort Lauderdale Police were summoned to 2921 SW 19th Ave. Callers advised that their roommate had locked himself in his room at this address. WILLIAM DEMEREST reportedly had also taken some sort of flammable liquid into the room with him. Upon arrival Fort Lauderdale Police Officers attempted to personally contact DEMEREST unsuccessfully; while doing so they smelled an unknown chemical odor emanating from the room. For approximately 3 hours, emergency personnel hailed DEMEREST over PA systems and phones but DEMEREST did not respond. At approximately 5:00 pm officers made entry into the residence. DEMEREST was conscious, alert, and uninjured, lying on his back on the bed. He was shortly afterward taken into custody offering no resistance. DEMEREST was said to have been despondent over recent personal problems.

DEMEREST was taken to Broward General Hospital under the “Baker Act” to be evaluated. The chemical earlier mentioned is now believed to have been denatured alcohol, his intentions for the fluid are unknown.

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HOMICIDE SUSPECT ARRESTED

July 21, 2001

Fort Lauderdale Police Department Fugitive and Tactical Officers while working in the area of North Ocean Blvd. in an attempt to locate wanted suspect Stanley Bucahanan, instead arrested a homicide suspect wanted out of Okeechobee County Florida.

Officers noticed a black Ford Mustang convertible with a Florida temporary tag parked in front of the Lamp Lighter Motel located at 2401 N. Ocean Blvd. A description of the vehicle had been broadcast over the police radio moments earlier along with a description of the suspect in the homicide. Officers were able to determine that that the suspect was in room 120 and as they approached heard breaking glass. The suspect had broken out a back window of the room and was attempting to flee. A perimeter was quickly set up and K-9 requested. The suspect was taken into custody a short time later without incident a short distance from the motel.

The suspect, Christopher Dale Jones, 01-05-79, was transported to the Fort Lauderdale Police Department where he was held for Detectives from the Okeechobee County Sheriffs Department who arrived shortly after Midnight and began interviewing the suspect.

Jones was wanted for First Degree Murder in connection with a Home Invasion/ Homicide that occurred on Tuesday July 17th in Okeechobee County.

For further information on the Homicide please contact the Okeechobee County Sheriffs Office at 863-763-3117.

ARRESTED: Christopher Dale Jones, 01-05-79

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SUSPICIOUS DEATH

July 25, 2001

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department is investigating a body found in the trunk of a vehicle parked to the rear of 5990 N. Federal Highway early this morning.

Officers responded to the N. Federal Highway address at approximately 10:30 a.m. after management of the restaurant had called to complain that the vehicle had been parked to the rear of the business for a “few days”. Officers found the doors to the 2000 Audi Quatro closed and unlocked and in an attempt to find the identity of the owner checked the interior. Officers then opened the trunk with an interior lock and found the body of a deceased 20-30 year-old white female inside.

There were no outward signs of trauma on the body. The victim was clothed and appears to have been in the trunk 24-36 hours.

The Broward County Medical Examiners Office will be conducting an autopsy Thursday morning to in an attempt to determine the exact cause of death

The victim has been tentatively identified however detectives are attempting to confirm that identity and notify next of kin.

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1985 HOMICIDE SUSPECT ARRESTED

July 26, 2001

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department has secured an indictment in the 1985 murder of 24 year-old Peter Forgie.

Forgie was acting as the disc jockey at a Jamaican dance party at the Firemen’s Benevolent Hall, 2599 SW 3Avenue, March 30, 1985, when at approximately 3:15 a.m. several suspects entered and began shooting with automatic weapons. Four victims were shot, three survived but Forgie died from several gunshot wounds.

At the time of the shooting a Jamaican gang known as the “Shower Posse” was suspected as being involved in the shooting. Over the years evidence as well as statements were collected from other gang members involved in the “Shower Posse” including Vivian Blake one of the leaders of the gang. Blake identified a subject by the name of Ryfcogle “Kirk” Bruce as being the shooter in the homicide. Bruce was found to be in Landover, Maryland where he is currently serving a life sentence for Murder. Bruce was contacted by Detective John Curcio and confessed to the murder of Peter Forgie.

Earlier today a Broward County Grand Jury indicted Bruce on one count of First Degree Murder.

VICTIM: Peter Forgie

ARRESTED: Rufcogle “Kirk” Bruce, 01-01-62

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HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION

July 30, 2001

Martilotto

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department will be investigating the death of Anthony Martilotto, 10-25-61, as a Homicide case. Martilotto was found deceased in his room by a housekeeper at the Radisson Bahia Mar Hotel, 801 Seabreeze Blvd. on Thursday June 26, 2001.

Martilotto had checked in to the hotel early Thursday morning at approximately 3:30 for the day and had not checked out at 11:00 a.m. as required. At 2:00 p.m. Thursday housekeeping went to the room to clean and found the room locked with the “do not disturb” sign on the door. Housekeeping entered the room to find the victim deceased.

There were no visible signs of trauma to the body, however the Broward County Medical Examiners Office ruled later in the week that the death was a homicide.

Detectives interviewed the desk clerks working when Martilotto check in Thursday morning and found that the victim was in the company of a young white male, 19-20 years of age, 5’10”, 175 pounds, brown hair and green eyes. Additionally the victims 2001 Ford Mustang, red in color, Fla. tag # ED437F, is missing from the hotel lot.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective John Curcio at 828-5529, Detective Mark Breen at 828-5708 or Crime Stoppers at 493-T.I.P.S.

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MISSING ADULT

July 30, 2001

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department is currently investigating the suspicious disappearance of a 27-year-old female.

Polly Holtsberg, 10-21-73, was last heard leaving her residence at 427 NE 8 Street by her live in boyfriend at approximately 6:30 this morning as she left for work. Polly never arrived at her place of work in Coral Springs.

Polly and her mother, Lynn Holtsberg, both work for the same company but in different locations, and when Lynn was unable to contact Polly at work, she became concerned. Lynn then found that Polly had never arrived at work early this morning but according to her boyfriend she, Polly, had left as usual. According to the parents Polly has never gone anywhere without contacting them and that they keep in contact daily.

Polly was last seen driving a 1999 Olds Allero black in color with a Fl. Tag of B28GRZ.

The Holtsberg family is offering a $5000.00 reward for any information as to the whereabouts of Polly.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Jack King at 828-5544, Detective Art Carbo at 828-6014 or crime Stoppers at 493-T.I.P.S

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HOMICIDE UPDATE

July 31, 2001

Adam Ezerski

Martilotto

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department has identified the subject last seen with homicide victim Anthony Martilotto early Thursday morning.

Adam Ezerski, 01-16-82, is not being named as a suspect, however detectives would like to speak with him, as he was the last person known to have been with Martilotto.

Ezerski is described as a white male, 5’10”, 175 pounds, brown hair, and green eyes with an unknown tattoo on one of his upper arms.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective John Curcio at 828-5529, Detective Mark Breen at 828-5708 or Crime Stoppers at 493-T.I.P.S.

Media may pick up a copy of the photo at the Fort Lauderdale Police Department.

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