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MISSING PERSON

March 9, 2005

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department is requesting the assistance of the public in locating a missing person. Twenty three year old, Burr Travis has been missing since Friday, March 22, 2005.

On Monday, March 28, the Fort Lauderdale Police Department received a call from Burr’s father who reported his son missing. Burr’s father advised that his son was last seen at 101 NW 1st Avenue, at the Broward County bus terminal at approximately 1100 hours.

According to Burr’s father, he was last residing at a Ft. Lauderdale rehabilitation facility when he left the facility on his own volition. Burr’s family is concerned for their son because they advised that he has been diagnosed with Tourette syndrome and is mentally challenged. Burr Travis was also entered into NCIC/FCIC as ‘missing/endangered’ in case any other law enforcement agency comes in contact with him.

Burr Travis is a white/male, 23 years of age, 6’-03”, 135 pounds. He has short brown hair and blue eyes and was wearing a sweat shirt, blue jean shorts and white tennis shoes. Burr was also carrying a dark colored suitcase.

Anyone with information relating to Burr Travis or his whereabouts is encouraged to notify the Fort Lauderdale Police Department at 954-828-5700, or your local law enforcement agency.

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HOMICIDE

March 10, 2005

Wednesday night, March 9, 2005, the Fort Lauderdale Police Department received a 911 call that someone had been shot at 3901 NE 21st Avenue. Fort Lauderdale Police and Fire-Rescue units responded and located a gunshot victim inside of apartment #2. This victim, later identified as Jason Kapner (white/male, DOB 3/21/76), was transported to Broward General Medical Center in critical condition. While at the hospital, Kapner succumbed to his injuries and passed away as a result.

According to witnesses, a neighbor of this 8-unit apartment complex was identified as the killer; John Percival Challenger (white/male, DOB 12/29/67). Around 8 PM, Challenger came down from his apartment #6 to apartment #2 where the victim and several other persons were gathered. After approximately 10-15 minutes, for an unknown reason, Challenger produced a handgun and shot Kapner, striking him in the torso. Challenger then turned his gun on some of the other people and fired more shots without hitting anyone else. Challenger then fled from the apartment on foot, and the Police were summoned.

Not knowing where Challenger had fled to, the Police secured the apartment complex in an effort to insure the safety of other area residents and to locate Challenger. After a period of time, no contact was able to be made with Challenger and the departments SWAT personnel entered Challenger’s apartment and confirmed that he was no longer at this location. The police were able to identify Challengers vehicle, which was also gone from the location. A BOLO was broadcast to all law enforcement who began a search for Challenger.

Witnesses have since advised that Challenger has recently been suffering from depression and has been angry about events in his personal life. In the recent past, Challenger has lost his job, went through a divorce and had been arrested only 16 days prior, for carrying a concealed firearm by the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. At the time of this arrest, Challenger was in possession of a semi-auto firearm, which had been seized.

It seems at this time, that Challenger has been unable to control his rage and should be considered armed and extremely dangerous. Challenger is believed to be in possession of at least one handgun, and all precautions should be made to avoid contact with him. If anyone has seen Challenger or may know of his whereabouts, they are encouraged to call 911, the Ft. Lauderdale Police Department @ 954-828-5464, Ft. Lauderdale Homicide Detective Curcio @ 954-828-5529, or Broward County CrimeStoppers @ 954-493-TIPS.

Probable Cause exists for the arrest of Challenger for the charge of First degree Murder.

Challenger is believed to have fled in his blue 4-dr, 2002 Hyundai Sonata, Florida license plate A30QSP, similar to the one pictured below.

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HOMICIDE

March 15, 2005

At 8:40 this morning, the Ft. Lauderdale Police Department received a call from a citizen who advised that he heard some people involved in an argument at 1600 NW 6 Place, building # 3. During this argument, the caller advised that he heard someone say that he had killed someone, and the body was in his truck at this location.

Ft. Lauderdale Police and Fire-Rescue Units were dispatched to the scene and located a deceased victim inside of a black Ford Explorer. The victim was a B/M approximately 30 years-of-age, and appeared to have been murdered, deceased as a result of a gun shot wound.

Believing the suspect was now inside of apartment #203, the area was secured in order to protect area citizens and SWAT personnel responded to the scene. During this time, the suspect himself phoned the Police Department, a rapport was immediately established with dispatchers and a Police negotiator.

During these negotiations, it was learned that there were two people, a step-brother and family friend, who were also inside of this apartment, being held against their will by the murder suspect. Within a short period of time, the negotiator was able to successfully negotiate the safe release of the hostages; they were released unharmed. Within minutes, the suspect also surrendered to waiting Police officers without incident. The apartment was then checked and found to be secure and there were no other victims.

Currently, Homicide and Forensic detectives are conducting their investigation to gather evidence, interview persons involved, and determine the sequence of events which lead up to this murder.

At this time, no further information is being released, nor is the identity of the suspect or victim. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call the Fort Lauderdale Police Department Hot Line (954-828-5511), Homicide Detectives Carbo (954-828-6014) or Jenkins (954-828-5263), or Broward County Crimestoppers (954-493-TIPS).

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HOMICIDE

March 17, 2005

Early this morning, two people were fired upon in front of 1030 NW 6 Avenue. One man was shot in the torso and ultimately passed away during surgery at Broward General Medical Center, the second victim escaped without injury.

At approximately 2:15 AM the Police Department received a call that a man had been shot at this location. Police and Fire-Rescue responded and located a victim of a gunshot wound in front of 1022 NW 6 Avenue. This person, later identified as Marlon Ross (B/M DOB 03/01/73), was treated and transported to Broward General Medical Center. As a result of his injuries, Ross passed away while undergoing surgery at the hospital. A second victim, Jermaine Manuel (B/M DOB 01/28/73) had also been shot at, however was not injured.

According to witnesses, Ross and Manuel were standing in front of their residence when a grey/silver Dodge Intrepid (4-door, dark tinted windows) pulled into a parking space and the occupants called them over to the car. The vehicle was occupied by a light-skinned B/F driver, a B/M in the front passenger seat, and a B/M wearing a ski mask, black pants and shirt in the rear seat. This subject was also armed with a handgun and suddenly exited the vehicle, ordering the victims to the ground. Believing they were going to be robbed, Ross began to flee on foot; after hearing a gunshot, Manuel lied on the ground as ordered. Apparently, the suspect fired additional shots at Manuel, however he was not hit. The suspect then jumped back into the vehicle which fled the area.

During the shooting, Ross had been struck in the torso. He was able to retreat to his apartment and had the police summoned. Patrol Units and rescue immediately responded at this time. Ultimately, a crime scene was secured and both Forensic and Homicide Detectives took over the investigation.

At this time, Police are looking for the vehicle and persons involved in the incident. Police are urging that anyone who may know of this vehicle and/or its occupants, or have any information relating to this murder, to please contact the Police Department. Detectives can be contacted at the FLPD Hot Line @ 954-828-5511 or directly by calling Detective John Curcio @ 954-828-5529; you can also remain anonymous by calling Broward County Crime Stoppers @ 954-493-TIPS.

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BODY FOUND OFFSHORE

March 19, 2005

Fort Lauderdale Police Homicide Investigators are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying a body recovered by the U.S. Coast Guard. The victim was located approximately 1.3 miles offshore, just east of Lago Mar and North of Port Everglades. The victim was recovered yesterday, March 18th, 2005 at about 2:40 PM.

The victim is described as a fair skinned white female with reddish blond shoulder length hair, with either blue or green eyes. She is approximately 5’2” – 5’4”, weighing 115 – 130 pounds. She is assumed to be in her mid 40s to early 50s, and had a recent French manicure. Additionally there are specific surgical procedures that the deceased had undergone that may be known to friends or relatives, though investigators chose to not disclose the particulars of the procedures.

Investigators attempted to identify the victim through fingerprints and reported missing persons with negative results. This has prompted the release of photographs of the victim.

Due to the sensitive nature of these photographs, they may be disturbing to your viewers and readers. The photographs are on page 2 and 3 of this document.

Investigators are asking that anyone with information on the decedent’s identity please contact Detective Art Carbo (954) 828-6014, or Detective Dave Jenkins (954) 828-5563, the FLPD Investigation’s Hotline (954) 828-5511 or Broward Crime Stoppers.

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BODY FOUND IN OCEAN

March 25, 2005

On March 18th, 2005, the Fort Lauderdale Police Department and the US Coast Guard located the body of a deceased person in the ocean, approximately 1 mile from shore, east of Port Everglades. The investigation into this incident is still on-going; persons who may have any knowledge about this incident are encouraged to contact the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, Detective Art Carbo (954) 828-6014, Detective Dave Jenkins (954) 828-5563, or Broward County Crime Stoppers (954) 493-TIPS.

At this time, the deceased woman has been identified as 52 year-old, Kathleen A. Demarco (W/F, DOB 06-05-52) from Massachusetts.

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