A Milton woman sentenced to life seeks shorter sentence
May 15, 2025
Six years after being sentenced to life for second-degree murder, a Milton woman is now seeking to overturn the life sentence.
Melissa Blair Pocopanni was convicted of second-degree murder, two counts of attempted second-degree murder, and principal armed robbery in November 2018 and sentenced in January 2019.
Pace pharmacists busted for pill mill scheme
May 14, 2025
Pace Pharmacy pharmacists Stephen Allen Burklow and David Barron Winkles, and the pharmacy office manager Monique Burklow, were arrested on May 14. The three were charged with conspiring to traffic prescription drugs.
Pensacola fentanyl trafficker arrested
April 18, 2025
PENSACOLA, Fla. – The Florida Department of Law Enforcement announces the arrest of Christopher Alonse Cobb, Jr., 20, of Pensacola, on five counts of trafficking fentanyl.
Inmate at center of murder investigation found dead in Santa Rosa County Jail
March 14, 2025
On Thursday, March 13, Toby James White, who was apprehended by law enforcement Jan. 25 for second degree murder, was found dead in his cell at Santa Rosa County Jail.
Santa Rosa County couple arrested for child abuse after hospital visit
March 12, 2025
After a two monthlong investigation, Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office has arrested two county residents for child abuse and neglect.
Jesse Allen Smith, 29, of Jay, is charged with cruelty toward a child, which is described as aggravated child abuse. Jordan Chase Moore, 28, of Pace, is charged with child neglect with great bodily harm. At the time of the arrests, the two were involved in a relationship.
Marcus Spanevelo trial under review with court reconsidering death penalty
February 28, 2025
A Navarre woman’s 2022 death has reentered the spotlight as her ex-boyfriend and the father of her child was set to go on trial April 28 for allegedly kidnapping her, which resulted in her death.
The federal trial of Marcus Spanevelo, who is alleged to have transported Navarre resident Cassie Carli’s body to Alabama and buried it in a shallow grave in Springville, a 40-minute drive from Birmingham, is being examined by a capital review committee to see if he could possibly face the death penalty.
Murder suspect apprehended
January 27, 2025
Toby James White, 31, was apprehended Saturday, Jan. 25. White was wanted for second-degree murder. The murder took place on Jan. 20 on Old Oak Road in Milton.
The Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office on Jan. 22 issued a plea asking for the public’s help in locating White.
Woman arrested in connection with husband’s death
January 26, 2025
Following the discovery of Allen Phillips’ body at his home on Jan. 24, his wife Tequila Phillips has been arrested by the Wetumpka Police Department in Alabama and is waiting for extradition to Santa Rosa County. Allen’s body was discovered after a family member called the Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office requesting a wellness check at […]
Three arrested for Milton High School racist graffiti
December 20, 2024
Three individuals were arrested for racist graffiti at Milton High School. The arrest report detailing the graffiti incident on Nov. 27 reveals who did it and how they were caught.
Eight men thought they were meeting a 14-year-old for sex, instead were arrested by SRSO during undercover operation
August 29, 2024
Eight men were arrested by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office after a multi-agency internet chat operation where they agreed to meet an underage individual for sex, according to Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson.