Posted on 07/19/2020 12:34:47 AM PDT by LibWhacker
POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) –Three young men were “massacred” during a fishing trip in Frostproof Friday night in what Sheriff Grady Judd called one of the worst murder scenes he’s ever witnessed.
Judd said Frostproof residents Brandon Rollins, 27, Keven Springfield, 30, and Damion Tillman, 23, were to meet at Lake Streety off US Hwy 27 Friday evening for some ‘night fishing.’
“It’s about as far out in the middle of the woods as you can get,” Judd said. “It’s a peaceful area. There’s a beautiful lake where three very close friends were going fishing last night.”
Judd said Damion arrived first to the lake in his truck. As soon as he did, investigators believe he was murdered by one or more individuals.
They were in the process of murdering Tillman when Judd said Rollins and Springfield arrived in another vehicle. Detectives believe they were immediately “shot up.”
“Here’s what the murderers didn’t count on,” Judd said. “One of our victims, Brandon Rollins, was able to call his father and say, ‘help.'”
The sheriff said Rollins’ father heard the call, got up, got dressed and drove to the lake. When he arrived, he witnessed what had happened.
They were in the process of murdering Tillman when Judd said Rollins and Springfield arrived in another vehicle. Detectives believe they were immediately “shot up.”
“Here’s what the murderers didn’t count on,” Judd said. “One of our victims, Brandon Rollins, was able to call his father and say, ‘help.'”
The sheriff said Rollins’ father heard the call, got up, got dressed and drove to the lake. When he arrived, he witnessed what had happened.
Judd said the father was able to have final words with his son, Brandon, before he passed. The information Rollins gave to his father about the suspects remains confidential, the sheriff’s office said.
“These folks appear to be beaten and shot,” Judd said. “Do you hear me? Beaten and shot.”
Judd could not say whether the murders were random, or targeted.
“One or more murderers that killed three people in a little country community,” he continued. “A very safe, very quiet community. Murdered them while they were on their way to go catfishing last night.”
Judd said there is a $5,000 reward for anyone who has information that leads to the arrest of the murderers in the case.
“I’ve been to a lot of murder scenes in my life, and this ranks among the worst I’ve been to,” Judd said.
News Channel 8’s Justin Schecker was able to talk to the family and girlfriend of Rollins.
“I was just so upset last night, I just didn’t know what to do,” Cyril Rollins said.
Brandon Rollins’ mom and girlfriend Picture of Brandon Rollins courtesy of his family Brandon Rollins’ mom and girlfriend Picture of Brandon Rollins courtesy of his family
Picture of Brandon Rollins courtesy of his family He described for 8 On Your Side the final fateful call from his son.
“We heard some background and they fussing all that,” he said. “But I left, I went on out here. When I got there I was looking for my son. It was a mess. I found my son. I was holding him he was telling me what happened but i was too shocked to know what was going on.”
Rollins’ girlfriend Jessica Steenson said at the scene of the murders, Sheriff Judd shook her hand and made a promise.
“That he will not stop until justice is served for them three boys, my boyfriend, and his two best friends,” she said. “I moved here from Jacksonville, Florida, for him two years ago and this is not how it was supposed to be and I want justice for him. And I will not stop until he gets it.”
Justice is all Rollin’s heartbroken mother Dottie Payton wants, too.
“I want it to be served the right way and I’m sure they’re out there watching and seeing what’s going on and they need to come forward,” she said.
Nathan Hale was hanged ..not hung.
Dude, you are a major league asshole!
Re: Confidential information
Hm?....Let me guess?
The suspects are black. It’s like reading Pravda in the former Soviet Union.
In a community that small it's hard to imagine there would be others to send a message to.
IMHO, the only folks currently exhibiting enough hatred to torture/murder are the BLM crowd (e.g. the young mother recently executed at a BLM march for saying "All lives matter").
I made a golf trip to Streamsong resort when it first opened up some years ago. There is not much out there in that part of central Florida other than some phosphorus mines, alligators and some farming. I can't imagine there would be any racial tension unless it was imported from Tampa or Orlando.
Or stumble upon a meth lab.
Nathan Hale was hanged ..not hung.
..................................
He might have been both! But seriously, the “hung” mistake is so common that I’ve gotten tired of correcting it.
THIS sheriff...
The constitutional sheriff every County needs.
Now more than ever before it is foolhardy to go anywhere unarmed, but especially at night in remote or high-crime areas. DON’T DO IT!
Mrs. Hale unavailable for comment..
They had to have stumbled upon some drug operation.
I would be shocked. Grady Judd is a no nonsense sheriff and I bet he knows who are the bad apples.
“What is your guess based on? Is there a high population of blacks in the area? Has black lives matter been active on this area? They are staking out the catfish fisherman now?”
A fair question. According to the news report this occurred late at night at a lake in the middle of nowhere. My guess is the 1st victim drives up on a group of people hanging out, getting drunk, maybe doing something illegal, whatever. They decide to mess with him, because they can. He’s a target of opportunity, in the wrong place at the wrong time. Maybe things get out of hand and he is seriously injured or dies. They start to bug out but victims 2 and 3 show up. Now THEY have to be dealt with. It’s unplanned, sloppy (they left a victim alive), violent and senseless. It seems to me that these types spontaneous violent crimes are often associated with blacks. It seems like there are examples every few days on FR alone of such attacks. Then there is statistics. Check the FBI Uniform Crime Reports for whatever year and let me know which ethnic group commits over 50% of the murders in the US. Its just probability and my impression of who commits the type of murders described. I could be wrong. Try not to take it personally, or make reckless charges of racism.
I wouldn’t be out in rattlesnake/cottonmouth country in shorts and crocs. But that’s just me.
“A fair question. According to the news report this occurred late at night at a lake in the middle of nowhere.”
Blacks would not be out in the woods at night or in the daytime for that matter.
Good gawd almighty....!!!
What an ignorant statement!!!
It’s as hopeless to correct as, “I could care less”.
The Mexican drug operators in that area are active in Frostproof, Florida down the road. This area is rural and is an air plane away from the Bahamas and other islands. Also within an hour the cities of Orlando Tampa and Miami.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.