In response to your inquiries, Polk Sheriff’s Charities, Inc., will collect funds on behalf of the victims’ families of the triple homicide in #Frostproof that occurred on Friday, July 17, 2020.
The victims were: Brandon Rollins, Keven Springfield, and Damion Tillman. Their names were released early in the investigation with their families’ permission.
To donate by check, please send donations to Polk Sheriff’s Charities, Inc. and write “Frostproof Homicide Victims’ families” in the memo line.
Our address is:
1891 Jim Keene Blvd
Winter Haven, FL 33880
To donate by credit card, go to http://www.polksheriff.org/donate and choose “Other” and type in “Frostproof Homicide Victims’ families.”
All funds received & designated as such will be distributed to the families of these three victims.
Polk County, Florida – Three suspects arrested in Frostproof triple homicide
Polk County Sheriff’s Homicide detectives have arrested two brothers, and one of the brother’s girlfriend, in the triple homicide that occurred in the unincorporated area of Frostproof on July 17, 2020.
During a search of the crime scene, detectives found a Dollar General bag and receipt dated the night of the murders, and worked their way backwards from there. They responded to the Dollar General store, and retrieved store video surveillance that showed one of the victims – Damion Tillman – making some purchases. Detectives spoke with the clerk, who knows Damion as a frequent customer. The clerk told detectives that Damion said he was going fishing. The clerk also saw the suspects in the store at the same time, and they are also seen in the video. The clerk told detectives that the suspects heard Damion say he was going fishing, and that Keven would be with him, as the clerk listened to all of them talk to each other about it.
Detectives also received tips that one of the suspects might be Tony Wiggins. Tony Wiggins was positively identified as the person in the video at the Dollar General.
On July 20, 2020, detectives served a search warrant at a parcel of land on Sarver Avenue (nearest cross street, Sandollar Street) in Lake Wales, Florida, where a travel trailer was parked. The travel trailer is occupied by 26-year-old Tony “TJ” Wiggins and his girlfriend, 27-year-old Mary Whittemore; Tony’s brother, 21-year-old William “Robert” Wiggins, lives in another trailer on the same plot. Detectives found two SKS rifles, two Mossberg shotguns, and ammunition for both in a gun safe belonging to TJ Wiggins. TJ is a convicted felon, so he was placed under arrested for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (F-2), and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon (F-2).
TJ Wiggins was recently arrested in March 2020 for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and was released on bond. Due to the fact that he committed crimes while out on bond, he violated his pretrial release conditions, and a Parker vs. State hold was applied (meaning he is not allowed to bond out on the new charges). Detectives continued their investigation.
The search warrant at the trailer also yielded ammunition that was compared to the shell casings found at the scene of the triple homicide. The ammunition was sent to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) lab for testing. The FDLE expedited the testing. The test results came back positive – the ammunition found in the trailer is the same ammunition fired from the gun that night, a Smith & Wesson handgun.
Detectives learned that Whittemore purchased the ammunition for TJ in Lake Wales on July 9, 2020. They are seen in video surveillance purchasing it at the store, and detectives have the receipt confirming the purchase.
Detectives interviewed all three suspects, and their stories were inconsistent and contradicting each other. Whittemore admitted to purchasing the ammunition, and to being with the brothers on the night of the murder. She did not make any additional statements. The Wiggins brothers statements were inconsistent.
William “Robert” Wiggins was interviewed again. During that interview, Robert admitted to seeing Damion in the Dollar General store on Friday evening while he stood in line behind Damion with his brother TJ. When they left the store, TJ directed Robert (who was driving) to turn onto a particular road, instead of going home. Two trucks, occupied by the three victims, passed Robert on that road, at which time TJ told Robert to make a U-turn and follow the trucks.
Robert followed the trucks to Lake Streety Road in Frostproof. Robert stayed in the truck with Whittemore, while TJ got out and confronted Keven Springfield, punching him and yelling at him, accusing Keven of stealing his truck. Brandon Rollins and Damion Tillman get out of their truck, and TJ continues to scream at all of them. Robert told detectives he watched as TJ shot all three victims. TJ then asked Robert to help him put Damion into the back of one of the trucks.
After the brutal killings, the three suspects drove to McDonald’s, where they ordered 10 double cheeseburgers, and two McChicken sandwiches. They went home to eat. On Saturday morning, July 18th, Robert took his truck to a car wash in Lake Wales and washed the clay from it.
Neither Tony Wiggins nor Mary Whittemore are cooperating with detectives.
Tony “TJ” Wiggins, 02/25/1994 has been charged with: First degree murder (Capital felony) Tampering with evidence (F-3) Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (F-2) Possession of ammunition by a convicted felon (F-2)
His criminal history includes 230 felonies with 15 convictions, 26 misdemeanors, and 2 trips to state prison. He has several assault and battery charges, armed burglary charges, and weapons charges.
William “Robert” Wiggins, DOB 01/04/99, has been charged with: Tampering with evidence (F-3) Accessory after the fact of capital felony (F1)
Mary Whittemore, DOB 07/07/93, has been charged with: Accessory after the fact of capital felony (F1)
Winter Haven Police are currently investigating a shooting that occurred last night in the Abbey Lane Apartments parking lot.
On 7-21-20 at approximately 10:09 p.m., officers responded to building 11 on Evergreen Place SW in Winter Haven to a reports of gunshots being heard. When officers arrived, they found a male in his 30’s with a gunshot wound to his leg. The male was alert and was transported to the hospital for treatment. At the scene, officers also located two vehicles that appeared to have been struck by a bullet.
We are very early into the investigation and information is still extremely limited. Additional details will be released as they become available.
If anyone has information regarding this case, they should call Detective Haynes at 863-401-2256. Callers who wish to remain anonymous should call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS(8477). Callers are guaranteed anonymity and could be eligible for a CASH reward.
Sheriff Grady Judd will brief the media at 11:00 a.m. this morning, Wednesday, July 22, 2020, at the PCSO Sheriff’s Operations Center (1891 Jim Keene Blvd, Winter Haven) with an important update on the investigation into the triple homicide that occurred in the unincorporated area of Frostproof on Friday evening, July 17, 2020.
Lake Wales, Florida – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team was called out to a residence on Deer Run Drive in East Lake Wales.
According to reader reports Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies started heading out to a home on Deer Run Drive around 11pm, Tuesday evening. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office helicopter was also on scene and eventually SWAT was called.
According to Brian Bruchey, Public Information Officers for PCSO, a male suspect was causing a domestic disturbance and refused to come out. Bruchey went on to say the suspect was taken into custody around 7am Wednesday morning.
Currently no additional details are available, but this does not appear to be related to Frostproof Triple Homicide.
Subject Cuts Out With Cricut Machine On 7-18-20 at approximately 11:15 a.m., the below pictured female (the tattoos should be a sure-fire giveaway) went to Walmart (355 Cypress Gardens Blvd) and selected a number of items to include a $369 Cricut Machine. The item rang up for $11.94! What a bargain,right? Wrong – the UPC was covered up with a lower-priced item. When approached by the Walmart associate, she refused to stop and swiftly left the store on foot. She was not seen entering a vehicle. Recognize her or her body art? Give Det. Shook a call at 863-401-2256. Callers wishing to remain anonymous should call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477). Callers are guaranteed anonymity and could be eligible for a CASH reward.
Due to a recent positive COVID-19 test, the AdventHealth Fieldhouse will be closed Wednesday afternoon through Thursday, July 23 to thoroughly clean and disinfect the building. The Fieldhouse will reopen to the public Friday, July 24. We apologize for the inconvenience as we work to ensure the health of our citizens. (The Rowdy Gaines Olympic Pool adjacent to the facility remains open.) Feel free to give us a call at (863)-291-5656 should you have any questions or concerns.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal three-vehicle crash which occurred on State Road 60 West near Mulberry, on Tuesday morning, July 21, 2020.
The crash occurred at about 6:58 am, west of the city, near the intersection with Old Highway 60.
Upon the arrival of deputies, 23-year-old Tony Gibson of Bartow was found lying in the eastbound lanes of SR 60, deceased.
Gibson was the driver of a silver 2018 Toyota Camry.
Two other people were involved: 40-year-old Christopher Honsa of Mulberry, the driver of a white 2011 Mac truck pulling a dump trailer, and 26-year-old Anna Britt of Mulberry, the driver of a gray 2016 Nissan Altima.
Britt suffered only minor scratches to her arm, and Honsa was not injured.
SR 60 was closed for approximately six hours for the investigation.
According to the preliminary investigation, Gibson was traveling west on SR 60 at a high rate of speed while negotiating a curve in the road. The Toyota began sliding, crossed the median, and entered the eastbound lanes.
The Toyota struck the rear driver’s side tires of Honsa’s trailer, then spun around and hit the front of Britt’s Nissan. The secondary impact caused Gibson to be ejected from his car. He was not wearing a seat belt.
The other two drivers were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash.
City of Lake Wales and Polk County distributing free face masks As the number of confirmed cases of Covid19 continue to rise in Polk County and Lake Wales, the City of Lake Wales has partnered with Polk County government services to distribute disposable face masks to its citizens. Polk County has purchased one million disposable, multi-use masks utilizing federal CARES Act funds. “24,000 masks will be available for our citizens to safely pick up at convenient locations,” stated Joe Jenkins, Lake Wales Fire Chief and Emergency Operations Director. Individual envelopes containing four masks each, may be picked up at four municipal building locations. Each mask may be reused unless it becomes wet or soiled.
The Lake Wales Public Library, 290 Cypress Garden Lane, will have the masks available at the main entrance, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Disposable masks will also be available for pick up at Lake Wales Main Fire Station, 253 West Central Avenue, Lake Wales North Fire Station, 600 Chalet Suzanne Road
Lake Wales Police Department, 133 East Tillman Avenue.
Distribution at all four locations will be outside the main entrance.
Please limit your supply to one envelope per immediate family member. The Center for Disease Control has called for Americans to wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID 19, protecting yourself and others. The distribution of disposable multi-use masks will allow citizens to comply with this recommendation.
Bartow, Fla. (July 20, 2020) — The Polk County Department of Health will be in Bartow for COVID-19 testing on Wednesday, July 22, 2020.
This is a walk up or drive through testing site offering the COVID-19 coronavirus test free, while supplies last, on a first-come, first serve basis. You do not have to have a physician’s referral or show symptoms to be tested. Site and time is:
Wednesday, July 22 from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the Polk County Courthouse Jury Parking Lot, 255 N. Broadway, Bartow. This is on the west side of the courthouse, across the street from the County Administration Building.
For information regarding testing, please call the Department of Health at (863) 519-7900.
