True Crime Cases in Florida
True crime cases in Florida span decades of criminal history, from unsolved disappearances in rural communities to high-profile investigations in the state's largest cities. Florida law enforcement agencies, from local police departments to the state bureau of investigation, have tackled cases ranging from cold-case homicides and serial offenders to fraud schemes and domestic violence tragedies. CaseSleuth tracks each Florida case with comprehensive timelines, profiles of victims and persons of interest, evidence summaries, and links to media coverage and court documents. Browse the cases below to explore the full scope of criminal investigations in Florida.
8 cases found
Brian Laundrie Manhunt
Cold CaseNorth Port, FL · 2021
Brian Laundrie, fiancé of Gabby Petito, returned home alone from their cross-country trip. After Petito was found murdered, Laundrie fled and was found dead with a confession notebook.
Parkland School Shooting
ConvictedParkland, FL · 2018
On February 14, 2018, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, killing 17 people and wounding 17 others. It was one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history and sparked a nationwide gun control movement.
Trayvon Martin
AcquittedSanford, FL · 2012
On February 26, 2012, 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed in Sanford, Florida, by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman, who claimed self-defense. Zimmerman's acquittal in July 2013 sparked national protests and the founding of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Dalia Dippolito Murder-for-Hire
ConvictedBoynton Beach, FL · 2009
In 2009, Dalia Dippolito was caught on hidden camera hiring an undercover officer to murder her husband Mike Dippolito in Boynton Beach, Florida. Police staged a fake crime scene. After two mistrials, she was convicted in 2017.
Haleigh Cummings
Cold CaseSatsuma, FL · 2009
Five-year-old Haleigh Cummings disappeared from her Satsuma, Florida home on February 10, 2009, while in the care of her father's teenage girlfriend Misty Croslin. Despite an extensive investigation, Haleigh has never been found and no one has been charged with her disappearance or death, which police consider a likely homicide.
Caylee Anthony
AcquittedOrlando, FL · 2008
In June 2008, the disappearance of 2-year-old Caylee Anthony in Orlando, Florida, captured national attention. After an extensive search, her remains were found in December of the same year, leading to her mother, Casey Anthony, being charged with first-degree murder. In a highly publicized trial that concluded in 2011, Casey was acquitted of murder, though she was convicted of four counts of lying to law enforcement.
Aileen Wuornos
ConvictedDaytona Beach, FL · 1989
Aileen Wuornos was a highway prostitute who murdered seven men in Florida between 1989 and 1990, claiming each killing was in self-defense against rape or attempted rape. She was convicted of six murders, became one of the most studied female serial killers in American history, and was executed in 2002.
Ted Bundy
ConvictedTallahassee, FL · 1974
Ted Bundy was a charismatic serial killer who confessed to murdering 30 women and girls across seven states during the 1970s, though the true number of his victims may be higher. He escaped from custody twice before being captured, convicted, and executed in Florida in 1989.