Deputy Kills Ex-Girlfriend, Then Himself

A Pinellas County sheriff’s deputy kidnapped and killed his ex-girlfriend, a Pasco County mother of two, before taking his own life Monday, authorities said.

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said the woman and her children, ages 9 and 12, found Deputy Troy Savetz, 47, armed in her Hudson yard. When an argument escalated, Savetz took her phone and forced her into a rental car; the children ran inside and called 911.

Deputies tracked the vehicle to Spring Hill, where both were found dead of gunshot wounds. “He was a criminal,” Nocco said. The victim’s name has not been released.

Florida to Test Flying Cars This Year

Florida will begin actively testing electric flying cars by the end of the year, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Monday at the SunTrax facility in Auburndale.

The 775-acre Polk County site now includes two vertiports forming what the state calls the nation’s first dedicated aerial test track for advanced air mobility. The electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, known as eVTOLs, need no runway.

The FAA tapped SunTrax for a national eVTOL pilot program. Channeling the 1985 film Back to the Future and its famous no-roads-needed line, DeSantis quipped, “I think we’re going to be able to get you up in the air.”

Naples Teen Found Safe after 12 Days

Sophia Cover, the 16-year-old whose disappearance from her Golden Gate Estates home gripped Southwest Florida for 12 days, has been located and is safe, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office confirmed.

The teen left home on foot at 12:45 a.m. July 31, captured on surveillance video in a dark hoodie with a backpack. Her phone went dark within hours, and her father, Richard Cover, said he believed someone persuaded her to leave.

The multi-agency search drew national attention, with relatives posting video pleas for her return. The sheriff’s office has not said where she was found or released further details.

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➤ Statewide: Florida voters have cast more than 900,000 ballots for the Aug. 18 primary, including nearly 760,000 by mail and 175,000 in person. (See Details)

➤ Eustis: A gas leak forced evacuations and road closures near downtown on Tuesday as crews made repairs and officials urged drivers to avoid the area. (More)

➤ Flagler Beach: Police are investigating a swastika spray-painted on Jewish Republican U.S. Rep. Randy Fine’s campaign sign at an early-voting site. Fine blamed an opponent’s rhetoric. (Read Story)

➤ Hialeah: Officials closed its public pools for health and safety evaluations after maintenance concerns surfaced, with no reopening timeline announced. (More)

➤ Martin County: Deputies charged a woman with dozens of offenses after rescuing at least 20 border collies from a filthy home. (See Photos)

➤ Tampa: 813 Day returns on Thursday with more than 100 Hillsborough County deals and freebies celebrating Tampa’s original area code, including $8.13 specials at Sparkman Wharf and Hyde Park Village. (See Deals)

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➤ The Miami Dolphins acquired offensive tackle Caedan Wallace from the New England Patriots for a 2028 sixth-round pick in a rare trade between AFC East rivals. (More)

➤ Florida football unveiled a white throwback uniform honoring Steve Spurrier’s 1966 Heisman Trophy season, featuring the classic blue “F” helmet logo for an unspecified 2026 game. (More)

➤ Giannis Antetokounmpo will make his Miami Heat debut on Oct. 21 against the Minnesota Timberwolves as part of ESPN’s opening-week doubleheader. (More)

➤ Tampa Bay’s new stadium push got a boost this week after a council member proposed funding the city’s share through property taxes from development around the ballpark. Construction must start next month for a 2029 opening. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | WNBA | Tennis | Soccer

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➤ Dozens of Southwest Florida homeowners face liens and unfinished projects after Kelly Roofing became insolvent, leaving customer deposits unaccounted for and suppliers unpaid. (See Details)

➤ GEICO filed two rate decreases that will lower premiums for more than 1.3 million Florida drivers as the state’s auto insurance market stabilizes following 2023 legal reforms. (More)

➤ West Marine announced 80 permanent layoffs at its Fort Lauderdale support center beginning on Oct. 3 as the boating retailer closes dozens of stores while working to exit Chapter 11 bankruptcy. (More)

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➤ Putnam County crossing guard Josie Ryals retired after 24 years of helping Mosely Elementary students safely cross Crill Avenue, earning a salute from sheriff’s deputies. (Read Story)

➤ State wildlife officials have recorded about 500 alligator attacks and 33 deaths since 1948, with Lee and Pinellas counties leading fatal attacks at four each. (See Numbers)

➤ Homestead police arrested a 21-year-old man accused of stealing jewelry in two Facebook Marketplace schemes after he dropped his iPhone while fleeing a robbery involving fake movie money. (More)

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The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ New research reveals the dangerous driving mistake 78% of Americans don’t believe they’re making. (Hear Mistake)

➤ Federal rules may soon let parents grow their children’s savings with pretax paycheck dollars, and employers could match. (Hear Details)

➤ After 1,666 days in a Russian prison, a US Marine veteran’s story just took a dramatic turn. (Listen Now)

Would you support flying-car routes near your community?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Only with strict limits
4. I’d need more information

Yesterday’s Results:

Have you played pickleball?

1. No: 61%
2. Yes: 23%
3. I’d like to: 10%
4. Occasionally: 6%

What was the code name of IBM’s first personal computer?

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