Pillowcase Rapist May Have Been Building Dungeon Underneath Home
(Palm Bay, FL) -- An alleged serial rapist is facing another disturbing allegation in Brevard County. Miami-Dade County Police said yesterday that Robert Koehler, who's believed to be the Pillowcase Rapist, was building a dungeon under his home in Palm Bay. The 60-year-old registered sex offender was arrested last weekend at his home on Rostock Circle, but Palm Bay Police haven't confirmed they found a dungeon at the site. Koehler is accused of raping more than two dozen women across South Florida in the 1980s.Police say they're now going through unsolved rape cases from the 12 years Koehler lived in Palm Bay where he worked as a handyman.
Koehler was in court yesterday in Miami-Dade County and prosecutors said DNA testing connected him to at least 25 victims over five years in the 1980s. State Attorney Kathy Fernandez Rundle says Koehler literally terrorized women from South Miami to Deerfield Beach, but she's confident he'll never be free again. Koehler was nicknamed the Pillowcase Rapist because he allegedly covered the faces of his victims with a pillowcase.
Escaped Inmate May Be In Central Florida
(Okeechobee, FL) -- A search is underway in Central Florida to find an escaped inmate. Timothy Howton-McLaughlin allegedly stole a Department of Corrections truck yesterday while working an outside detail in Okeechobee County. The search is focused, partly, on Brevard, Osceola and Polk counties. The 28-year-old is described as white, five-foot-nine, 150 pounds, athletic, with brown hair, green eyes and stomach tattoos.
Suspended Police Officer Under Investigation
(Miami, FL) -- A controversial Miami Police officer is in the dark over why he's being disciplined. Captain Javier Ortiz was suspended with pay this week after he told the city commission last week that he was black. He had previously identified as Hispanic and the head of a local black police officers union claims Ortiz changed his race in order to get a promotion. Police Chief Jorge Colina said yesterday he suspended Ortiz because Ortiz is being investigated by another law enforcement agency.Ortiz tells 7News no one has told him why he's suspended.
Antonio Brown Surrenders To Police
(Fort Lauderdale, FL) -- Antonio Brown is no longer hiding from police in Broward County. The former NFL player turned himself in last night in Fort Lauderdale after a warrant was issued for his arrest this week. The 31-year-old was wanted for allegedly assaulting a delivery truck driver this week at Brown's home in Hollywood. Brown spent the night in jail, but his lawyer tells CBS4 News Brown is innocent.
Bomb Threat Reported At Library
(Lakeland, FL) -- A man described as increasingly belligerent is responsible for some tense moments in Polk County. Lakeland Police and a bomb squad evacuated the public library and a coffee shop yesterday morning after a man placed a backpack on a bench outside, held up his hands and walked away. Earlier, inside the coffee shop, the man identified as William Ammerman made a reference to bombs going off after he was asked to leave for bothering customers. No bomb was found in the backpack, and the 65-year-old was arrested for making a false report involving a bomb.
Teen's Petition To Move Super Bowl To Saturday Is Going Viral
(Rochester, NY) -- A New York teen's petition to move the Super Bowl to Saturday is going viral. Over 25-thousand people have signed the Change-dot-org petition that Frank Ruggeri [[ ROO-jerry ]] started. The 16-year-old suggested the idea to his parents. Millions of Americans call out sick on the day after the Super Bowl. Analysts claim the big game costs employers nearly three-billion-dollars. Some have proposed making the Monday following the Super Bowl a national holiday.
Fortnite Now A High School, College Sport
(Santa Monica, CA) -- Your high school student may not be wasting time playing video games, he just might be practicing his new varsity sport. Epic Games and PlayVS [[ play versus ]] announced this week that the hit video game Fortnite is becoming an official high school and college sport. The battle royale game will have its own competitive series at both levels that will end with championships being handed out. Registration gets underway at the high school level in February 17th and the collegiate level on February 26th.
TODAY IN HISTORY:
2018, Former U.S. Olympic team doctor Larry Nassar was sentenced to 175 years in prison after being found guilty of molesting over 150 women.
1999, the International Olympic Committee voted to expel six IOC members in the wake of charges that committee members had accepted money and other compensation from officials whose cities were bidding to host the Olympic games.
1989, serial killer Ted Bundy was put to death in Florida's electric chair.
1984, Apple Computer Incorporated unveiled the Macintosh personal computer.
1964, CBS acquired the rights to broadcast National Football League games.
1922, the Eskimo Pie was patented.