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Day Care Operator Charged With Murder

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 8, 2008

  Stephanie Spurgeon

CLEARWATER - A day care operator has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of a 1-year-old girl in her care, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office said.

Deputies arrested Stephanie M. Spurgeon, 37, of 830 Edgehill Drive, Palm Harbor, at her home Friday morning. She was booked into Pinellas County Jail. No bail was set.

Spurgeon previously was charged with aggravated child abuse after the girl, Maria Harris, was brought to a hospital with head injuries Aug. 21. She died a week later.

Spurgeon had been released on bail.

The sheriff's office said family members of the baby left her at the day care center Spurgeon operated at her home. The family told detectives the child was well and happy when they left her.

The girl was unresponsive when the family members picked her up later that day. They took her home and called 911.

Investigators suspect the child was shaken.

Spurgeon, who is licensed, has operated a special-needs day care center at her home for years, according to News Channel 8.

HILLSBOROUGH

Man Gets 30 Years For Killing, Burying Woman

TAMPA - Robert Pollock was sentenced to 30 years in prison Friday for killing Dorsie Clayton France and burying her behind the house they shared.

Circuit Judge Emmett Battle said Pollock would have to serve at least 25 years of the sentence.

Tampa police unearthed France's remains behind the home at 8217 N. 18th St.

A jury convicted Pollock last month.

Testimony said Pollock shot France in the head during an argument and buried her in a 6-foot hole in his backyard.

Authorities Seek Information On Bank Robberies

TAMPA - A man with black paint on his face, a black wig, and a fake mustache and beard robbed a Brandon bank Friday, Hillsborough County sheriff's deputies said.

The robbery was at a BB&T Bank at 404 Oakfield Drive. The man also is suspected in robberies Oct. 21 at a Republic Bank at 11503 N. 56th St. and Oct. 24 at a Regions Bank at 4701 N. Armenia Ave.

The man entered the BB&T Bank on Friday about 11 a.m. He had a gun and demanded cash from two tellers, took the money and left, deputies said. He did not appear to have a car at the bank.

The robber was described as a 30- to 35-year-old black man, 5-foot-10 to 6-foot-2, and weighing 195 to 210 pounds. He was wearing a navy-blue hooded jacket, a dark-blue shirt and one white glove.

Anyone with information is asked to call deputies at (813) 247-8200 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-8477.

Gotti's Lawyers Continue Push To Move Trial

TAMPA - John A. "Junior" Gotti's attorneys again asked that the case against him be moved to New York, arguing that Gotti never set foot in Tampa.

Prosecutors responded that Gotti "traveled to the area more than once to survey personally his illegal business investments, to scout for other illegal business investments, to scout for other illegal business opportunities, and for other criminal purposes," a court document said. Gotti's lawyers also argued that the expense and inconvenience of a Tampa trial will make it hard for Gotti to defend himself, according to the document produced by the lawyers.

Gotti and five other men are charged with participating in a vast conspiracy of murder, drug trafficking and witness tampering under the auspices of the Gambino organized crime family.

POLK

Man Accused Of Pirate Radio Operation

LAKELAND - A Lakeland man was arrested Friday and accused of running a pirate radio station out of a motel. Frankie Grover, 53, was charged with operating a radio station without a federal license, a felony. He was released on $1,000 bail.

Polk County sheriff's detectives had seen a flier advertising a party sponsored by "Blazin' 87.9 Da Biz." The Federal Communications Commission showed no license issued for the 87.9 FM frequency. Detectives said they searched the Kingston Inn Motel and found Grover operating a Web cam, Internet and radio broadcasts.

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