And more to worry about at Telford

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Police: Robbery motive behind shooting deaths


By LISE FISHER

Sun staff writer
March 29. 2007 6:01AM


Three people, arrested in the weekend shooting deaths of two Live Oak men, had planned to rob the pair, the Suwannee County Sheriff's Office reported.

Late Tuesday, officers arrested Juan Gallegos Jr., 27, of White Springs, and Norma Jean Yawn, 21, and Elizabeth D. Neel, 27, both of Live Oak, in connection with the deaths of Javier Neria Rebolledo and Inocencio Rosado Fuentes.

Gallegos is facing charges of first-degree murder and robbery, according to records from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The two women could also face charges of first-degree murder, said Suwannee County Sheriff Tony Cameron.

Rebolledo, 27, and Fuentes, 20, were best friends and roommates, officers had reported.

The two were found shot off 203rd Road or Telford Springs Road, about 15 miles southeast of Live Oak, early Sunday, Cameron said. Both had been shot at least once in the head.

Cameron described the shooting as a robbery gone bad.

"(The victims) thought they were going to the springs to party," Cameron said.

Instead, officers allege Gallegos surprised the men as they were heading toward a nearby spring and camping area.

Earlier that night, Rebolledo and Fuentes had been seen at the Cantina La Rosa off of U.S. 90 East with one of the women, Cameron said.

Later Rebolledo and Fuentes followed Yawn and Neel's vehicle in their own car, Cameron said. The vehicles were headed down the wooded, dirt road, which leads to Telford Spring near the Suwannee and Lafayette county line. Gallegos was riding with the men.

"The girls enticed them and the guy was going to knock them in the head and take their money. It wound up being a shooting," the sheriff said.

Reports that Rebolledo and Fuentes had been seen with one of the women at the bar led officers to the trio, Cameron said.

Investigators learned about the shooting after a motorist first spotted a car, with its lights on, near the side of the dirt road. Rebolledo's body was discovered inside.

A trail of blood helped lead officers to the injured Fuentes, who later died.

Gallegos, Yawn and Neel were arrested without incident at their homes late Tuesday, Cameron said.

None of the three had been been previously charged with more than misdemeanor or traffic charges, FDLE records showed.

Stacey

Sigh......that's such a sad story. Sounds like he just up and shot those guys and THEN figured he'd rob them. So unnecessary.

Though Telford is my one of my favorite dive sites, I suppose it would be in the best interests of the community - divers and nondivers - for it to become a state park. No one seems interested or able to convert it to a private park.

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Originally Posted by Angie Reim

for it to become a state park. No one seems interested or able to convert it to a private park.

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The current owners have no desire to sell. Thus the state would have to take the property, and being that the owners are lawyers, it may cost the state a pretty penny...

This crime would have happened no matter where these guys went... Telford or not... the perps followed them to their destination.

Who would want to make it a privately owned park with patrons like that? Make it a State park with lots of concrete, ramps & asphalt along with an onsite ranger and an entrance fee and all the problems there will go away.
Tegg: You think some smo lawyer is going to get a higher price for their land out of the state. I'll eat a plate full of lawyers for lunch and spit out their egoes.

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Originally Posted by OutlawCaver

...all the problems there will go away...

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... along with solo diving.

Holy Crap! Hopefully those perps will be sent away for a LONG time. And then they won't be around to cause problems for other folks.

Condolences to the families of the deceased.

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Originally Posted by Slüdge

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Originally Posted by OutlawCaver

...all the problems there will go away...

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... along with solo diving.

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I was thinking more like a public access reserve rather than state park full of concrete. Open dawn to dusk. I understand why the owners might not be interested in selling the property. I have no idea of it's current status -- it must be the adjoining areas that the State bought? I understand that crimes like this happen anywhere. People are creepy. However, as few times as I've been there, compared to other isolated or unsupervised dive sites, I've seen cops and EMT's responding often enough to understand that this site has a serious crime problem. I've been there, I know. I grew up in an area like that.

The only 'safer' time to be there is in high summer when all the families are out swimming. Lots of women and children. Too many people watching each other, etc. I rather enjoy it better during those times for the topside entertainment. If the county simply added the site to a regular patrol at dusk and late night that would likely better the situation. Unfortunately, I'm sure it's more complicated than that given the isolation of the township, law enforcement availability, expenses and so forth. Sigh.......

Ok while I will defend to the death your right to bear arms and believe all law abiding citizens should be permitted to carry a concealed firearm, I have to post a caution about Telford. You will notice there are No Trespassing signs post at Telford. As Tegg said the property it owned by lawyers and as such they probably are not totally stupid. They post the property because as a land owner you don't have a duty to protect a trespasser from harm. Therefore they have no right to sue when they hurt themselves. Telford has been for many years a hands off type of place. But in the eyes of the law we are all trespassing. Now since trespass is not the actual crime it is Trespass after warning and it requires you to be given an opportunity to leave before an arrest can be made only dumb a$$es get arrested for simple trespass after warning,
a misdemenor. With me sofar? When you add the extra dynamic of a firearm While trespassing your are now commiting a FELONY "Armed Trespass" which does not require a warning to arrest, and since the owner has posted the property a fine deputy does not need a warrant to make said arrest. Please be careful out there, just food for thought.

Curt

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Originally Posted by OutlawCaver

Who would want to make it a privately owned park with patrons like that?

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You'd be surprised how much an area cleans up if they collect merely $2 per adult $1 for kids under 16. Even an iron ranger discourages the fools who'd rather find someplace 'free'. It's amazing. It's not about the money. Clientele of a different mentality will patronize the place. Oh well....not like I can do anything about it. I don't own the place. :roll:

it would be nice if someone could talk with the owners and set up a private park. Develop the property just a tad, primitive camp sites (or better), small fee, patrolled, owners make money, cave divers happy, safe reasonable people given another camping site with water access....

I wonder if cds or nacd is interested in managing cave access? I know they are interested in purchasing, but managing might be a good alternative for some cave group.

sounds like something will happen there. murder has a way of changing things.

-skip

Instructor to students:

Steve will run the primary reel, Dave will spray covering fire. Let's go!

If the owners start charging for anything then they have a duty to keep you safe on the property. Ask Mike Bruic what happens when you start charging "Just a couple" of bucks for access to the Ol'swimmin hole.
We as Cave Divers are better off leaving it the way it is, unless the NACD or CDS can buy it like Cow.

Right you are, Curt (always liked that name). Through the Florida Sportsmen Act they are insulated against liability. But if they charge a fee, even a dime per diver, they lose that insulation.

The thoughts of the murder had gone through my mind when I showed up this morning for a early dive. Mike M was there checking things out and passed on a dive due to a chest cold. I've seen the trash worse but someone had an unsuccessful campfire not 1 ft from the spring water and left their pork and beans, cans, pants and wood that did not burn. Yuk The water is nice right now but there were lots of beer bottles in the sinks. My dive buddy and I did a dive but but it ended up short as he had a blade break and I was trying to contain two regs that wanted to freeflow. We were going to do a second dive that day in Cow but my buddy developed a high fever while about 1500 ft back in the system. I later learned he had a fever of 101 when he got home.

The local people that were there did not appear to be the ones who had made the mess and were friendly. While we were there some other divers pulled up but changed their minds and drove off. While the outside could be a good bit cleaner the cave itself was very pretty. For me it was my first time in there in a long time and the first in sidemount. Its my hope that it stays open and my wish that people would treat it with more respect . I did notice the dumpster had recently been emptied. Thanks NACD We do help out!

I went to eat and afterwards stopped by Bills to settle up a bill and change clothing. Bill had visitors from Channel 6. I not sure how the interview went or it was well quoted but I hope it did not take Bill out of context like sometime happens when film gets cut.

Bottom line..it still a nice dive. I feel for the guys that got killed as no one deserves that and it could have happened anywhere if they followed them. The pools still open!
Tom

Channel 27 out of Tallahassee reported this morning that this whole incident may have been over $50.00 owed to the perp for a past due electric bill.

There was a recent litter pick up at Telford by a group, don't remember who they were, sorry, and there are 2 other groups who also pick the litter up occasionaly, yes the garbage truck is picking the garbage up once a week, the actual shooting wasn't at the spring it was along the dirt road leading to the spring, not far from highway 51. They have all three people involved in jail so we are all breathing a little easier.
Janet

Food for thought... as suwannee county resident, I will check with the Suwannee River Water Management District today to asertain thier plans on land aquasition in that area. Let ya know later today what I find out...Ken

Missed a story on the morning news which was to be about "steps to be taken that would make the area safer."

Anyone hear more?

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Originally Posted by Puttzer

Missed a story on the morning news which was to be about "steps to be taken that would make the area safer."

Anyone hear more?

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I saw it, nothing of substance. Really what they ended up saying was why they "couldn't" do anything about making it safer...yet.
Being private property, the sheriff cannot patrol unless asked by the land owner. The TV news report (interview with the sheriff) went on to say that "hopefully" someday it will be a state or county park and the they can patrol the area.
Like I said, no susbtance.

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Originally Posted by DogDiver

Food for thought... as suwannee county resident, I will check with the Suwannee River Water Management District today to asertain thier plans on land aquasition in that area. Let ya know later today what I find out...Ken

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As I have posted more than once when I worked for DEP and did in fact talk directly with SRWM guys that were camping at Lafayette Blue...

The state has purchased 22 pieces of land along Telford Rd. That is what all that new field fence and treated fence posts with the yellow band around the top is all about. The two crushed limestone parking lots on Telford Rd. if for the general public to park their vehicles and use the land for hiking, mountain biking, etc..

As far as the spring itself? Yea, the state wants to buy it but the guys aren't selling it. End of story, at least for now.

Skip & I usually make Telford our first dive when we hit the caves from TN
& the last.

It is spooky there some times even in the middle of the day.

I wish they would make it a state park even with the added government bullls**t, my state pass takes care of the monetary inconvenience & some peace of mind that I won't be robbed, or killed is worth it.

Nothing like charging money to keep the riff raff out !!

Mike M