Orange County murders fell 15% in 2012 - Orlando Sentinel

Despite a series of murder-suicides and high-profile killings, the number of homicides in Orange County showed a notable decline in 2012.

Detectives investigated 76 homicides this year — 49 in unincorporated Orange County; 24 in Orlando; and one each in Apopka, Ocoee and Eatonville. The slayings dropped by about 15 percent from 2011, records indicate.

"The past six years the [Orlando] homicide rate has decreased, except for [2011]," said Orlando homicide Sgt. Darron Esan. "The patrol guys are taking a lot more weapons off the street and are very aggressive in addressing violent crime."

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In 2011 there were a total of 89 murders throughout Orange County — up significantly from a five-year low of 74 in 2010.

Domestic-violence-related deaths, which have plagued the region for years, also dropped slightly this year. There were 14 domestic-violence-related homicides in Orange in 2012 — two fewer than in 2011.

Though homicides are nearly impossible to predict, there are often warning signs of escalating violence in domestic situations. OPD's partnership with the domestic-violence shelter Harbor House and community-outreach efforts could be having a positive affect, Esan said.

Central Florida saw several high-profile homicides in 2012, including a domestic-violence shooting at two tourist-area hotels; a mass shooting at a Seminole County salon; and the shooting and burning deaths of two Winter Park teens.

But the most notorious case of the year was the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, killed by Neighborhood Watch volunteer George Zimmerman.

Trayvon Martin

Trayvon, an unarmed teenager returning from a walk to a nearby 7-Eleven, was fatally shot during a confrontation inside Sanford's Retreat at Twin Lakes townhome community the night of Feb. 26.

The case sparked international outrage and protests after police did not immediately arrest Zimmerman, who has maintained that he shot the teen in self-defense.

The Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton led marches and rallies in Sanford as the case quickly became a cause célèbre. Ultimately, Zimmerman was charged with second-degree murder.

The case renewed debate nationally on an array of divisive issues, such as the state of race relations in America, gun rights and the impact of self-defense laws, specifically Florida's controversial "stand your ground" statute.

Gov. Rick Scott convened a task force to review that law. After hearings across the state, the panel recommended no major changes.

Zimmerman is expected to request immunity under "stand your ground" in April, and if he's unsuccessful, the case is set for a June trial. Less than two years after Central Florida saw the Casey Anthony murder trial, national interest in the Zimmerman's trial seems likely to rival that case in its intensity.

Casselberry salon shooting

Bradford Baumet flew into a murderous rage fueled by jealousy because his ex-girlfriend found someone new, authorities said.

Orlando police homicide detectives say on Oct. 18, Baumet went to 28-year-old Roberto Colon's home to kill him and steal his car. Colon's only offense was that he had recently started dating Marcia Santiago, Baumet's ex. Baumet was scheduled to appear in court that morning for a domestic-violence injunction hearing, records show.

After killing Colon, police say, 36-year-old Baumet drove to Santiago's Casselberry hair salon and opened fire on the women inside. Santiago, 44, was severely injured, and three others — co-owner Eugenia "Mari" Marte, 45, of Orlando, salon employee Noelia Gonzalez-Brito, 28, of Kissimmee and customer Gladys Cabrera, 52, of Orlando — all died inside the salon on State Road 436.

Baumet then went to a friend's house a few miles from the salon and killed himself.