NOKOMIS, Fla. — The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) detained 44-year-old Juanita M. Pendell in connection with a homicide and arson investigation.
Deputies said just after 1 a.m. Tuesday, the Sarasota County Fire Department (SCFD) and the Nokomis Volunteer Fire Department were dispatched to 255 North Tamiami Trail for a camper fire. Crews saw one person unconscious and not breathing when they entered.
Life-saving measures were attempted, but the man was pronounced dead at 1:48 a.m.
This is an ongoing investigation.
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In 2024, Tampa Bay 28 Anchor Lauren St. Germain brought viewers the story of a young mom here in Florida who was diagnosed with stage four metastatic breast cancer. Now, Lauren is following through and giving an update on her experimental cell vaccine therapy.
