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News and Investigations
News & Investigations
News Releases and Public Information
Welcome to the Polk County Sheriff's Office News Room, where the Public Information Officers (PIO's) post all of the information that they release to the news media. PIO's act as liaisons between news media organizations and the Sheriff's Office. The PIO's routinely release timely and accurate information and Crime Stoppers bulletins, and respond to routine and "breaking news" media inquiries. News releases and Crime Stoppers information can be found on this page.
PCSO's full-time Public Information Officers are Brian Bruchey, Carrie Horstman, and Meghan Petty. The Public Information Officers can be reached by sending an e-mail collectively at PIOs@polksheriff.org.
The recent news releases sent out by the PIOs can be found here, and archived releases (older than 2017) can be found here.
Apr 8, 2024
Emmanuel Espinoza brutally murders his own mother at her home in Frostproof
Media Contact: Carrie Horstman, Administrator
The Polk County Sheriff's Office Homicide Unit is investigating the brutal murder of 46-year-old Elvia Espinoza by her 21-year-old son, Emmanuel, who was a fourth year pre-med student at the University of Florida at the time.
On Saturday, April 6, 2024, Emmanuel left Gainesville around 11:00 a.m. that morning and came to Polk County to spend time with his family. He arrived at Elvia's home in Frostproof around 2:00 p.m. When she answered the door, he used his pocket knife to repeatedly stab her until she died. He then called 911 and confessed. He told detectives that she "annoyed him" and that he decided on the drive south to kill her.
When deputies arrived at the scene, Emmanuel was immediately taken into custody and booked into the Polk County Jail. He has been charged with First Degree Murder and is being held on no bond.
Elvia was a second grade teacher at Ben Hill Griffin Elementary School in Frostproof.
Sheriff Grady Judd gave details about the investigation in two separate news conferences:
First news conference
Second news conference