Ina Mae Chason, 85, Vero Beach

Police: Man admitted to killing woman, putting her body in pickup

SEBASTIAN — A 56-year-old man was jailed after police said he admitted killing his fiancée and abandoning her body in a pickup at a Walmart Supercenter parking lot on Tuesday. "He transported her to Walmart to make it appear he was not involved," Sebastian police Cpt. Tim Wood said. Wood said officers arrested Michael Despres, of the 400 block of Briarcliff Circle, Sebastian. An Indian River County sheriff's jail deputy confirmed that Despres was charged with premeditated first-degree murder. Despres' booking information had not been uploaded to the Indian River County Sheriff's Office website as of 8 p.m. Tuesday. Officers identified the victim as Jeanine Bishop, 67, of Sebastian. A motive for the homicide was not immediately available. Police responded ...

Driver hurt after crashing into utility pole

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A van driver was taken to a trauma center as a precaution after officials said he crashed into a utility pole Monday morning. The single-vehicle wreck happened at 10:30 a.m. at southbound U.S. 1 and Highland Drive Southeast in south county, Indian River County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Kyle Kofke said. The crash impact left the power pole leaning at a diagonal angle. The man was taken by ambulance to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute in Fort Pierce with possible serious injuries, Kofke said. Florida Power & Light Co. crews responded to the area to repair the damaged utility pole. It was unclear if any residents in the immediate area lost power. Florida Highway ...

Construction workers find man’s body inside Porta Potty

VERO BEACH — Two construction workers were shocked and saddened after discovering the body of a man inside a Porta Potty Tuesday morning. "I'm getting chills just talking about it," said John Digiulio, an employee for Liberty Insulation and Fireproofing. "It's a sad day in Vero Beach." The man has not been identified and his age was not available. It was unclear how long the man had been in the portable restroom. Foul play was not suspected in the man's death, Vero Beach police spokesperson Master Officer Darrell Rivers said. Digiulio, 44, and his work partner, Mark Gidron, 56, both of Fort Lauderdale, were performing renovations inside of West Bay Trading Company on the corner of 21st Street and 6th ...