UNSOLVED CASES
OFFICER CHRIS HORNER'S MURDER
On Tuesday, March 3, 1998, the body of Haines City Officer Christopher Todd Horner was found off Cemetery Road near Haines City. During his last radio transmission he told his department that he was checking out a suspicious vehicle dark in color and possibly a Crown Victoria. A short time later when Horner did not respond to his radio other officers were dispatched to the area and found him deceased.
An autopsy conducted by the Medical Examiner's Office confirmed Officer Horner died as the result of a gunshot wound.
Detectives investigating the death of Haines City Police Department Officer Christopher Todd Horner are hoping a rise in the reward funds will bring new leads to the investigation.
The breakdown of the funds for the reward include:
Polk County Sheriff's Office $15,000 Florida Department of Law Enforcement $10,000 City of Winter Haven $10,000 Haines City $10,000 City of Dundee $ 1,000
Total $46,000
Detectives are continuing to track down leads developed in this investigation. Anyone with information in this case is asked to contact the Polk County Sheriff's Office at (863) 533-0444. Anyone with information in this case, wishing to remain anonymous, may contact Polk County Crime Stoppers at 1-800- 226-TIPS. Anonymity is Guaranteed!
WOMAN’S BODY FOUND NEAR LAKE
On June 24, 1995, the nude body of a black female was discovered on the sloping banks of a lake near the Pizza Hut in Haines City, Florida. There was no identification or clothing located at the scene. The victim had extensive bruises and wounds in the upper area of the face, and the cause of death appeared to be strangulation. (An autopsy conducted by the Medical Examiner’s office confirmed that the cause of death was strangulation.)
On 6-30-95, the body was identified as Rowan George, 21 yoa, of Orlando, Florida. Ms. George was reported missing on 6/28/95 to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Orlando, Florida, after she failed to return home.
Anyone having information on a suspect or his location is asked to contact Lieutenant Morris West, Haines City Police Department, Special Operations, P. O. Box 1507, Haines City, FL 33845, (863) 421-3737 or (863) 421-3636, respectively ORI: FL0530900. Haines City Police Department, Haines City, FL
INFORMATION SOUGHT: WAL-MART BURGLARY
Haines City Police are seeking information for the December 24, 1993 burglary of Wal-Mart, located at 1150 U. S. Highway 27 North, Haines City, Florida.
Responding to a silent burglary alarm, officers checked the front of the store and found everything in order. As they checked the rear of the store, a rear door was found to be unsecured.
With the store manager present, a check of the interior of the business revealed the rear of the store had been burglarized. A large sum of U. S. currency had been stolen from a safe. No burglary tools were found at the scene although it was obvious that some tools had been used during the burglary and theft.
A late 1980s or early 1990s white "Astro" type mini-van was observed at the rear of the store. It was occupied by a white male and driven by a white female. Lt. Morris West of the Haines City Police Department is in charge of the investigation.
To call in anonymous tips phone (863) 419-3257 or Email us at hcpd@hainescitypd.com
Last updated July 24, 2002