The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced “a person of interest” in the search for the people responsible for killing three shorebirds and ransacking five sea turtle nests on Anna Maria Island in June.
Public information director Gary Morse declined to name the person or other details Aug. 12, but did say the FWC’s investigator is talking to the 12th Judicial Circuit State Attorney.
Assistant State Attorney Heather Doyle, chief of the misdemeanor division, confirmed the FWC has been in contact with the office.
However, she said, the SAO hasn’t received an FWC case for review. The office typically assists with investigations upon request to determine whether charges can be proven before they are filed.
Law enforcement began its investigation June 28 following reports from Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch & Shorebird Monitoring about the destruction that had occurred the night before.
The FWC took the lead in the search for suspects after Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach police departments investigated the scene and interviewed witnesses.
A composite of witness information led investigators to begin looking for a couple who drove an all-terrain vehicle north on the Gulf beach between the 900 block in Bradenton Beach and about the 3400 block in Holmes Beach and exited on Gulf Drive.
The couple allegedly ran over the black skimmer chicks in the 2600 block and the marked loggerhead sea turtle nests in the 2800 block.
Investigators asked business owners along Gulf Drive, between the Cortez Bridge and State Road 64, to check their security camera tapes for any views of the ATV around 11 p.m. June 27.
BBPD Officer Eric Hill reported June 28 that evidence pointed to an ATV traveling south on Gulf Drive. He obtained one video from Wicked Cantina, 101 Seventh St. N., Bradenton Beach, showing an ATV traveling on the sidewalk.
HBPD Chief Bill Tokajer said in July the investigation had leads and people of interest and information was coming in on the tip line.
BBPD Detective Sgt. Lenard Diaz said there have been many “people of interest,” but it “takes more than that.”
“It takes evidence. There’s got to be evidence that leads us to the person that’s interesting,” he added.
State and federal laws protect the turtles, nests and eggs, and the black skimmers.
Prosecution under state law makes bird killing and nest destruction punishable by up to five years in prison and $5,000 in fines.
Under federal law, fines up to $100,000 and prison terms of up to one year may be imposed for each turtle or egg vandalized.
Witnesses reported the damage, including cracked wooden markers and tire tracks.
However, high surf caused two of the five nests to wash away in August, according to Suzi Fox, director of AMITW.
The eggs in the remaining three nests will either hatch or be excavated in the next couple of weeks, she said.
It is uncertain how many eggs were damaged by the ATV runovers, but excavating the remaining nests will likely contribute to evidence in the case.
“I’m glad that they found more to investigate,” Fox said of the FWC’s “person of interest.”
“I’m impressed that the investigation has taken a new twist.”
Manatee County Crime Stoppers hopes to increase its reward, now standing at $3,500. It has partnered with AMITW to assist the investigation.
The reward includes the $1,000 set aside for any county crime seeking a suspect and $2,500 received through the AMITW, according to Frank Brunner, Crime Stoppers executive director.
PETA set a reward of $2,500. Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is offering up to $2,000, and Anna Maria resident Shawn Kaleta, owner of Beach to Bay Construction, pledged $3,500 to double the local reward.
Donors interested in increasing the Crime Stoppers/AMITW reward fund can go online at islandturtlewatch.com/get-involved/make-a-donation.
To be eligible for the reward, anyone with information about suspects is urged to call Crime Stoppers anonymous hotline at 1-866-634-8477, submit a tip at www.manateecrimestoppers.com, or text MCSTIPS and a message to 274637.