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Travolta’s trust sues Jumbolair developers At issue are the weight of his Boeing 707 jet, runaway access and a descent lighting system. By Belea T. Keeney belea@magnoliamediaco.com
Jumbolair Development, LLC, owned by Robert and Debra Bull, which is the third master developer of the community. William Schifino, attorney for the trust, said the team had hoped the presuit mediation on Jan. 10 would work out the parties’ differences, but it was unsuccessful. The suit was filed in Marion
County Civil Court on Jan. 18. The “Gazette” spoke with local attorney Rob Batsel, who is serving as co-counsel in this case, but did not receive a response by press time. (Typically, attorneys discourage clients from commenting on pending litigation.) See Jumbolair, page A7
‘The sheriff’s press conference was not OK’
Prosecutors seek death penalty against Paddock Mall shooter
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ctor John Travolta, arguably Marion County’s most famous resident, is once again suing the current owners of the Jumbolair development and the Jumbolair
homeowners association. Hawker Investment Trust, which owns the 19+ acre parcel in northeast Ocala where Travolta lives and keeps his Boeing 707-138B jet, sued after mediation failed. The suit filed by Hawker Investment Trust, Travolta’s entity, is against Jumbolair Aviation Estates Owners Association and
Sheriff Billy Woods held a press conference on Feb. 2 to share additional details on the theft of a patrol car the day prior that led to the death of three people.
By Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@ocalagazette.com
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he night before Kendra Boone, 33, allegedly stole a sheriff ’s cruiser and led deputies on a high-speed chase that ended in a crash that left three people
dead, including herself, Boone’s parents were so concerned about her mental health they reached out to the Marion County Sheriff ’s Office for help but their daughter left before the deputies arrived. The MCSO has declined to provide details to the “Gazette” about any contacts
the agency had with Boone in the days leading up to the fatal crash on Feb. 1. Kendra Boone’s older sister, Karisten Hinsinger, spoke with the “Gazette’’ in part to give the community more context about the tragedy, particularly the role of untreated mental health in her sister’s actions. Hinsinger said her family is devastated, and she’s speaking out about the mental health issues she believes led to the tragedy because she believes her sister would want her to. “My sister, the one we all loved unconditionally, would not have ever wanted to hurt anyone,” she said. Speaking of the two others who died in the crash, between sobs Hinsinger said, “We feel so bad for the family who have lost people in the crash. We wish we could have prevented it.” Hinsinger expressed sympathy for the difficult positions that law enforcement faces. However, Hinsinger said Boone’s children were distraught to watch on TV as Sheriff Billy Woods, during a press conference the day after the tragedy, referred to their mother as a “moron” and an “asshole” whom he does not care about. Hinsinger called Woods’ profanity “unacceptable,” and chastised him for dismissing questions about policy and procedure. “Policies and procedures do See Tragedy, page A3
Honoring their sacrifice A Four Chaplains Memorial Service in Ocala honored four clergymen who gave their lives for others during WWII. By Andy Fillmore andy@ocalagazette.com
F During the Four Chaplains Memorial Service held Feb. 3, 2024, in Ocala, the Coventry brothers, from left, Samuel, Gary, Joshua and Ezekiel, wore life vests and recounted the biographies of the four chaplains who gave their lives to save others on a sinking troop ship on Feb. 3, 1943, during World War II, with program narrator Morrey Deen, a retired Army major, at the podium. [Photo by Andy Fillmore]
our local brothers donned orange life vests the morning of Feb. 3 during a Four Chaplains Memorial Service that dramatized the story of the four clergymen who sacrificed their own lives to save others on a sinking ship during World War II. The memorial, hosted by the Marion County Veterans Service Office and held in the Marion County Commissioners’ Auditorium, honored Army chaplains Lt. G.L. Fox, a Methodist; Lt. A.D. Goode, a reform rabbi; Lt. C.V. Poling, of the reformed church in America; and Lt. J.P. Washington, a Roman Catholic priest. The chaplains were aboard the S.S. Dorchester when it was torpedoed and See Four, page A2
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By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com
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he state attorney’s office has announced it will pursue the death penalty against the alleged Paddock Mall shooter, Albert Shell Jr. Shell was indicted by a grand jury on Jan. 25 and charged with premeditated first-degree murder with a firearm, two counts of attempted seconddegree murder with a firearm and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On Dec. 23, 2023, while the Paddock Mall was packed with holiday shoppers, police say Shell, 39, entered the mall and allegedly shot and killed Ocala tattoo artist David Nathaniel Barron, 40, and wounded a woman. The woman, who was shot in the leg, is believed by police to have been a bystander not connected to either man. Shell fled the scene and was apprehended by law enforcement over two weeks later on Jan. 8. The state attorney’s office is seeking the death penalty for Shell if he is found guilty on the charge of first-degree murder, citing a number of aggravating factors in the case. Prosecutors describe the homicide as “cold, calculated and premeditated,” saying that there was no moral or legal justification for the crime. They also describe it to be “heinous, atrocious or cruel,” according to the filing of intent to seek the death penalty. Additionally, the state attorney’s office cites aggravating factors such as previously being convicted of a capital felony and knowingly creating a great risk of death to many people. “Given the heinous criminal actions of the defendant, his lengthy criminal history, and obvious disregard for the safety of the public, the death penalty is warranted in this case,” wrote State Attorney Bill Gladson. At the time of the Paddock Mall shooting, Shell already had See Seeking, page A2
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