Larry Costine update!!! - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Mystery Man · 05-17-2010, 09:03 PM

I don't know if there was an update to this, but I was on the UM wiki and found this little nugget of info:

Quote:

Updated. Melissa Jo Sermons and Larry Costine were killed by Joe and Danny Cerezo of DeLand Florida. Danny Cerezo was Melissa's ex-boyfriend. According to Joe Cerezo, Melissa is buried somewhere in the Green Swamp of central Florida. Neither of the men were charged in the crime due to the uncooperation of the Polk County State Attorney's office. Joe Cerezo died in November of 2008, but before his death, he confessed to the crime adding that it was his brother Danny who shot the first shot. Danny Cerezo suffers from throat cancer but still goes about his daily business as a forest ranger for the Florida Parks Department.

Don't know if its reliable or not, but thought you guys might find it interesting...

mah79 · 05-17-2010, 10:12 PM

WOW. THanks so much for the update, Mystery Man. Such a sad ending. What source did the website get this information from? Do you think the investigation will be reopened? WHat a shame.

kadrmas15 · 05-18-2010, 12:19 AM

Hmm, I am not so sure how accurate this story is. Deland, Florida is in Volusia County closer to Daytona Beach, Larry Costine and Melissa Jo Sermons both lived near Lakeland, Florida which is about half way in between Tampa and Orlando. Deland is about 80 miles away from the Lakeland area. Plus I was under the impression that Jo's ex boyfriend worked for Earl Costine?

Apostapler · 05-18-2010, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kadrmas15

Hmm, I am not so sure how accurate this story is. Deland, Florida is in Volusia County closer to Daytona Beach, Larry Costine and Melissa Jo Sermons both lived near Lakeland, Florida which is about half way in between Tampa and Orlando. Deland is about 80 miles away from the Lakeland area. Plus I was under the impression that Jo's ex boyfriend worked for Earl Costine?

I believe he did. If someone wanted to check the authenticity of this information, I believe Earlow Costine would be the person to contact. I have the address and phone number of his ranch for whoever is brave enough.

kadrmas15 · 05-18-2010, 12:50 AM

In terms of Joseph Corezo he had a rather extensive criminal record in the state of Florida. Joseph Corezo, born August 16th, 1956 had at least 31 felony convictions. He served ten separate stints in the Florida prison system. The longest he ever served though was 3 years.

His first felony arrest was for a burglary that occurred in November of 1979 when Corezo was 23 years old. He was convicted over the years of burglary, trafficking in stolen property, possession of cocaine, grand theft of livestock, grand theft, credit card fraud, uttering a forged instrument, being a repeat offender of driving with a suspended license to the point was a felony, fleeing police on a high speed chase on two occasions and also felony DUI. He was most recently in prison from 2005 to 2008 on a 3 and a half year sentence for fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, felony repeat offender of driving with a suspended license and felony drunk driving as it was his 3rd drunk driving conviction and in Florida your 3rd drunk driving arrest is a felony. He was released from prison on February 23rd, 2008.

youngUMfan · 05-18-2010, 12:59 AM

I wonder who would have updated it though. I remember the original members of this site posting the unsolved wiki. Yet, few visitors to that site, for what I remember. From the use of the diction "uncooperative", the member suggests his or her enmity towards how law enforcement handled the case. If the member posts on the wiki, perhaps he or she can come here and discuss with us the case.

PS: Just got done with finals so I can come here more often.

kadrmas15 · 05-18-2010, 01:00 AM

Corezo's convictions in terms of his felony convictions, most came out of his native county of Volusia County. He had felony arrests there in 1979, 1983, 1984, 1988, 1991, 1992, 2001, 2002 and 2005. He also had felony convictions out of Seminole County in 1990, 1992 and 1997. Lake County in 1997 and Flagler County in 1997.

The convictions he had from 1992 the year that Larry Costine was murdered. He was arrested for burglary and grand theft in Seminole County on June 26th, 1992. in fact, he had just been released from prison earlier that year on March 3rd, 1992. Now it is possible under this line of reasoning that Corezo was involved because he had been released from prison on March 3rd and was not arrested again for the charges in Seminole County until June 26th. Thus he was out of custody for almost 4 months and Larry Costine was murdered, well it was presumed he was murdered as it was the last day he was seen alive early in the morning of May 3rd, 1992. But the big thing is, to me the store that Corezo told would have a lot more credibility if his brother Danny Corezo worked at Earl's ranch.

crystaldawn · 05-18-2010, 07:00 AM

Very interesting. I'm curious where they got their information as well. When I googled Larry Costine's name I found a few websites but none of them mentioned anything about a break in the case. If someone can find an online news article about it, please post.

TheBlackParrot · 07-23-2010, 09:55 PM

I wrote that.

My husband, Leslie Todd Jones, was Joe Cerezo's bunkmate in Cross City Correctional. Joe was dying from cirossis of the liver and hernias related to an old gunshot wound. Joe learned that my husband was also from Polk County and there were some cold case cards that had this case on them. Joe told my husband everything. Including the weapon (s) used, the vehicle they used to dispose of the body and who's name it was registered to at the time, the witnesses that saw them all at a bar in Lakeland before the murders (Melissa, Larry, Joe and Danny) and also leaving the scene of the crime. We notified authorities, FDLE and Polk County State Attorney's office in June of 2007. Father's Day. They didn't want to use my husband's testimony saying that even thought Joe told us things only the cops would know, my husband was an inmate and therefore not credible. My husband served his time (23 months) and hasn't ever been in jail again. Joe died. At my outrage of them not pursuing this information, I wrote a story about it that has been published in the Tallahassee Democrat entitled "A Murder In Polk County". I will be glad to answer any questions anyone has.

TheBlackParrot · 07-23-2010, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crystaldawn

Very interesting. I'm curious where they got their information as well. When I googled Larry Costine's name I found a few websites but none of them mentioned anything about a break in the case. If someone can find an online news article about it, please post.

You won't find any news articles about a break in the case because I was instructed by FDLE and Polk County State Attorney's Office to destroy any evidence I had on the case after Joe's death. They didn't want the world to know they had screwed up.

Destroying evidence in a capitol murder investigation is against the law. So I didn't. Instead I tape recorded them telling me to do so. Now they want to charge me with a felony for taping them without their knowledge. BUT they can't. I did so under my own state's federal investigators' direction. Plus, the FDLE and the Polk County State Attorney's office had already provided me with phone tapping equipment so I could tape calls from Joe Cerezo and his family.

You can't have it both ways. Either it is legal to tape telephone conversations in Florida or it's not. How can they say when I taped them I was breaking the law but when I taped Joe I wasn't? Not to mention they were the ones committing a felony when they told me to destroy everything and keep it quiet.

Shame I've got a big mouth isn't it?

I want justice for Melissa Jo and her family. Nothing more.

Apostapler · 07-23-2010, 10:29 PM

I have questions!

1) Does Melissa's family know you/have you been in touch with them about what you know?

2) Do you have an internet link to your article?

TheBlackParrot · 07-23-2010, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apostapler

I have questions!

1) Does Melissa's family know you/have you been in touch with them about what you know?

2) Do you have an internet link to your article?

1) Yes. I must have called every June Freeman in Florida before I found her. She has a horse ranch. It was a very tearful phone call. My heart goes out to this woman. The Cerezos were involved in cocaine trafficking. Melissa knew too much and Ms. Freeman told me that one of the last things Melissa told her about the realtionship w/ Danny is that "there are some things her mother was better off not knowing".

It might also interest you to know that Danny's first wife, Dream, has a restraining order against him.

2) The "article" was actually written as a blog. 42 chapters in all. The FDLE used me and my husband as undercover informants while he and Joe served time together. The Tallahassee Democrat has gone to paid only online service but let me see if I can find a link for you.

If I can't I will be glad to send you the story via email.

TheBlackParrot · 07-23-2010, 10:39 PM

This won't help you find the whole story but it's a comment a reporter made when I first began the story.

http://www.lakelandlocal.com/2008/10...n-polk-county/

TheBlackParrot · 07-23-2010, 10:41 PM

No, they want money for anyone to read their stuff online. Wonder if I could start a new thread in here with the story? Do you think that would be ok?

youngUMfan · 07-23-2010, 11:07 PM

erased.

07-23-2010, 09:55 PM	#9
TheBlackParrot Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 23, 2010 Posts: 20	Melissa Jo Sermons and Larry Costine double homicide I wrote that. My husband, Leslie Todd Jones, was Joe Cerezo's bunkmate in Cross City Correctional. Joe was dying from cirossis of the liver and hernias related to an old gunshot wound. Joe learned that my husband was also from Polk County and there were some cold case cards that had this case on them. Joe told my husband everything. Including the weapon (s) used, the vehicle they used to dispose of the body and who's name it was registered to at the time, the witnesses that saw them all at a bar in Lakeland before the murders (Melissa, Larry, Joe and Danny) and also leaving the scene of the crime. We notified authorities, FDLE and Polk County State Attorney's office in June of 2007. Father's Day. They didn't want to use my husband's testimony saying that even thought Joe told us things only the cops would know, my husband was an inmate and therefore not credible. My husband served his time (23 months) and hasn't ever been in jail again. Joe died. At my outrage of them not pursuing this information, I wrote a story about it that has been published in the Tallahassee Democrat entitled "A Murder In Polk County". I will be glad to answer any questions anyone has.
	Last edited by TheBlackParrot; 07-23-2010 at 10:26 PM.

07-23-2010, 11:07 PM	#15
youngUMfan Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 12, 2009 Posts: 81	erased.
	Last edited by youngUMfan; 07-24-2010 at 12:00 AM.

05-17-2010, 10:12 PM	#2
mah79 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 03, 2009 Posts: 141	WOW. THanks so much for the update, Mystery Man. Such a sad ending. What source did the website get this information from? Do you think the investigation will be reopened? WHat a shame.

05-18-2010, 12:19 AM	#3
kadrmas15 Retired from Board 03/03/11 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 11, 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,910	Hmm, I am not so sure how accurate this story is. Deland, Florida is in Volusia County closer to Daytona Beach, Larry Costine and Melissa Jo Sermons both lived near Lakeland, Florida which is about half way in between Tampa and Orlando. Deland is about 80 miles away from the Lakeland area. Plus I was under the impression that Jo's ex boyfriend worked for Earl Costine?

05-18-2010, 12:50 AM	#5
kadrmas15 Retired from Board 03/03/11 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 11, 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,910	In terms of Joseph Corezo he had a rather extensive criminal record in the state of Florida. Joseph Corezo, born August 16th, 1956 had at least 31 felony convictions. He served ten separate stints in the Florida prison system. The longest he ever served though was 3 years. His first felony arrest was for a burglary that occurred in November of 1979 when Corezo was 23 years old. He was convicted over the years of burglary, trafficking in stolen property, possession of cocaine, grand theft of livestock, grand theft, credit card fraud, uttering a forged instrument, being a repeat offender of driving with a suspended license to the point was a felony, fleeing police on a high speed chase on two occasions and also felony DUI. He was most recently in prison from 2005 to 2008 on a 3 and a half year sentence for fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, felony repeat offender of driving with a suspended license and felony drunk driving as it was his 3rd drunk driving conviction and in Florida your 3rd drunk driving arrest is a felony. He was released from prison on February 23rd, 2008.

05-18-2010, 12:59 AM	#6
youngUMfan Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 12, 2009 Posts: 81	I wonder who would have updated it though. I remember the original members of this site posting the unsolved wiki. Yet, few visitors to that site, for what I remember. From the use of the diction "uncooperative", the member suggests his or her enmity towards how law enforcement handled the case. If the member posts on the wiki, perhaps he or she can come here and discuss with us the case. PS: Just got done with finals so I can come here more often.

05-18-2010, 01:00 AM	#7
kadrmas15 Retired from Board 03/03/11 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 11, 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,910	Corezo's convictions in terms of his felony convictions, most came out of his native county of Volusia County. He had felony arrests there in 1979, 1983, 1984, 1988, 1991, 1992, 2001, 2002 and 2005. He also had felony convictions out of Seminole County in 1990, 1992 and 1997. Lake County in 1997 and Flagler County in 1997. The convictions he had from 1992 the year that Larry Costine was murdered. He was arrested for burglary and grand theft in Seminole County on June 26th, 1992. in fact, he had just been released from prison earlier that year on March 3rd, 1992. Now it is possible under this line of reasoning that Corezo was involved because he had been released from prison on March 3rd and was not arrested again for the charges in Seminole County until June 26th. Thus he was out of custody for almost 4 months and Larry Costine was murdered, well it was presumed he was murdered as it was the last day he was seen alive early in the morning of May 3rd, 1992. But the big thing is, to me the store that Corezo told would have a lot more credibility if his brother Danny Corezo worked at Earl's ranch.

05-18-2010, 07:00 AM	#8
crystaldawn Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 17, 2002 Location: Illinois Posts: 4,261	Very interesting. I'm curious where they got their information as well. When I googled Larry Costine's name I found a few websites but none of them mentioned anything about a break in the case. If someone can find an online news article about it, please post.

07-23-2010, 10:29 PM	#11
Apostapler Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 06, 2009 Location: Indiana Posts: 872	I have questions! 1) Does Melissa's family know you/have you been in touch with them about what you know? 2) Do you have an internet link to your article?

07-23-2010, 10:39 PM	#13
TheBlackParrot Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 23, 2010 Posts: 20	This won't help you find the whole story but it's a comment a reporter made when I first began the story. http://www.lakelandlocal.com/2008/10...n-polk-county/

07-23-2010, 10:41 PM	#14
TheBlackParrot Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 23, 2010 Posts: 20	No, they want money for anyone to read their stuff online. Wonder if I could start a new thread in here with the story? Do you think that would be ok?