CELEBRATION

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — A deadly crash is causing slowdowns along of stretch of US-192 in Osceola County. Troopers responded to West Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway at Griffin Road near Celebration shortly after 5 a.m. Wednesday. Deadly crash on US-192 in Osceola CountyAccording to Florida Highway Patrol’s website, the crash involved a fatality and has caused partial road closure. WFTV has a crew near the scene of the deadly crash and continues to monitor troopers’ activity. READ: Central Florida man working as child respiratory therapist arrested for child molestationChannel 9′s Alexa Lorenzo is providing live traffic updates and alternate routes on Eyewitness News this morning.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Editor’s note: This story is available as a result of a content partnership between WFTV and the Orlando Business Journal. The pivot of a hotel property to apartments near Celebration and Disney, is in the works in Osceola County. The property, formerly the 403-room extended-stay Banyan Hotel & MicroSuites before its 2021 closure, is owned by Delray Beach-based 5565 Irlo Bronson LLC. Click here to read the full story on the Orlando Business Journal’s website. Video: 100-year-old Putnam Hotel demolished in DeLand A historic hotel in Volusia County has been thrown down after more than 100 years.

The Orange County Regional History Center is hosting an event called “Celebrating Black Arts and Culture” in honor of Black History Month.

The nightly snowfall – an annual tradition in Celebration – returns for the 24th year, the community announced.

As soon as the sun went down this Thanksgiving, holiday lights lined Jeater Bend Drive in Celebration. The creator of the neighborhood’s annual holiday light show for more than a decade says this will be the last year.

CELEBRATION, Fla. — Disney Cruise Line announced this week that it bought a partially completed cruise ship that it plans to reimagine and add to its fleet. Cruise line officials said they will work with the shipbuilding company Meyer Werft to complete the ship, which was previously known as the Global Dream, in Wismar, Germany. “Our cruise ships give us the unique opportunity to bring Disney magic to fans no matter where they are, and the addition of this ship will make a Disney Cruise Line vacation accessible to more families than ever before,” said Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. Read: See what’s ahead for Disney Cruise LineOfficials said the ship will be completed at the former MV Werften shipyard in Wismar, Germany, under the management of Meyer Werft, the company that built the Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy and Disney Wish. The cruise line said the ship’s previous owner filed for bankruptcy before completing the vessel, enabling Disney Cruise Line to secure it at “a favorable price.”Video: New Disney Cruise Line ship Disney Wish to celebrate homecoming in Port Canaveral on Monday Officials said it will be a trip unlike any other cruise passengers have experienced before.

CELEBRATION, Fla. — A Central Florida father is speaking out for the first time after he says his son was sexually assaulted in a locker room at Celebration High School last month by three other boys. No one has been arrested or charged, but the family says they want justice. The father, whom Channel 9 is not identifying, said Oct. 28 is a day his family can’t stop reliving. “My son was screaming ‘Stop, stop, let me go.’ He tried to shield his face.”In the report, deputies said they tried to contact the child’s father but couldn’t. The father said his family has pressed charges, but hasn’t heard from any of the boys or their families.

CELEBRATION, Fla. — A Celebration family is honoring their son’s lifesaving organ donation with a memorial tribute encouraging others to register as organ donors. The Lee family, who owns Celebration Sanitation, wrapped their new service truck with a message encouraging people to sign up as organ, eye and tissue donors when renewing their driver’s license. “I am so thankful for the care teams at AdventHealth Celebration and the support we received from OurLegacy,” Rowe’s mother, Tammy Lee, said. “We felt Dylan was honored in every step of the donation process.”Read: US reaches millionth organ transplant milestoneOn Thursday, the family joined the AdventHealth Celebration and OurLegacy clinical teams who helped care for Rowe and his family to dedicate their newest service truck to Rowe and all organ donors. You can register as a lifesaving organ, eye and tissue donor when renewing your driver’s license or online at DonateLifeFlorida.org.

Independence Day FILE - Fireworks explode over Baltimore's Inner Harbor during the Ports America Chesapeake 4th of July Celebration, Thursday, July 4, 2019, in Baltimore. The city of Baltimore is resuming its Independence Day celebrations after a two-year hiatus. Hundreds of parade-goers in Highland Park — some visibly bloodied — fled the parade route, leaving behind chairs, baby strollers and blankets. Fears of yet another mass shooting rose as the nation tried to find cause to celebrate its independence and the bonds that still hold it together. Baltimore, for one, is resuming its Independence Day celebrations after a two-year hiatus, to the delight of residents like Kirstan Monroe.

Independence Day FILE - Fireworks explode over Baltimore's Inner Harbor during the Ports America Chesapeake 4th of July Celebration, Thursday, July 4, 2019, in Baltimore. The city of Baltimore is resuming its Independence Day celebrations after a two-year hiatus. Yet many also see cause to celebrate: The pandemic continues to be on the wane and, despite its faults, America’s democracy survives. In her eyes patriotism is also about fighting for change, she said, adding, “I'm not giving up on the US." Baltimore, for one, is resuming its Independence Day celebrations after a two-year hiatus, to the delight of residents like Steven Williams.

For those who want to celebrate this holiday in Central Florida, here is a county-by-county list that details where to watch firework displays.

The Wish is set to sail into Port Canaveral on June 20 with a debut and christening scheduled for June 29 at 11 a.m.

A crash on I-4 involving a semitruck Sunday afternoon blocked several eastbound lanes in Kissimmee, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Gay Days returns in full festive force this week with a stacked schedule of parties — pool-, after- and otherwise — theme park outings, bingo...

Anthony Todt The man accused of killing his wife and three children in Celebration took the stand during his murder trial on Wednesday. (WFTV.com News Staff)OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — Anthony Todt, the Celebration man convicted of killing his wife and two children, has filed an appeal against his conviction and sentence, court records show. Todt was accused of killing his wife, their three children and the family dog in December 2019, then living in the home with their bodies until their bodies were discovered a month later. READ: ‘I came home and my kids were dead’: Celebration man accused of killing family testifies in courtIt took the jury several hours and briefly being deadlocked to reach a guilty verdict in all three murders. WATCH: Defense can’t discuss mental health of Celebration man accused of killing family, judge saysIn a motion filed April 19, Todt’s attorneys stated that they would be asking an appeals court to review several of Judge Keith Carsten’s rulings, including the fact that the defense was not allowed to discuss Todt’s mental health at his trial.

ORLANDO, Fla. — A weak front will move into Central Florida this morning, sparking a few light showers. Where we’re not seeing showers, it will be warm and muggy, with morning temps in the 70s. READ: Celebration man accused of killing family found guilty, sentenced to life in prison without paroleThrough the day, it will be hot and muggy with highs in the mid-to-upper 80s. A few isolated downpours will be possible this afternoon, but coverage will be limited. READ: Husband of woman killed trying to rescue turtle speaks outOn Sunday evening, there will be an increased chance of rain and storms.

ORLANDO, Fla. — A person is in stable condition after a drive-by shooting in Orlando Thursday afternoon, police said. READ: Celebration man accused of killing family found guilty, sentenced to life in prison without paroleIt happened just before 4:30 p.m. on North Terry Avenue. The victim was transported to the hospital with a gunshot wound, police said. The suspect vehicle was located in the 60 block of West Amelia Street. READ: Husband of woman killed trying to rescue turtle speaks outPolice are still trying to identify the suspect or suspects involved.

Anthony Todt, a physical therapist from Connecticut, was found guilty on Thursday of murdering his wife and three children in their Celebration home in January 2020.

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — The man accused of killing his wife and three children in Celebration took the stand during his murder trial on Wednesday. Todt, 46, testified that his wife, Megan, killed the kids before killing herself. READ: Opening statements set for Monday in trial of Celebration man accused of killing wife, 3 children“I came home and my kids were dead,” Todt said. “This is being blindsided with a Mack truck full of dynamite.”READ: Testimony underway in trial of Celebration man accused of killing familyTodt said that while he was home, Megan stabbed herself and died. WATCH: Defense can’t discuss mental health of Celebration man accused of killing family, judge saysTodt concluded his testimony just after noon.

Anthony Todt stands trial in the slayings of his family, who were found dead in Celebration.

Opening statements from prosecutors and testimonies were delivered Monday in the trial of Anthony Todt, a physical therapist from Connecticut who is accused of killing his four children and his wife.

The murder trial of a man accused of killing his family in Celebration is underway.

A jury has been seated in the trial of a man accused of killing his family in Celebration in January 2020 set to begin next week

The murder trial for the man accused of killing his family and their dog inside their Celebration home will begin on Monday.

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — Attorneys for the man accused of murdering his family in their Celebration home are set to be back in court on Wednesday. Anthony Todt has pleaded not guilty to killing his wife, three kids, and the family’s dog in 2019. On Wednesday, they’re set to discuss a motion that would limit the discussion of the suspect’s mental capacity during the trial. Todt’s trial is set to begin on Monday. READ: Trial of Celebration man accused of killing family pushed back to AprilClick here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

A Florida judge granted a motion earlier this month to partially exclude the confession from a man accused of killing his wife and their three children in their Central Florida home in January 2020 ahead of his trial.

A mother is facing charges in the death of her 4-year-old daughter who was found at a resort near Celebration in January, according to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office.

Five Celebration High School students were taken to the hospital Tuesday afternoon after they ingested “edible gummies,” according to an Osceola County school district spokesperson.

During a court hearing Wednesday, the trial for the man accused of killing his family inside a Celebration home was delayed to April.

A 4-year-old girl was found dead and her mother was taken to the hospital after deputies performed a well-being check at a resort, according to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office.

Oviedo couple welcomes first baby of the new year at AdventHealth The 7-pound, 10-ounce baby boy, Melvin Rodriguez, was born at 12:00:05 a.m. (AdventHealth Clelebration)CELEBRATION, Fla. — AdventHealth Celebration announced the delivery of its first baby of 2022. Read: ‘Shine As One’: As the year ends, the countdown to the Special Olympics USA Games in Orlando beginsJessica Gonzalez Colon and Brian Rodriguez from Oviedo, Florida, welcomed their newborn son Melvin just after the stroke of midnight Saturday. Read: Orlando ringing in New Year’s EveWeighing in at 7 pounds, 10 ounces, Melvin Rodriguez was born five seconds past midnight. Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

The California-based fast-food chain Del Taco is planning to debut its first redesigned, 'modernized' restaurant in Central Florida Tuesday.

Celebration in the Oaks has been a holiday tradition for more than 30 years and features more than 2 miles of lights and holiday displays.

The man accused of killing his family inside an Osceola County home is expected back in court Wednesday morning for a hearing.

CELEBRATION, Fla. — A Celebration man who operated a tax and accounting business is suspected of using his skills as part of a fraud conspiracy that took advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic. Barrie Osborne, 76, is accused of submitting nearly $1.5 million in fraudulent loan applications for money meant to help struggling businesses. Investigators say he helped other businesses file false tax returns and doctor bank statements to get that COVID relief money. Sheriff: Osceola County deputy fired after helping cousin run from deputiesOsborne registered to operate tax and accounting business “Guardian Angels Associates.” He’s charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Homeland Security investigators believe he and others applied for COVID-19 relief like Paycheck Protection Program loans.

Divers are searching an Osceola County lake after a car went into the water.

The defense attorneys for a Connecticut physical therapist accused of killing his wife and their three children at their home in central Florida want his initial confession excluded from his trial.

OSCEOLA COUNTY, FLA. — The defense attorneys for Anthony Todt have filed a motion to suppress initial statements made by Todt to authorities implicating him in the murder of his wife and kids. The attorneys argue that Todt was not in the right state of mind after his hospitalization and arrest when he was interviewed by authorities, due to an overdose of Benadryl. Read: Todt family: State to seek death penalty against Celebration man accused of killing wife, 3 childrenThe motion filed states, “Mr. Todt’s fragile emotional state precluded a knowing, intelligent and voluntary waiver of Miranda rights in both his January 13, 2020 and January 15, 2020 statements.”The defense argues that Osceola detectives provided Todt with an “incomplete recitation” of the Miranda warning during their first interview at the hospital on Jan. 13, 2020. Read: Man who confessed to killing family at Celebration home on investigators’ radar for months, records showAnd on Jan. 15, 2020, after Todt was released from the hospital and transported to the Osceola County Sheriffs Office for more questioning, his defense said discharge documents indicated Todt “should continue with the Baker Act and process and will need to be transported to an inpatient psych unit or under the custody of a law enforcement agency where continued psych support can be provided.”The motion will be heard in Osceola County on Sept. 20 at 1:30 p.m.Read: Man accused of killing wife, 3 children in Celebration home appears to blame wife for their deaths in newly released jail callsClick here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

CELEBRATION, Fla. — Not many people truly understand the dark depths of the COVID-19 pandemic the way Dr. Fortune Alabi does. “We’re all going to get something, whether you get the vaccine or whether you get the virus,” he said. Data shows about 61% of the eligible population was vaccinated in July, and now, more than 66% have been vaccinated. READ: How people with long-term COVID-19 effects can take advantage of federal disability protectionsAlabi said there’s still time to get the virus under control. “I just think it’s just sad because the vast majority of people dying, we could have prevented from dying,” he said.

Celebration School K-8 has turned to online learning for the rest of the week due to a high amount of students forced to quarantine from COVID-19 cases.

He was one of the members who started the soul band that had massive hits like Celebration.

But unfortunately, my wife did not make it out,” Mike said Wednesday from his hospital bed in a rehab facility. The couple had yet to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. “I want to be very clear, I don’t want her death to go in vain,” he said. “Unfortunately, that wait cost my wife her life and it cost me over five weeks in a hospital,” he said. Because they don’t know because COVID affects everybody differently.

CELEBRATION, Fla. – The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office has identified the man accused of shooting a pregnant woman multiple times in the chest at a hospital in Celebration Thursday. On Friday, deputies said Damion Sasenarine Mohammed, of Kissimmee, was arrested Thursday in a parking lot about 7 miles from AdventHealth Celebration, the scene of the shooting. The witness tried to intervene but deputies said Mohammed pointed a gun at the witness, so she ran away shortly before shots were fired. Records show that man tried to help the victim but Mohammed fired a shot at him, although he wasn’t injured. The sheriff said that after the shooting, Mohammed left in a black Toyota Yaris.

CELEBRATION, Fla. – A family in Celebration hopes their young son’s talent will serve as a ray of hope for families with children who have special needs. He is the autistic tiger and he’s just proud of it,” David Villec said of his 8-year-old son, Tiger. “I got him a whiteboard and he just started drawing everything,” Villec said. “He started drawing on it but he was holding one of his toys like a reference model and he’s drawing with his hand. The family said they always knew Tiger would develop a remarkable skill because of his autism.

CELEBRATION, Fla. – A man accused of killing his wife and three young children inside their Celebration home last year will stand trial in September. At a status hearing held Wednesday, a judge set Sept. 27 as the date for Anthony Todt’s murder trial. The hearing was the first since Todt found out he will no longer be facing the death penalty. Former State Attorney Aramis Ayala decided not to seek the death penalty because of concerns about Todt’s mental health. Todt is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of animal cruelty for the deaths of his wife, three children and dog.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Orange-Osceola State Attorney Aramis Ayala will not seek the death penalty against Anthony Todt, who stands accused of killing his wife and three children at a home in Celebration last year. Ayala, who has made headlines in the past due to her stance on the death penalty, filed a notice of intent to not seek the death penalty in the case of Todt and several other high-profile cases. News 6 has reached out to Ayala, who did not seek re-election, for comment but has not heard back. He made similar claims in the two phone calls to his sister in March and April, suggesting that Megan Todt had tried to kill the children before. Todt told his sister in a phone call from jail that he couldn’t have stopped his family from being slain — because he wasn’t around.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – A Connecticut physical therapist charged with killing his wife and three children at their Florida home told his sister in a phone call from jail that he couldn’t have stopped his family from being slain — because he wasn’t around. Todt wrote that his wife then drank a bottle of Benadryl and stabbed herself in the abdomen. He made similar claims in the two phone calls to his sister in March and April, suggesting that Megan Todt had tried to kill the children before. Investigators with the Osceola County Sheriff's Office said Todt confessed at the time of his arrest to killing Megan, 42; their children, Alek, 13, Tyler, 11, and Zoe, 4; and the dog, Breezy. Prosecutors have said they intend to seek the death penalty for Todt, who has been indicted on four counts of first-degree murder.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A 64-year-old DeBary man was struck and killed Tuesday morning while crossing an Orange County road, the Florida Highway Patrol said. The fatal wreck was reported at 6:05 a.m. on Goldenrod Road near Colonial Drive. Florida Highway Patrol said a 46-year-old Celebration woman was driving an SUV north on Goldenrod when she hit the man, who was not in a crosswalk or at an intersection. The man was taken to AdventHealth East Hospital, where he died, the FHP said. The woman, who was wearing a seat belt, was not hurt, according to troopers.

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – A man charged with killing his family at their Florida home has claimed that his wife is the one who killed their three children and then herself. Prosecutors had copied the letter as evidence and released it to the newspaper in response to a public records request. He said he learned of the deaths after returning home from doing maintenance at a nearby condo they owned. Full Screen 1 / 18 Pictures of the Todt family are pinned to a board inside their condo. Defense attorneys have not spoken publicly about the claim that Todt’s wife was the real killer.

He mentions 42-year-old Megan Todt, 11-year-old Tyler Todt, 13-year-old Alek Todt and 4-year-old Zoe Todt but never explicitly talks about their deaths or the crime. I don’t remember anything pretty much over Christmas and the first week I got here,” Anthony Todt said. In the call, Anthony Todt speaks in vague terms when referencing the crime. Just know that I will protect Megan’s dignity until the very end,” Anthony Todt said. Anthony Todt is charged with four counts of first-degree murder.

Anthony Todt is facing first-degree murder charges in connection with the deaths of his wife 42-year-old Megan Todt and their children, 11-year-old Tyler Todt, 13-year-old Alek Todt and 4-year-old Zoe Todt. [RELATED: Family members found dead in Celebration were stabbed, report says | Celebration murder suspect claimed dead wife was sleeping, deputies say]Up until now, officials have not provided a cause of death for the slain family members. Based on documents released Wednesday, it was ultimately “homicidal violence of unspecified means” and diphenhydramine toxicity, the drug commonly known as Benadryl, that claimed the lives of the Todt family. At the time of his arrest, records show Anthony Todt told authorities that he’d consumed an unknown amount of Benadryl in an attempt to end his life. According to the Osceola County sheriff, Anthony Todt admitted to killing his family in late December.

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – A man accused of killing his wife and three children at their Celebration home last year has been indicted on first-degree murder charges and will face the death penalty, according to Orange-Osceola State Attorney Aramis Ayala. [RELATED: Celebration murder suspect claimed dead wife was sleeping, deputies say | Here’s why the man accused of killing his family in Celebration is facing federal charges | Sheriff: Man killed wife, 3 kids in Celebration home]He was also indicted on an animal cruelty charge because the family’s dog, Breezy, was also found dead, according to authorities. Ayala added that the decision to seek death is separate from her beliefs and instead is a result of a decision reached by her office’s death penalty review board. “Despite my position on the death penalty, my death penalty review board they move forward, they charge on,” Ayala said. Officials have not said how the family was killed but a report from the Medical Examiner’s Office noted that Megan Todt and her two boys were stabbed although Zoe Todt was not.

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – A man accused of killing his wife and three children has officially been evicted from the Celebration home where the slayings occurred, according to court documents. Records show the eviction notice was served to Anthony Todt at the Osceola County Jail, where he is being held on murder charges. [RELATED: Family members found dead in Celebration were stabbed, report says | Celebration murder suspect claimed dead wife was sleeping, deputies say]Osceola County deputies said Anthony Todt was under federal investigation and facing eviction late last year when he killed 42-year-old Megan Todt, 11-year-old Tyler Todt, 13-year-old Alek Todt, 4-year-old Zoe Todt and Breezy the dog at the home on Residence Place. The bodies were discovered Jan. 13 as authorities were serving a federal arrest warrant for Anthony Todt on insurance fraud charges. Officials have not released their causes of death but a recent report noted that Megan Todt and her sons were stabbed but Zoe Todt was not.

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – The man accused of killing his wife and children at their Celebration home has been formally charged with their deaths, records show. [RELATED: Family members found dead in Celebration were stabbed, report says | Celebration murder suspect claimed dead wife was sleeping, deputies say | Bodies in Celebration home were wrapped in blankets, records show]Documents filed Wednesday show he’s been charged four counts of second-degree murder. “Florida law requires all first-degree murder cases be charged by grand jury indictment. Suspects generally face first-degree murder charges when prosecutors believe they planned the crime, while second-degree murders involve crimes that are not premeditated. People who are convicted of second-degree murder are not eligible for the death penalty.

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – A man accused of killing his family in their Celebration home claimed his dead wife was sleeping when authorities arrived to take him into custody on federal charges, according to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office. As deputies were investigating, they said they found the Todt family and their dog dead in a bedroom on the second floor. Anthony Todt was taken from the crime scene to a hospital where he stayed until he was booked into the Osceola County Jail. Deputies said they interviewed Anthony Todt about the deaths while he was in a hospital, but his statements were redacted from the report. Anthony Todt is facing four counts of first-degree murder and an animal cruelty charge.

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – A mother and two of her three children who were found dead in their Celebration home earlier this month had stab wounds on their bodies, according to the Medical Examiner’s report. The documents pertaining to the deaths of 42-year-old Megan Todt; 13-year-old Alek Todt; 11-year-old Tyler Todt; and 4-year-old Zoe Todt were released Thursday. Until now, Osceola County authorities refused to say what injuries the family suffered. Zoe Todt, however, had no obvious signs of injuries. Megan Todt was stabbed twice while her two boys were stabbed once, records show.

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – The man accused of killing his wife, three children and dog at their Celebration home was caged during a court appearance Thursday afternoon in Osceola County. Anthony Todt was the last inmate to arrive in court and was immediately escorted to a metal cage in the back of the room, separate from the other defendants. The corrections staff requested that Anthony Todt be the first one to see the judge. Deputies said Anthony Todt is cooperating with the investigation but they have not said whether he’s provided an explanation for the crime or expressed remorse. Federal records show Anthony Todt, a Connecticut physical therapist, was under investigation for insurance fraud.

CELEBRATION, Fla. – A man killed his wife, their three children and the family dog at their Celebration home in late December, according to the Osceola County sheriff. Anthony Todt was being investigated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services for a matter unrelated to the deaths. Sheriff Russ Gibson said Anthony Todt confessed to killing his family but at this point, authorities have not provided information on how they died. Anthony Todt. Gibson didn’t know why Anthony Todt allegedly killed his family, although the suspect is cooperating with the investigation.

A first-of-its-kind exhibit in New York City is drawing crowds of book enthusiasts. Ironically, none of the books featured are real. People who judge these so-called "Blooks" by their covers will have a surprise in store when they discover what's inside these rare, novelty items. Lee Cowan reports.