Unsolved Mysteries

It is possible, and you might not have been aware that you could. You may have seen something, or you may have been told something, that you did not realize could be important in helping to solve a crime.

We are asking for your help.

The Winter Garden Police Department, as does virtually every law enforcement agency, has its unsolved mysteries. In an effort to develop new investigative leads that may lead to solving these cases, we are using this section of our web site to present a synopsis of some of our major cases that remain unsolved after both the passage of time, and extensive investigation.

If you have information regarding any of these, or any other criminal cases, please contact CRIMELINE at (800) 423-TIPS, or contact the Winter Garden Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division Unit Supervisor at: (407) 656-3636, extension 4007, or by e-mail, at: kralston@cwgdn.com.

Leonard “Lenny” James Moore---MURDER

W.G.P.D. Case Number 78-004713

On October 7, 1978 , at approximately 1:40 a.m. , in the area of Ninth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue , a single gunshot was fired from a passing vehicle, and a seventeen year old boy was left dying on the ground.

Leonard James Moore, who was known as “Lenny”, and one of his friends, who witnessed the crime, had been throwing oranges at vehicles driving on Ninth Street . One vehicle, described as being gray or grayish colored, and possibly a Ford Thunderbird or a Mercury, passed by, and returned a few minutes later, driving Southbound, at a slow rate of speed.

As the vehicle passed, a person of unknown race, with what appeared to be a large Afro hairstyle, pushed his body, from the stomach up, out the passenger side window. The two boys started to duck down, and a single gunshot, from a .22 caliber gun, was heard. Lenny Moore collapsed on the ground, shot in the chest, begging his friend for help, as the suspect vehicle continued down Ninth Street . Lenny was transported to the hospital where he died shortly after he arrived.

Due to the time of night and the lighting conditions in the area, the description of the suspect vehicle and the suspect are extremely vague. Under hypnosis, Lenny’s friend gave the following description of the suspect vehicle and its occupants:

The vehicle was a four-door, with a body style of a mid 1970’s vehicle, and appeared to be gray, with a white top. It was long, and low to the ground, like a Cadillac, with taillights like a Ford Thunderbird. It had four round headlights, with two on each side of the vehicle, and chrome hubcaps with red in the middle of them. It had a loud muffler. The passenger was described as a large man, with a pointed chin, with a large Afro hairstyle, and possibly having a beard.

It has been more than twenty years since Lenny Moore was shot and killed. Over the years no one has ever come forward with the information needed to solve this case, and to bring the person, or persons who killed Lenny Moore to justice. Although Lenny and his friend were wrong to have been throwing oranges at passing vehicles, he did not deserve to pay, for what they perceived to be a prank, with his life.

If you have information that may help to solve the murder of Lenny Moore, please contact CRIMELINE at (800) 423-TIPS, or contact the Winter Garden Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division Unit Supervisor at: (407) 656-3636, extension 4007, or by e-mail, at: kralston@cwgdn.com.

Leah “Nichole” Denise Calabrese--MISSING PERSON

W.G.P.D. Case Number 92-011297

Leah Calabrese, also known as “Nichole”, was last seen in the area of Eleventh Street , in Winter Garden, on October 24, 1992 . Leah suffers from manic depression and was officially listed as a Missing/Endangered Person on November 2, 1992 .

Leah was known to the police and often frequented an area, on the Eastside of Winter Garden, that has a reputation for crime, drug, and prostitution problems. Although she would occasionally “drop out of sight” for days at a time, Leah habitually phoned members of her family, during these times, to let them know that she was okay. Since her disappearance, Leah has not contacted any member of her family, or the police, and her whereabouts remains unknown. Since Leah normally maintained contact with her family it is possible that she may have been the victim of a criminal act.

Leah Calabrese is a White female, date of birth November 1, 1962 , 5’07” tall, with green or hazel eyes, and a slender build. At the time of her disappearance she was thirty years old, weighed 110 to 115 pounds, and had shoulder length, brownish blonde hair. Her Social Security number is 267-77-6895. She had a Florida Drivers License, C416-524-62-907.

Leah Calabrese has been missing for over eight years, her family does not know whether she is dead or alive. During the time since her disappearance no one has ever come forward with the information needed to solve this case, and if Leah was the victim of foul play, to bring the person or persons responsible to justice.

If you have information that may help to solve the disappearance of Leah Calebrese, please contact CRIMELINE at (800) 423-TIPS, or contact the Winter Garden Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division Unit Supervisor at: (407) 656-3636, extension 4007, or by e-mail, at: kralston@cwgdn.com.

James Edward “Jimmy” Earle--MURDER

W.G.P.D Case 96-002147

The Eastside of Winter Garden is not unaccustomed to violence. It has a reputation for crime, drug use and sales, and prostitution. During the night of January 30, 1996 , several gunshots, not an unfamiliar sound to area residents, rang out in the area of Center Street and Tenth Street . Although residents later stated that they had heard gunfire, around 3:30 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. , no one checked to see what had happened, and no one called the police. James “Jimmy” Earle, a seventeen year old Black male, who was the victim of the shooting, was left to die alone in the darkness.

A person who was interviewed by Investigators, after Jimmy’s body was discovered, admitted to having talked to Jimmy around 3:30 a.m.. As the witness left Jimmy and started walking away he noticed a full sized burgundy or maroon van, with a long C. B. antenna driving slowly Eastbound on Center Street. He did not recognize the van, or any of the Black male occupants in the van. He saw Jimmy walk up to the passenger side of the van, and thinking that the subjects in the van knew Jimmy, he continued walking. Moments later he heard several gunshots, and fearing for his own safety, he ran from the area. As he fled, he saw the van pull onto Center Street and head West. He did not know that Jimmy had been shot until he was told about it later that day.

After intensive investigation several suspects, and a possible motive, jealousy related to a girl that Jimmy was seeing, were developed. However, none of the information that has been obtained so far has been sufficient to prove the actual involvement, or motive, of any specific individual. The case remains unsolved.

It has been over five years since James “Jimmy” Earle was mercilessly gunned down and left to die. During that time, no one has come forward with the information needed to solve this case, and to bring the person, or persons who killed Jimmy Earle to justice.

If you have information that may help to solve the murder of Jimmy Earle, please contact CRIMELINE at (800) 423-TIPS, or contact the Winter Garden Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division Unit Supervisor at: (407) 656-3636, extension 4007, or by e-mail, at: kralston@cwgdn.com.

King Golden III--MURDER

W.G.P.D. Case 97-02211

On February 13, 1997, a tow truck driver, in the process of making a routine removal of an abandoned vehicle, in this instance a blue, 1991, Toyota Camry, four-door, with no license tag, from a parking area at Country Garden Apartments, made a gruesome discovery. When he entered the unlocked vehicle, to put it into neutral, he noticed a foul smell. He pulled the trunk release and when he opened the trunk he discovered a human body, wrapped in a sheet.

The body in the trunk was later identified as that of King Golden III, a twenty-six year old Black male, who was registered as a co-owner of the vehicle. An autopsy revealed that he had been dead for several days, and that he had died as the result of gunshot wounds.

King Golden III had family in the Pine Hills area, and was seen several times in the Pine Hills area during the week before his death. It was reported that when his live-in girlfriend last saw King Golden III he was carrying a considerable amount of cash, possibly for the purchase of a used car.

Investigation determined that King Golden III was last known to be alive when he spoke to his live-in girlfriend on February 9th , four days before his body was found. Since it was not unusual for him to be away from home she had not reported him as missing. A resident of Country Gardens Apartments was able to verify that the vehicle, containing Golden’s body, was present, in the parking area, where the tow truck driver found it, on the afternoon of February 9th.

Information obtained during the investigation revealed that King Golden III had a criminal history. Additional information indicated that he was possibly involved in the sale of powder and crack cocaine, and that his murder may have been related to his, and his associates, involvement in the drug trade. This information has not been verified.

It has been over four years since the body of King Golden III was found in the trunk of his car. During that time, no one has come forward with the information needed to solve this case, and to bring the person, or persons who killed King Golden III to justice.

If you have information that may help to solve the murder of King Golden III, please contact CRIMELINE at (800) 423-TIPS, or contact the Winter Garden Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division Unit Supervisor at: (407) 656-3636, extension 4007, or by e-mail, at: kralston@cwgdn.com.