While the Treasure Coast is celebrated for its pristine beaches, vibrant real estate market, and peaceful lifestyle, the region’s history also contains dark chapters that have made national headlines. A recent retrospective has highlighted ten of the most heinous crimes committed across Indian River, St. Lucie, and Martin counties, serving as a solemn reminder of the tragedies that have impacted our local communities over the decades.
From infamous serial killers to shocking domestic tragedies, these cases remain etched in the collective memory of residents from Vero Beach to Tequesta.
The Vero Beach Connection: David Alan Gore
For residents of Indian River County, the name David Alan Gore represents one of the darkest periods in local history. Gore, a Vero Beach resident, confessed to a killing spree that claimed the lives of six women. His crimes culminated in the 1983 murder of 17-year-old Lynn Elliott.
Gore spent 28 years on death row before his execution by lethal injection, finally closing the chapter on a series of crimes that deeply scarred the Vero Beach community.
National Headlines: The Harrouff and Hadley Cases
Two specific cases on the Treasure Coast drew intense national media scrutiny due to their gruesome nature and the profiles of the perpetrators.
In 2016, the southern end of the Treasure Coast was shaken by the actions of Austin Harrouff. While visiting family in Tequesta, the Florida State University student launched a random, fatal attack on John Stevens III, 59, and Michelle Mishcon, 53. When authorities arrived, they discovered Harrouff in the driveway, exhibiting behavior that fueled nationwide speculation and shock.
Similarly, the 2011 case of Tyler Hadley in Port St. Lucie remains one of the most disturbing instances of patricide in Florida history. On July 16, 2011, Hadley used a claw hammer to take the lives of his parents, Blake and Mary Jo Hadley. In a detail that shocked the public, he proceeded to host a house party with dozens of friends while his parents’ bodies remained hidden in a bedroom of the home.
Tragedies in the Hungryland Wildlife Area
The John C. and Mariana Jones/Hungryland Wildlife and Environmental Area has unfortunately been the site of multiple grim discoveries.
- Tricia Todd: In a case featured on the ABC program 20/20 in an episode titled “The Hungryland Homicide,” 30-year-old Tricia Todd was murdered by her ex-husband, Steven Williams, in 2016. Williams, who was sentenced to 35 years, eventually led authorities to the wildlife area where he had buried her remains in a container filled with acid.
- Dustin Davis Mills: More recently, in March 2022, investigators discovered human remains in the same wildlife area. Body parts belonging to Dustin Davis Mills were found across at least three locations, including a torso buried in a shallow grave.
Historical Crimes and Long-Term Investigations
The region has also seen long-standing mysteries and serial cases resolved by law enforcement.
- The Salerno Strangler: Eugene Wayman McWatters Jr. of Port Salerno terrorized the community in 2004. He was convicted for the asphyxiation murders of three women: Jacqueline Bradley, Christal Wiggins, and Carrie Caughey.
- Gerard Schaefer: A former Martin County deputy, Schaefer was found guilty of the 1973 murders of two teenagers, Georgia Jessup and Susan Place. Their remains were discovered while Schaefer was already serving time for assaulting two other girls.
- Chester Price: For nearly twenty years, the 1993 disappearance of Andrea Parsons remained an open wound for Port Salerno. While another man was initially the prime suspect, testimony eventually revealed that Chester Duane Price was responsible. Price was convicted of kidnapping and aggravated manslaughter regarding the child, whose body was never recovered.
Other Notable Cases
The list of notorious local crimes also includes the death of tax attorney Ashley Pollow in St. Lucie County, where his employee Thomas Barnard was found guilty of first-degree murder. Additionally, the disturbing case of Judith Leekin came to light in 2007. Leekin faced charges for the severe abuse of disabled children and adults in her care, a scheme that was only discovered after she abandoned an 18-year-old woman at a store in St. Petersburg.
While these events are difficult to recount, they are an integral part of the Treasure Coast’s historical record, demonstrating both the tragedy of criminal acts and the persistence of law enforcement in seeking justice for victims and their families.
