Courts Reporter

Rafael Olmeda

Rafael Olmeda covers Broward criminal and civil courts for the Sun Sentinel. A graduate of Baruch College of the City University of New York, he worked for six years at the New York Daily News before joining the Sun Sentinel in 1999. He has served as president of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and UNITY: Journalists of Color.

The body of a Fort Lauderdale woman who vanished on July 21 in her husband's pickup truck was located late Wednesday in a Miramar canal, family members announced on social media Thursday.

Crime and Public Safety |
Body of missing Fort Lauderdale woman found in Miramar canal, family says

August 1, 2024 at 5:27 p.m.

The body of a Fort Lauderdale woman who vanished on July 21 in her husband's pickup truck was located late Wednesday in a Miramar canal, family members announced on social...

"The search for my mother will help another family achieve closure," said John Tormey, a Plantation man whose mom, Carol Tormey, 81, vanished more than a week ago.

Crime and Public Safety |
Searchers find body in submerged vehicle in Miramar, but it’s not the missing woman they are looking for

August 1, 2024 at 12:58 p.m.

"The search for my mother will help another family achieve closure," said John Tormey, a Plantation man whose mom, Carol Tormey, 81, vanished more than a week ago.

The four Miami-Dade County police officers charged with manslaughter in the 2019 death of a UPS driver could go on trial as early as February, according to a schedule proposed Monday by a Broward Judge.

Crime and Public Safety |
Trial of four Miami cops in Broward shootout where UPS driver was killed is set for February

July 29, 2024 at 6:03 p.m.

The four Miami-Dade County police officers charged with manslaughter in the 2019 death of a UPS driver could go on trial as early as February, according to a schedule proposed...

A legal assistant at the Broward State Attorney's Office was in jail Friday after turning herself in on charges of elderly exploitation and fraud. Josephine Brown, 65, was suspended without pay effective immediately on Friday following her surrender.

Crime and Public Safety |
Broward prosecutor’s employee charged with exploiting the elderly

July 19, 2024 at 5:56 p.m.

A legal assistant at the Broward State Attorney's Office was in jail Friday after turning herself in on charges of elderly exploitation and fraud. Josephine Brown, 65, was suspended without...

Anthony Caravella, photographed in court in 1984 and on the day he was freed from prison in September 2009.

Crime and Public Safety |
Appeals court overturns $3.6 million judgment against Miramar in case of man wrongly imprisoned for 26 years

July 19, 2024 at 5:49 p.m.

An appeals court on Wednesday overturned a Broward judge's order that the city of Miramar owed $3.6 million to Anthony Caravella, a man who was exonerated in 2010 after spending...

Rafael Olmeda

All Stories

Crime and Public Safety |
Body of missing Fort Lauderdale woman found in Miramar canal, family says

Crime and Public Safety |
Searchers find body in submerged vehicle in Miramar, but it’s not the missing woman they are looking for

Crime and Public Safety |
Trial of four Miami cops in Broward shootout where UPS driver was killed is set for February

Crime and Public Safety |
Broward prosecutor’s employee charged with exploiting the elderly

Crime and Public Safety |
Appeals court overturns $3.6 million judgment against Miramar in case of man wrongly imprisoned for 26 years

Crime and Public Safety |
Former NFL star Lawrence Taylor in and out of Broward jail — again

Crime and Public Safety |
Nearly 15 years after his son was killed, a Davie father waits for justice

Crime and Public Safety |
Lawsuit over Florida woman’s death raises specter of used car repair fraud

Crime and Public Safety |
Parkland families eager to bring Broward Sheriff’s Office to court over 2018 shooting

Election 2024 |
Broward judicial candidate drops Orlando author’s self-published tell-all from her campaign stump speech