Polk County Sheriff’s Phone# 863-298-6200
If in an emergency Dial 911
News and Investigations
News & Investigations
News Releases and Public Information
Welcome to the Polk County Sheriff's Office News Room, where the Public Information Officers (PIO's) post all of the information that they release to the news media. PIO's act as liaisons between news media organizations and the Sheriff's Office. The PIO's routinely release timely and accurate information and Crime Stoppers bulletins, and respond to routine and "breaking news" media inquiries. News releases and Crime Stoppers information can be found on this page.
PCSO's full-time Public Information Officers are Brian Bruchey, Carrie Horstman, and Meghan Petty. The Public Information Officers can be reached by sending an e-mail collectively at PIOs@polksheriff.org.
The recent news releases sent out by the PIOs can be found here, and archived releases (older than 2017) can be found here.
Nov 1, 2018
Polk County Sheriff's Office investigating murder-suicide in Lakeland
Media Contact: Brian Bruchey, PIO
Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff's Office responded to a fatal domestic violence call at 2336 10th Street West in Lakeland at around 5:44 P.M. Wednesday, October 31, 2018.
When they arrived, it was determined that 40-year-old Antero Araujo Quintana had shot his wife, 42-year-old Beatriz Araujo, then shot himself. Araujo Quintana was pronounced dead at the scene, Mrs. Araujo was critically injured, and transported to Lakeland Regional Health Center where she later died.
According to the preliminary investigation, the shooting was witnessed by the couple's 21-year-old son. The two other children were waiting in the family truck during an argument between the couple in the house, and did not witness the shootings.
Deputies found Mrs. Araujo in the kitchen area with gunshot wounds in the abdomen and head. Araujo Quintana was nearby in the living room, deceased, with a gunshot wound in the head. The gun used was a .380-caliber handgun.
"It's absolutely heartbreaking that these children will have this awful memory of a day that should have been filled with good memories. For the rest of us, it's a sad reminder of the human tragedy of domestic violence."-Grady Judd, Sheriff.
According to the witness, the couple had been arguing for several days and were preparing to take their children Trick-or-Treating when their last argument began.
When they arrived, it was determined that 40-year-old Antero Araujo Quintana had shot his wife, 42-year-old Beatriz Araujo, then shot himself. Araujo Quintana was pronounced dead at the scene, Mrs. Araujo was critically injured, and transported to Lakeland Regional Health Center where she later died.
According to the preliminary investigation, the shooting was witnessed by the couple's 21-year-old son. The two other children were waiting in the family truck during an argument between the couple in the house, and did not witness the shootings.
Deputies found Mrs. Araujo in the kitchen area with gunshot wounds in the abdomen and head. Araujo Quintana was nearby in the living room, deceased, with a gunshot wound in the head. The gun used was a .380-caliber handgun.
"It's absolutely heartbreaking that these children will have this awful memory of a day that should have been filled with good memories. For the rest of us, it's a sad reminder of the human tragedy of domestic violence."-Grady Judd, Sheriff.
According to the witness, the couple had been arguing for several days and were preparing to take their children Trick-or-Treating when their last argument began.