[PHOTO CREDIT: Vickie Chilla Photography]
[Original Publish Date: 02/22/20]
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EUSTIS, Florida — The body found in Eustis Saturday afternoon during the city’s annual Georgfest celebration has been identified.
Maurice Akeem-Vonche McCook, 31, was found around 2:45 p.m. Saturday by a passerby in Lake Eustis near Ferran Park, said Eustis Police Capt. Gary Winheim. There did not appear to be any signs of trauma to the body; and it was released to the medical examiner for an autopsy, Winheim told Lake Legal News. “We’re investigating it as a drowning.”
McCook, who was homeless, has been booked into the Lake County Jail (LCJ) 11 times. LLN reported on McCook’s latest arrest just last month. On Jan. 30, he was charged for resisting arrest without violence and was trespassed from city hall after throwing Cheetos at City Manager Ronald Neibert, lying about his name and refusing to leave the premises. He was released from jail just over a week ago.
Eustis Police responded to Eustis City Hall in reference to a person refusing to leave. Neibert told police McCook was blocking a door in the courtyard area of city hall and he was asked to leave. McCook, 31, got upset and yelled at Neibert before throwing Cheetos at him, according to an arrest affidavit.
McCook was charged with resisting an officer without violence and taken to LCJ. According to LCJ records, He was sentenced, and released on Feb. 13.
[ Read our related story: https://www.lakelegalnews.com/article/man-refuses-to-leave-city-hall-throws-cheetos-at-eustis-city-manager-and-gets-tased-by-police/ ]
[ Read our October, 2019, story about McCook: https://www.lakelegalnews.com/article/drugs-found-under-bible-lake-man-joins-nearly-1-in-12-booked-for-meth/ ]
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Our Editor-in-Chief, Marilyn M. Aciego, began writing for Lake Legal News in 2010. Born and raised in Lake County, she is a graduate of Umatilla High School and Lake-Sumter State College. She started her journalism career at LSSC, where she was editor of both student publications, The Angler and The Odyssey. Her professional career began at the Daily Commercial in 2004 where she covered cops and courts the majority of her time there until she left in 2009. Currently, along with being Editor-in-Chief of Lake Legal News, she is the Florida bureau chief for an international media organization. She has made more than two dozen appearances on live national television, including Nancy Grace and the Greta Van Susteren show, along with her appearance on Evil Twins. Contact her with breaking news, tips, and feedback by sending an e-mail to 352Tips@gmail.com. You can also contact us on our Facebook page — and make sure you “Like” and “Follow us” there. [PHOTO CREDIT: Bonnie Whicher]
