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NOKOMIS, Fla. (WFLA) — A woman has been arrested following a devastating fire that occurred in a camper trailer at the Palm and Pines mobile home and RV community in Nokomis early Tuesday morning, resulting in one fatality.
Firefighters and deputies were dispatched to the scene at approximately 1:10 a.m.
According to Matt Binkley, Community Affairs Manager with the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, “The Sarasota County Fire Department, the Nokomis Volunteer Fire Department and deputies responded to that incident location where a trailer was engulfed in flames. Witnesses had stated that there was a person unaccounted for. Fire personnel went into that camper and trailer and found an unconscious victim. That victim was removed from the trailer, lifesaving efforts were attempted; however, those efforts were unsuccessful.”
The Sarasota Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations unit is currently probing the incident.
Juanita M. Pendell, 44, has been detained at the Sarasota County Jail, where she faces charges of homicide and arson.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the State Fire Marshal, while the Medical Examiner’s Office is working to confirm the official cause of death for the victim, who has only been described as a white male and remains unidentified as authorities strive to notify his next of kin.
Throughout the day on Tuesday, SCSO crime scene technicians gathered evidence from the location.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Criminal Investigation Section at 941-861-4900 or can leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers by calling 941-366-8477.
Key Information
- Incident: Fire in camper trailer
- Location: Palm and Pines mobile home and RV community, Nokomis, FL
- Time of Incident: Approximately 1:10 a.m. on Tuesday
- Fatality: One unconscious male victim; lifesaving efforts failed
- Arrest: Juanita M. Pendell, 44; charged with homicide and arson
- Investigation: Sarasota Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations and State Fire Marshal are involved
- Contact: For tips, call 941-861-4900 or Crime Stoppers at 941-366-8477
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Article original publish date: 2025-08-05 09:51:00
Article source: www.wfla.com
Read the full story at the original source: www.wfla.com
