— Michael Earl Simmons
The Sweet Tea Murders Books
If you enjoy the stories of Sweet Tea Murders, you can enjoy a little piece of Gulf Coast crime history at home.
Here you’ll find books inspired by the real cases, historic streets, and unforgettable characters that shaped the darker side of Southern history.
Because along the Gulf Coast…the tea is sweet, but the stories can be deadly.
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As he was fleeing Florida westward toward the Alabama line, the demons in Ted Bundy took control once again. After a daring escape and an effort to start living a “normal” life in Tallahassee, Ted had murdered two Florida State co-eds and 12-year-old Kimberly Leach. Maybe if he could get away this time, he could start fresh. But it was not to be. The evilness came on him. The monster came out and he had to feed it. He drove into Pensacola and scouted around, looking for his next victim. This and other exciting stories, the police chiefs and stations, the firsts, spotlights, and the story of the Pensacola police department are contained within the pages of this fascinating book!
A Tradition…“Raise your right hand and repeat after me.” Those are the last words the chief of police says to a new officer before he or she takes the oath of office to become a Pensacola Police Officer. A flood of questions and emotions runs through the officer’s brain at that moment: “What am I getting into?” “Am I up for it?” “What is expected of me?” and hundreds more. The cameras, the setting, the friends and family looking on don’t make the answers any clearer! At that moment, the officer is following the time-honored tradition of accepting the responsibility to serve and protect the citizens of Pensacola. The new officer may not know it, but he or she is joining one of the oldest and most historic police departments in the United States.
The Pensacola Police Department is one of the oldest and most distinguished departments in the United States. Throughout its long and rich history, many stories are made by the officers who are in the community every day. Some of the stories are funny, some are heroic, some are sad, but all of them are noteworthy. Each day, many officers take to the streets to serve and protect the citizens of Pensacola with integrity and professionalism. They see things that are good, bad, and extraordinary. Very often, the thought goes through their minds, “This is so astonishing that no one will believe it!” Many times, I have made the statement, “Anyone who is a police officer for five years can write a book!” In many history books, the stories of the leaders and commanders are told, and rightfully so. They are the ones who decide the direction of the organizations. But in such cases, the richness, the personality, the makeup of the organization is overlooked. This book seeks to document these stories from the perspective of the officer or his/her families, friends, or co-workers. It is my prayer that you can see the tragedies, comedies, and adventures through the eyes of those closest to it.
They were after him and he knew it. He said to his brother, “I’m a dead man. They’re going to kill me, but I have run as far as I am going to run. It’s that Kennedy thing in Dallas.”
With scared, wide eyes, they all looked at each other. Slowly, they continued farther. With every step, the floor creaked. They crept their way to the back door, which was standing open. The old screen door, however, was not open. Each child walked through the back door, looking around as they entered. Most of the room was the same as it was when they entered before, but it looked like someone had moved some of the dishes around and someone had been using the old stove.
“Somebody has been in here!” Julia whispered, pointing to the dishes.
“Okay everyone,” Jaxon said in a low voice. “Let’s split up into partners and see what we can find.” He didn’t really know why he was whispering, but it just seemed like something he should do. Besides Jaxon – with Bessie, there were three teams of two who set out to explore. While Jaxon stayed around the kitchen, Hadley and Parker went toward the living room while the other two teams went upstairs.
Then they heard it again…” GET OFF MY LAND!”
A Hero
The feeling was somber…sad.
A wave of officers adorned in their formal dress uniforms,
Two officers standing as guards of honor,
a long wooden box, draped by an American flag,
They stood like sentinels, faces of granite,
A closer look, however, showed slight tears,
Because, you see, they were laying to rest a comrade,
Their badges were banded in black,
The minister read, “Greater love hath no man than this,
that he lay down his life for his friend,”
Words of comfort, but they cannot bring him back,
The hero was taken to the waiting hearse,
Slowly the procession left the church, bound for the cemetery,
It was his final ride,
Soon they arrived at the peaceful place,
Officers lined the graveside,
‘Attention.’ Amazing Grace played by bagpipes,
“Prepare for gunfire,” They came – the volleys of fire,
The song of finality – TAPS,
Then the final call on the police radio – no answer
He is out of service,
Rest in peace, Sir. We have the watch.
As he made his way to the house, he kept to the shadows, in case anyone was awake and saw him. He eased up to the window and peered in; all was dark, and no one was moving. It looked safe. Slowly, he made his way up the steps. They made a creaking sound. He turned the doorknob and pushed the front door open.
He knew what he wanted to do, and it wasn’t pleasant. In fact, it was horrific. In the darkness, he entered the bedroom of Preston and Hattie. They were sleeping soundly. Without warning, the intruder made a mighty swing of the axe, and buried it in the head of Preston Pickern. The blow, followed by another…and another, crushed his skull. Preston’s sleep became permanent. It didn’t kill him immediately, but he never regained consciousness. Hattie, waking to a terrible deed, began a confused attempt to fight off the attacker – to no avail. She was attacked next. Seconds later, she was beaten into unconsciousness. A few moments earlier, the bedroom was a peaceful, serene room of slumber. Now it was a horrendous, bloody crime scene.
After the invader finished his work in the adults’ bedroom, he made his way to the children. Without feeling, without conscience, the killer struck the two small sleeping angels with the axe also. He dropped the bloody axe on Emmett’s bed and fled the house.
Since 1821, West Florida has been producing remarkable law officers. Formal training classes began in the 1930s, long before they were introduced in other locations, and the training has been improving since. Officers in the western panhandle of Florida soon began training at the same school. Many times, officers from different agencies had basic as well as advanced and specialized training together. It made for a better working relationship. A Tradition of Excellence uncovers the paths taken from the first training class to today’s exceptional academies.
Peter and Emily were asleep in the charming little home they had made. Due to the hot Florida summer before air conditioning, windows were kept open to catch any breeze that could be found. The window screens kept out the mosquitoes and the pesky biting flies that visit the area every summer.
The explosion caused by the 12-gauge shotgun woke Emily with a start. She immediately rolled out of bed to try to escape. But the second shot hit her in the breast. Her husband never saw his wife killed. The first shot killed the sleeping man immediately and tore off part of his head. About a minute later, the shotgun put a hole in Emily’s head as big as a man’s hand. On the walls were the blood and brains of the poor victims. On the floor were three empty buckshot shells. After a few minutes of plundering, the peaceful quiet returned…
It began with thefts in the 1920s in Massachusetts. But he couldn’t control himself, and Roland graduated to burglaries and robberies. It was all fun and games for Roland. He was doing well for himself – at the expense of others – until he killed a police officer. After he was sentenced to prison, he escaped and fled south to Florida where he killed another policeman. Then he headed west. His mistake was driving into Pensacola.
Becoming a law enforcement officer is not just a career; it’s a calling. The law enforcement academy is the starting point for individuals who aspire to serve and protect their communities. However, the journey through the academy is not an easy one. It requires determination, resilience, discipline, and an unwavering commitment to the principles of justice. This book is designed to serve as a comprehensive guide for those embarking on this challenging yet rewarding journey. Whether you are just beginning your academy training or are looking for ways to enhance your performance, the principles outlined in this book will help you navigate the academy with confidence and success.
The peaceful farming town of Baker, Florida, was shattered on one afternoon in January 1934. What began as a simple disagreement among neighbors over a property line ended tragically. The town was never the same again.