G

HEADLINES--

TONIGHT AT SIX,

A FAMILY'S DOG FOUND LYING DEAD ON THE GROUND.

5604 "It was too late. He shot her twice in the throat and side of the neck."

THAT DOG'S OWNER SAYS HER NEIGHBOR KILLED IT.

WHY THE SHOOTER WON'T FACE ANY CHARGES.

AND --

JUST HOURS AFTER YESTERDAY'S STAR-STUDDED NEWS CONFERENCE TO DRAW ATTENTION TO TWO DECADE-OLD COLD CASES --

THE TIPS ARE NOW ROLLING IN TO COLLIER COUNTY.

WHAT WE ARE JUST LEARNING.

AT ONE A-M TOMORROW MORNING IT'S OPEN SEASON ON PYTHONS.

WHY PEOPLE ARE BEING CHALLENGED TO HUNT AND KILL THESE GIANT SNAKES --

AND WHY YOU COULD EARN BIG BUCKS DOING IT.

AND TAKE A LOOK AT THIS --

YOU HAVE TO HEAR HOW A CHARLOTTE COUNTY DETECTIVE WRESTLED DOWN AN ALLIGATOR AND HELPED PREVENT A PLANE CRASH!

HL1) CAPE DOG SHOOTING-VOTOPS

HL1) CAPE DOG SHOOTING-SOTVO

HL2) MISSING MEN-VOTOPS

HL3) PYTHON HUNT-VOTOPS

HL4) GATOR PIC-SSTOPS

DEV CLIP-CLIP

MISSING MEN TEASE AHEAD-SS VO-OC

DEVELOPING TONIGHT AT SIX.

TWO NEW LEADS. IN TWO DECADE OLD COLD CASES.

COLLIER COUNTY DEPUTIES JUST TOLD ABC7 THAT ONE OF THOSE TIPS WAS A POSSIBLE SIGHTING OF THE MISSING 23-YEAR OLD FELIPE SANTOS.

SANTOS AND 29 YEAR OLD TERRANCE WILLIAMS EACH DISAPPEARED IN 2003.

BOTH WERE LAST SEEN WITH FORMER COLLIER COUNTY DEPUTY. STEVE CALKINS

AFTER A STAR STUDDED NEWS CONFERENCE YESTERDAY AND A NEW 100-THOUSAND DOLLAR REWARD. PEOPLE STARTED CALLING CRIMESTOPPERS.

WE ARE TOLD THAT ONE TIP DOES INVOLVE DEPUTY CALKINS.

THE SHERIFF FIRED HIM IN 2004 FOR NOT COOPERATING WITH THE INVESTIGATION.

AND COMING UP TONIGHT AT SEVEN.

A-B-C SEVEN TALKS TO THE CAPTAIN WORKING THIS CASE FOR MORE INSIGHT ABOUT LAST NIGHT'S TIP AND HOW IT COULD HELP BREAK OPEN THESE CASES.

CAPE DOG SHOOTING-SOTVO-OC

A CAPE CORAL FAMILY IS LASTING OUT TONIGHT --

AT AN OFF-DUTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTY WHO SHOT AND KILLED THEIR PITBULL NAMED SASSY.

0525 "I haven't gotten over crying for her. I miss her love. I'm going to miss her love."

THE CORRECTIONS OFFICER SAYS THE DOG CAME AT HIM AGGRESSIVELY.

SO HE PULLED OUT HIS AGENCY-ISSUED GUN AND SHOT HER.

A-B-C SEVEN'S STEVE CAMPION TALKED TO SASSY'S OWNER.

CAPE DOG SHOOTING-PKG

5957 "she was the most loving sweet dog anyone can imagine. Just because she's a pit doesn't mean you have a right to shoot her."

TWO SHOTS FROM AN OFF DUTY LEE COUNTY DEPUTY'S GUN -- SILENCED THIS PIT BULL NAMED SASSY -- FOREVER.

5604 "it was too late. He shot her twice in the throat and side of the neck."

OWNER CARISSA CORREIA WALKS US THROUGH YESTERDAY AFTERNOON -- WHEN SHE RAN OUT OF HER HOME -- ONLY TO FIND SASSY -- LIFELESS --- JUST TWO HOUSES DOWN ON HER NORTHWEST CAPE CORAL STREET.

5704 "She was laying on her back. She was gone. There was nothing I could do."

CORREIA TELLS US HER NEIGHBOR JUSTIN STROEDECKE STOOD OVER THE DEAD PITBULL -- OFFERING UP NO EXPLANATION TO HER.

THE LOSS HITS HOME -- FOR CORREIA'S ENTIRE FAMILY.

0525 "I haven't gotten over crying for her. I miss her love. I'm going to miss her love."

CORREIA'S MOTHER MAUREEN -- SAYS 7 YEAR OLD "SASSY" WAS GETTING OLD AND DOESN'T BELIEVE SHE'D EVER ATTACK ANYONE.

0720 "they told me there was absolutely nothing they could do about this because Sassy was not on a leash. That's not right."

ACCORDING TO AN ANIMAL CONTROL REPORT -- THE CORRECTIONS OFFICER TOLD POLICE HE WAS WALKING WITH HIS OWN DOG -- WHEN SASSY CHARGED AT HIM -- HE FIRED FOUR SHOTS INTO HER.

1314 "steve: Will he tell us what happened? Any response? No."

A WOMAN AT THE DEPUTY'S HOME -- TOLD US HE WOULDN'T WALK OUTSIDE TO TELL US HIS SIDE OF THE STORY.

SHE SAID OFF CAMERA IF SASSY WAS ON A LEASH -- CORRIE'S ANIMAL WOULD STILL BE ALIVE.

0018 "this might be a little candid. A lot of people feel if he wasn't a corrections office and she wasn't a pit he would have walked away in handcuffs."

CAPE DOG SHOOTING-OC

BECAUSE OF FLORIDA LAW --

THE DEPUTY WON'T FACE ANY CHARGES.

THE LAW SAYS IF HE TRULY FELT THREATENED HE HAD EVERY RIGHT TO FIRE AND KILL THE ANIMAL.

BUT,

SINCE HE USED HIS AGENCY-ISSUED GUN,

LEE CO STOLEN GUNS-VO-SS

BURGLARS BUST INTO A NORTH FORT MYERS HOME--

BUT THEY DIDN'T KNOW THEY WERE BEING WATCHED.

THEIR EVERY MOVE CAUGHT ON THE HOMEOWNERS SURVEILLANCE VIDEO.

THEY GOT AWAY WITH TWENTY GUNS, INCLUDING AK-47'S AND ASSAULT RIFLES.

IT HAPPENED ON GARDENIA CIRCLE EAST.

TONIGHT NEIGHBORS TELL ABC 7 THEY'RE SCARED AND FEAR RETALIATION.

THE VIDEO LED DEPUTIES DIRECTLY TO JOSEPH RIVERA AND MARQUIS KITCHEN.

MARK CLARK UPDATE-VO

A MAN REMAINS IN SERIOUS CONDITION TONIGHT --

AFTER A GROUP OF HEROES PULLED HIM OUT FROM UNDER A CAR EARLIER THIS WEEK.

WEDNESDAY --

MARK CLARK WAS RIDING HIS MOTORCYCLE ALONG ALABAMA ROAD IN LEHIGH ACRS WHEN HE CLIPPED A CAR.

WHEN HE GOT OUT -- ANOTHER CAR HIT HIM AND HE WOUND UP TRAPPED UNDERNEATH THAT CAR.

MORE THAN A DOZEN PEOPLE JUMPED IN TO LIFT THAT CAR OFF OF HIM.

METRO PCS ROBBERY-VO SS

TWO MASKED MEN ROBBED A BANK OFF OF BUSY METRO PARKWAY THIS MORNING.

TONIGHT, OFFICERS ARE STILL SEARCHING FOR THE ROBBERS.

IT HAPPENED HERE AT THE METRO P-C-S BANK.

THE ROBBERS GOT AWAY WITH CASH.

OFFICERS FOUND THEIR GETAWAY VAN AT VILLAGE CREEK APARTMENTS RIGHT NEXT DOOR.

THIS IS A PICTURE FROM INSIDE THE BANK DURING THE ROBBERY.

INVESTIGATORS HOPE SOMEONE WILL RECOGNIZE THE MASKED MEN IN IT.

FMPD UPS AWARD MONEY-VO-WIPE

A DEADLY YEAR IN FORT MYERS.

THE CITY DEALT WITH 24 MURDERS IN 2012.

MANY OF THEM ARE STILL UNSOLVED.

BUT TONIGHT,

FORT MYERS POLICE ARE LAUNCHING A NEW EFFORT TO SOLVE THOSE CRIMES.

THE DEPARMENT'S NOW OFFERING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO HELP SOLVE THESE MURDERS.

THEY PUT THE PLAN TOGETHER THIS WEEK --

AFTER A MURDER IN THE PARKING LOT OF A SCHOOL.

FMPD UPS AWARD MONEY-SOTVO

SOT: Chief Baker, "I think it's the right time for us to say, you know, we're willing to sweeten the pot so to speak to attract individuals to come forward who may not have in the past."

F-M-P-D IS OFFERING 25-THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR INFORMATION THAT LEADS TO THE ARREST AND CONVICTION OF ANYONE INVOLVED IN A MURDER.

CDC NEW FLU REPORT-FDOT AT TC MON

A DEADLY FLU STRAIN IS NOW IN ALL BUT THREE STATES,

AND TONIGHT. A BIT OF RELIEF.

THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL SAYS IT APPEARS THE FLU HAS REACHED ITS PEAK IN SOME OF THE WORST HIT AREAS.

THAT INCLUDES THE SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST FLORIDA.

THE C-D-C STILL SAYS **GET YOUR FLU SHOT**

LOCAL FLU UPDATE-TC MON VO-WIPE

AND TONIGHT AT SIX - WE'RE PUTTING SOUTHWEST FLORIDA UNDER THE MICROSCOPE.

LEE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT WORKERS TELL US WE'RE AT NORMAL FLU LEVELS.

THEY THEY HAVEN'T HEARD OF ANY SHORTAGES OF THE FLU VACCINE.BUT SAY IT COULD HAPPEN.

LOCAL FLU UPDATE-SOTVO

18:44 we have seen volumes almost double since the media has attention on the flu and the cautions patients should be taking.

mike biel - administrator ima

STILL AHEAD TONIGHT AT SEVEN,

WE WILL LOOK AT HOW GERMS ARE SPREAD PERSON TO PERSON,.

THE NUMBER TO REMEMBER, SIX FEET.

RED TIDE BOCA DEAD FISH-SS VO

RED TIDE IS BACK IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA --

AND NOW WE KNOW --

IT'S BLOOMING AT ITS FASTEST RATE THIS SEASON.

TAKE A LOOK AT THIS!

IT'S THE LATEST SATTELITE IMMAGE OF THE BLOOM ABOUT FIVE-TO-TEN MILES OFF SHORE.

THE YELLOW AND GREEN PATCHES IN THE GULF ARE THE BLOOM.

SO YOU CAN SEE THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION SITS OFF GASPARILLA ISLAND.

A-B-C 7 TOOK A BOAT OUT TODAY --

TO GET A CLOSER LOOK AT THE IMPACT THE TIDE IS HAVING ON FISH.

RED TIDE BOCA DEAD FISH-SOTVO

Sot mark liberman, capt. Action charters

" the red tide came into our area in early October and it was mainy across the beaches and in and around the inlet and it could come and go."

RESEARCHERS SAY THE FISH ALONG THE SHORE LIKELY CAME THERE WITH THE WIND.

THEY DO NOT THINK THERE IS A RED TIDE PROBLEM ALONG OUR BEACHES THEMSELVES.

BUT,

MOTORCYCLE SAFETY STUDY-VO-WIPE

TONIGHT - A UNIQUE ANGLE ON MOTORCYCLE SAFETY.

TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.

ABC7 RODE ALONGSIDE A MOTORCYCLISTS WHO'S PART OF A NATIONWIDE STUDY.

YOU CAN SEE HIS BIKE IS OUTFITTED WITH **FIVE** CAMERAS. SENSORS. EVEN A BLACK BOX.

ALL OF THAT RECORDS HIS LOCATION. SPEED AND HOW CLOSE HE GETS TO OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD.

MOTORCYCLE SAFETY STUDY-SOTVO

mike Ginocchi/study participant: it doesn't bother me. most times I don't even think about it. once in a while I look down at the camera that's on my face and I smile to it

THIS IS THE FIRST STUDY OF ITS KIND. IT'LL LAST A YEAR.

RESEARCHERS WILL THEN ANALYZE THE RESULTS.

DANGEROUS VIDEO GAMES-VOWIPE

VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN MET TODAY WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE VIDEO GAME INDUSTRY --

PART OF A SERIES OF MEETINGS THIS WEEK FINDING SOLUTIONS TO GUN VIOLENCE.

REPRESENTATIVES FROM COMPANIES THAT MAKE SHOOTING GAMES SUCH AS "CALL OF DUTY" AND "GRAND THEFT AUTO" WERE THERE.

DANGEROUS VIDEO GAMES-SOTVO

Vice President Joe Biden:14

We know that.there's no silver bullet, there's no -- as one of my friends said, no seat belt that you can put on to assure that you will not be in this circumstance again.

ALSO NEW TODAY -

BIDEN CALLED THURSDAY'S MEETING WITH THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION "PRODUCTIVE"

FGCU INNOVATION HUB-VO-WIPE

WE COULD SOON SEE A NEW REASEARCH AND INOVATION CENTER AND FLORIDA GULF COAST. THAT'S IF THE STATE HELPS WITH FUNDING.

THE INNOVATION HUB WILL FOCUS ON RENEWABLE ENERGY.

RIGHT NOW THE UNIVERSITY HAS FOUR AND HALF MILLION DOLLARS TO START BUILDING IN ON A LOT OFF ALICO ROAD AND AIRPORT HAUL ROAD.

FGCU INNOVATION HUB-SOTVO

This is just another way for students to get involved in the community working or internships and seeing what's being done in the real world.

THE UNIVERSITY WILL FIND OUT THE STATUS OF THE MONEY IN APRIL.

CANADIAN TOURIST INCREASE-VO-WIPE

TO A LOT OF OUR VIEWERS TONIGHT WE ARE SAYING "WELCOME BACK!"

MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE RETURNING TO THEIR WINTER HOMES THIS MONTH.

AND NEW TONIGHT --

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IS ALSO SEEING A 20 PERCENT SPIKE IN AIR TRAVEL FROM CANADA.

THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW ZERO IN SOME PARTS OF CANADA RIGHT NOW.

THE WEATHER'S PART OF THE BOOM.

HERE'S THE OTHER PART -- EASY ACCESS.

R-S-W HAS ADDED AN ADDITIONAL DAILY FLIGHT FROM TORONTO THIS YEAR.

CANADIAN TOURIST INCREASE-SOT CG (1)

mayo hawco/ canada

20:15 the weather is fantastic. We hear it is unseasonably warm here. For us, it's great.

DONNA STOUT/ PRES ELECT CAPE CORAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS

13:58 as the exchange rate changes and the availability to get down here, it's been increasing each year.

EDISON PARADE SPOTS-VO

TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO NOMINATE SOMEONE AS THE HONORARY GRAND MARSHAL FOR THE EDISON FESTIVAL OF LIGHT GRAND PARADE.

THIS IS THE EVENT'S 75TH YEAR.

IT BEGINS ON FEBRUARY 2ND AND RUNS THROUGH FEBRUARY 23RD.

THE NAME OF THE GRAND MARSHAL WILL BE ANNOUNCED JANUARY 28TH.

NOMINATING SOMEONE FOR GRAND MARSHAL IS EASY,

NEXT AT 6 OPEN-CLIP

TEASE ONE---

HUGE PYTHONS EVERYWHERE.

BUT HUNTING THEM DOWN IS NOT THAT EASY.

IN SEVEN HOURS IT'S OPEN SEASON ON PYTHONS.

WHY ONE OF OUR U-S SENATORS IS JOINING IN.

PLUS,

WOULD YOU BE BRAVE ENOUGH TO TAKE ON THIS MONSTER.

HOW IT CAUSED QUITE A SCARE AT A SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AIRPORT.

TZ1 A PYTHON CHALLENGE-VO

TZ1 B 7 FOOT GATOR-SSTOPS

TYLER STORMWARN OPEN-CLIP

WEATHER-PWC

PYTHON CHALLENGE BEGINS-TCMON VO

INDIANA JONES PROBABLY WON'T BE INTERETED --

BUT STARTING TOMORROW MORNING -- IT'S OPEN SEASON ON PYTHONS IN FLORIDA.

PYTHON CHALLENGE BEGINS-PKG

SUPERS:

LT. SCOTT MULLIN/MIAMI DADA VENOM ONE UNIT

SHAWN HELFICK/NATGEOWILD BIOLOGIST

Natsound. Boat from Matt's piece

FLORIDA IS DESPERATE TO GET RID OF THESE SNAKES.

THEY'RE CALLING THIS A

'SNAKE HUNTING MISSION."

NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY.

NO LICENSE NEEDED.

JUST A GUN OR A KNIFE.

Natsound. Snake Byte.

BY SOME ESTIMATES, NEARLY 150-THOUSAND PYTHONS LIVE IN THE EVERGLADES

BUT THE SNAKES ARE ON THE MOVE.

Lieutenant Scott Mullin. Miami-Dade Venom One Unit. "They're starting to

come back into civilization looking for easy food. Our pets and that's

typically what they're feeding on cats, small dogs."

SNAKE WRANGLER SCOTT MULLIN SAYS FAMILIES ARE NOW FINDING THEM IN PARKS,

HIGH GRASS AND EVEN BACKYARD SAND.

HE'S BEEN BUSY MAKING HOUSECALLS.

Lieutenant Scott Mullin. Miami-Dade Venom One Unit. "When people call about

a python it's a totally different sound on the phone that you can hear it in

their voice that they're excited, very nervous.

PYTHONS ARE NATIVE TO SOUTH EAST ASIA -- NOT FLORIDA.

BUT EXPERTS SUNSHINE STATE RESIDENTS WHO

COULDN'T HANDLE THEM AS PETS, SET THEM LOOSE.

Natsound from USGS video.

THIS YEAR, WRANGLER CAPTURED THE LARGEST EVER, MORE THAN 17 AND HALF FEET AND 160

POUNDS.

OWNING ONE IS NOW AGAINST THE LAW.

Natsound from USGS video.

Shawm Helfick NatGeoWILD Biologist. "Participants in this python challenge

have it cut out for them because they're going to have to go out into the

wilds, into the everglades to capture these animals"

PYTHON CHALLENGE BEGINS-OC

THE PERSON TO CATCH THE MOST BURMESE PYTHONS WILL GET 15-HUNDRED DOLLARS.

THE ONE WHO BAGS THE LARGEST GETS A THOUSAND DOLLARS.

HUNTERS ARE HOPING FOR A COLD SNAP.

CHAR CO 7 FT GATOR-SS-SS

ANOTHER LARGE REPTILE CAUSED SOME TROUBLE FOR SECURITY GUARDS AT THE PUNTA GORDA AIRPORT.

THAT'S A SEVEN-FOOT ALLIGATOR RIGHT NEXT TO THE MAIN RUNWAY.

THESE PICTURES WERE SNAPPED IN LATE DECEMBER, BUT RELEASED JUST TODAY.

A COMMERCIAL JET WAS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE AND THE GATOR COULD HAVE CAUSED SOME SERIOUS PROBLEMS.

A CHARLOTTE COUNTY DETECTIVE LURED THE MONSTER AWAY FROM THE RUNWAY --

THEN HE AND A COUPLE OF OTHERS WRESTLED IT.

THE DETECTIVE GOT HIS HANDS AROUND THE GATOR'S MOUTH SO THEY COULD TAPE ITS MOUTH SHUT.

COMING UP NEXT OPEN-CLIP

TEASE TWO-POP

THE FGCU MEN ARE IN UNCHARTERED WATERS. BUT THAT'S A GOOD THING. THE ACC MAKING SOME BIG CHANGES.

TZ2 SPORTS-VO

WORLD NEWS TEASE-BLK-SOT

TONIGHT AT 7 OPEN-CLIP

TONIGHT AT 7 OPEN

We received two tips since yesterdays meetings and everything

It was a possible sighting of Felipe Santos

TWO BIG TIPS CENTERED AROUND THE DISAPPEARANCE OF TWO MEN NEARLY A DECADE AGO.

TONIGHT AT 7,

A-B-C SEVEN TALKS TO THE CAPTAIN WORKING THIS CASE.

It just baffles me how they can force this upon you

PARENTS WHAT DO YOU THINK?

PEDOMETERS FOR YOUR KIDS *REQUIRED BY LAW.

THE WHEELS ARE IN MOTION IN UPSTATE NEW YORK.

TZ 7 1) MISSING MEN-SOTVOTOPS WIPE

TZ 7 2) KID PEDOMETERS?-SOTVO

SPORTS OPEN-CLIP

WARREN SAPP-VOTOPS

HOW ABOUT A LITTLE WARREN SAPP TO KICK THINGS OFF.

THE FORMER MIAMI HURRICANE AND TAMPA BAY BUCS STAR. IS ONE OF 15 FINALIST FOR THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME.

CLEVELAND BROWNS-POPMON

CLEVELAND BROWNS-VOTTOPS

HIS NAME. ROB CHUD ZINSKI. HE WAS CAROLINA'S OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR THE PAST TWO SEASONS.

HE ALSO WAS AN ASSISTANT COACH WITH THE BROWNS ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCATIONS.

CLEVELAND BROWNS-SOTTOPS

ACC CHANGE-VIDBOX

THE ACC IS GOING TO LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT NEXT SEASON WITH THE ADDITION OF 2 MORE TEAMS.

PITTSBURGH WILL JOIN MIAMI IN THE COASTAL DIVISION.

WHILE SYRACUSE JOINS FLORIDA STATE AND THE REST OT THE ATLANTIC DIVISION.

FGCU MEN-POMON

FGCU MEN-SOTTOPS

FLORIDA GATORS-VOTOPS

FLORIDA GATORS ARE IN THE BAYOU SATURDAY LOOKING FOR THEIR SECOND CONFERENCE WIN.

THE GATORS OPENED SEC PLAY IN STYLE ON WEDNESDAY WITH A 33 POINT BEATDOWN OF GEORGIA

FLORIDA GATORS-SOTTOPS

MINNESOTA TWINS-VOTOPS

THE MINNESOTA TWINS ARE A BUSY GROUP THIS WEEK. THEY ARE HOLDING THEIR FANTANSY CAMP.

SPRING TRAINING TICKETS GO ON SALE. STARTING SATURDAY.

AND TODAY SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE TEAM WERE VISITING CANCER PATIENTS IN LEE COUNTY.

MINNESOTA TWINS-SOTTOPS

GOODBYE-4SHOT