Child molester arrested, Brightline attacks car, Stuart murdered

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — Here are the stories of the week with the most viewed photos.

Mercedes trapped under semi-trailer in serious turnpike accident, driver killed: FHP

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) – All southbound lanes on the Florida Turnpike are closed after a fatal crash near the Boynton Beach Boulevard exit Tuesday morning.

A video from a CBS12 News viewer shows the scene. A silver 2020 Mercedes Benz C63 Coupe is trapped under a semi-trailer truck. The Palm Beach County Fire Department (PBCFR) said it was an underride accident – when one vehicle goes under another.

According to Florida 511, the accident occurred at approximately 11:23 a.m. past exit 86 on SR 804 and the severity of the accident is listed as major.

Firefighters said the Mercedes was heavily damaged. The driver of the Mercedes was pronounced dead at the scene by PBCFR paramedics, while the driver of the semi-truck was taken to Delray Medical Center for treatment.

You can read the whole story here.

Brightline rams car on railroad tracks in St. Lucie County, causing road closure

FORT PIERCE, Fla. (CBS12) — A car on the railroad tracks caused a road closure in Fort Pierce Friday morning.

The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office (SLCSO) reported that the vehicle came to rest on the tracks and was struck by an oncoming Brightine train. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

The sheriff's office said Torpey Road is currently closed at North Old Dixie Highway while emergency crews investigate and clear the scene. A photo taken at the scene shows the front of the car dented by the impact.

Sheriff Keith Pearson is using this incident as a reminder to remain vigilant when crossing railroad tracks and to heed all warning signs and signals.

You can read the whole story here.

EXCLUSIVE: Indian River County officials arrest man accused of creating child pornography using artificial intelligence

VERO BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) – Indian River County officials arrested a suspected child molester just before 5 p.m. Tuesday afternoon.

A CBS12 news crew exclusively accompanied officers to the Majestic Theater, where they took 38-year-old Phillip Michael McCorkle, a theater employee, into custody.

He is accused of twenty counts of obscenity.

Officers led McCorkle in handcuffs out the front door of the movie theater, which is located just off US-1 in Vero Beach.

“We're standing outside a movie theater. You saw this guy come out in his movie theater gear. You know how many kids go in there every day,” Sheriff Eric Flowers explained. “If he's looking at child pornography, who knows what's going to happen next. So we're just happy to have him off the streets and behind bars.”

Sheriff Flowers says this arrest came after two cyber tips involving McCorkle's alleged use of artificial intelligence to create child pornography and distribute it via the social media platform Kik.

You can read the whole story here.

Man's body dumped near Stuart, shooter cooperating with sheriff's office: MCSO

STUART, Fla. (CBS12) – A homicide investigation is underway after a man was shot and killed near Stuart on Thursday.

The Martin County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) said dispatch received a call before 10 a.m. from a man who said he was with a woman who may have shot a man earlier in the day. The man told dispatch they could speak with investigators at the Home Depot in Jensen Beach, and officers arrived to speak with the two.

Sheriff William Snyder was at the scene on SE Darling Street, south of Willoughby Boulevard, where the man's body was found. Snyder released his initial findings. The scene remains active as officers await the coroner's report, but the sheriff's office ruled the man's death a homicide.

“It appears to us that the cause of death is at least a gunshot wound, perhaps more, we are being very cautious,” said Sheriff Snyder.

You can read the whole story here.

Colorado dentist arrested for child abuse in West Palm Beach

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — A Colorado dentist is under arrest for a shocking child abuse case. Authorities say the dentist flew to West Palm Beach to perform sexual acts with someone he thought was a mother and her daughter, just nine years old.

The details of this case are laid out in a federal criminal complaint. Authorities say when the dentist arrived at Palm Beach International Airport several days ago to meet a woman and her young daughter for sex, he was caught and taken away in handcuffs.

“We live in a very sick world today where there are many people who exploit our children,” said Stuart Kaplan, a criminal defense attorney and former FBI agent.

Kaplan says the allegations against Dr. Jason Atha, a dentist from Boulder, Colorado, are extremely disturbing. Federal investigators say Dr. Atha exchanged messages over a mobile messaging application for months with a woman he believed to be the mother of a young girl, telling her he wanted to have sex with them.

“I mean, there is no more deviant type of behavior,” Kaplan said.

You can read the whole story here.

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