NSBNEWS.net: Volusia County / State

DELTONA -- A 45-year-old man died in a single vehicle crash with a utility pole Saturday night in Deltona, the Volusia County Sheriff's Office reported.

Kristopher Jones of Deltona was killed when his Toyota four-door crashed into a pole at 10 p.m. at the intersection of Elkcam Boulevard and East Barlington Drive.

Sheriff's deputies arriving on scene found the vehicle still running and in gear wedged against the utility pole.

Jones was found dead in the driver's seat. There were no passengers.

DELAND -- The Friends of the Library will have a book sale in the DeLand Area Public Library auditorium from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9; and 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10.

Customers may preview the books and purchase them for a slightly higher price from 5:30 - 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8.

The sale will include hardcover books, paperbacks and a large collection of cookbooks and gardening books.

DELAND -- The Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, D.C., recently sent a summary of benefits to all veterans across the country, including the estimated 70,000-plus veterans who live in Volusia County, said Pat Kuehn, Volusia County spokeswoman.

According to Mike White, director of Veterans Services for Volusia County, the letter is for personal information purposes only, similar to the annual letter sent out from the Social Security Administration.

DELAND --The Children and Families Advisory Board will meet at 9 a.m. Friday, Jan. 16, in the Volusia County Council Chambers of the Thomas C. Kelly Administration Center, 123 W. Indiana Ave., DeLand, said Pat Kuehn, Volusia County spokeswoman.

Members will discuss information to be presented to the County Council in a future workshop.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Total passenger traffic at Daytona Beach International Airport (DBIA) decreased 34 percent in November 2008 compared with he same month a year earlier, said Vickie Pleus, a Volusia County spokeswoman.

During November, 29,300 passengers arrived and departed through DBIA, compared with 44,622 in November 2007. For the 12-month period ending Nov. 30, 608,912 passengers traveled through the county-operated airport, compared with 704,786 recorded during the prior 12-month period and representing a 14-percent decrease.

DEBARY -- The search for an accused murderer in the gunshot-slaying of a DeBary woman on Christmas Eve ended tonight with the discovery of the suspect's body in a wooded area of St. Johns County, Volusia County Sheriff's spokesman Gary Davidson said.

Robert Deo was found dead of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound. Investigators believe the .38-caliber revolver found beside Deo's body
was the same weapon he used to shoot his live-in girlfriend, Christina Barber.

DELEON SPRINGS -- A fire at 1 this morning at the Strawn Property was the work of an arsonist, Volusia Counbty spojkeswomn Vicki Pleus said tonight.

Volusia County Fire Services responded to 911 calls for the blaze fire at 5175 N. Hwy 17.

Crews arrived to find the single-story, wooden structure fully engulfed in flames. Volusia County Fire Services Battalion Commander John Moak reported 16 crew members launched a defensive attack from the outside upon arrival. On scene were three engines, one squad, two battalions, and three tankers from Volusia County Fire Services.

DEBARY -- With all signs pointing to the victim's boyfriend as the killer, Volusia County Sheriff's investigators have obtained a warrant charging 50-year-old Robert Deo with 1st-degree murder, Sheriff's spokesman Gary Davidson said tonight.

The Sheriff's Office's Major Case Unit has been investigating the homicide since Wednesday's discovery of Christina Barber's body inside her DeBary home. But so far,
investigators have been unable to locate Deo.

DELTONA -- A former youth pastor and missionary from Deltona is facing federal charges after Volusia County Sheriff's investigators found thousands of images of child pornography on the man's computer. Investigators wrapped up an eight-month investigation last week with the indictment of Joel Price on two counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography, Sheriff's spokesman Gary Davidson said this afternoon.

The Volusia County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate Christmas Eve's homicide of a 36-year-old DeBary woman, Sheriff's spokesman Gary Davidson said.

Christina Barber was found dead Wednesday afternoon inside her home on Parkview Heights Boulevard. The Volusia County Medical Examiner's Office conducted an autopsy this morning, which confirmed that Barber's death was the result of a homicide. The cause of death is not being released at this time for investigative reasons.