Incumbent Sheriff Marcos Lopez will advance to the general election in November after defeating four challengers in the Democratic primary Tuesday in Osceola County.

Former Osceola County Sheriff Russ Gibson, who is running against Lopez in the 2024 election, said that the photograph depicted the body of 13-year-old Madeline Soto, who was found dead Friday afternoon in a wooded area near St. Cloud.

The Instagram account for Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez posted a confidential crime scene photograph on Saturday morning, which the agency later said had been inadvertently shared with the public.

Former Osceola County sheriff Russ Gibson wants his old job back.

Russ Gibson announced Thursday he had filed to run for re-election in the county’s 2024 race for the role.

Alexis Ramos-Rivera was found guilty on four counts Tuesday after killing a Kissimmee woman in a botched murder-for-hire plot in 2018, according to Osceola County Clerk of Courts.

The defense attorneys for a Connecticut physical therapist accused of killing his wife and their three children at their home in central Florida want his initial confession excluded from his trial.

Former Osceola County Sheriff Russ Gibson, who oversaw the Nicole Montalvo investigation, said justice was served in the case, when the verdict was read Wednesday.

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – The Osceola state attorney’s office will not seek the death penalty against the people accused of being involved in an alleged murder-for-hire plot, according to court records obtained by News 6. Two years ago, Prosecutor Christopher Smith filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty against Glorianmarie Quinones Montes, Alexis Ramos-Rivera, and Ishnar Lopez-Ramos. This past May the state attorney’s office said they would not seek the death penalty against Quinones Montes. On Monday, the state attorney’s office would not seek the death penalty against Ramos-Rivera and Ishnar Lopez-Ramos. [RELATED: State attorney won’t seek death penalty for any cases]This past October, State Attorney Aramis Ayala announced she would not seek the death penalty in any case.

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – It was a win on Election night for Democrat Marco López who defeated his no-party-affiliation challenger, Luis “Tony” Fernandez with 67.2% of the vote to become Osceola County’s new sheriff. “It wasn’t easy you know, a lot of people said I was the underdog,” said López, who made history becoming Osceola County’s first Hispanic sheriff elect. “I don’t think anyone wakes up in the morning and say: ‘Hey, I’m gonna make history today’,” López said the morning after Election Night. With a victory under his belt, López replaces Russ Gibson who has served Osceola County as sheriff since January 2017. We’re here for every citizen in Osceola County.”

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. Two Democrats are hoping to take Russ Gibsons spot as the next sheriff of Osceola County, but theyll have to beat the Democratic incumbent in the upcoming primary election to do it. Heres everything you need to know about the Osceola County sheriff candidates:Russ GibsonRuss Gibson. (WKMG)Sheriff Russ Gibson was elected Osceola County sheriff in November 2016 and took office in 2017, and hopes to continue serving the residents of Osceola County for another term. (WKMG)A 39-year resident of Kissimmee and former law enforcement officer himself, Mike Fisher is no stranger to the Osceola County Sheriffs Office. Now, though, it is his hope that the people of Osceola County will choose him to be the agencys next leader.

Osceola County Sheriff Russ Gibson was under quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19 in early August, according to the Osceola County Sheriffs Office. Sheriff Gibson tested positive for the COVID-19 virus at the beginning of this month, according to a statement from the Sheriffs Office. Sheriff Gibson self-quarantined after receiving notification of the positive test. Sheriff Gibson completed his self-quarantine and is doing well.Gibson is the second Central Florida-area sheriff to contract the virus. Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood also completed two weeks of self isolation after he tested positive for the virus and had mild symptoms.

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. Nearly three dozen people were arrested and 16 guns were confiscated during an operation aimed at targeting house parties in Osceola County, according to the Sheriffs Office. The Osceola County Sheriffs Office carried out the busts following numerous reports of COVID-19 parties, mass gatherings that were taking place despite a push for social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic. Deputies said the overall goal of the saturation patrol was to address the house parties that have recently taken place in the region. According to the Sheriffs Office, the parties have resulted in multiple violent incidents over the past several weeks, including shootings and one homicide. Last month, officials with the Sheriffs Office said they had received more than 600 noise complaints since March, with many related to what Sheriff Russ Gibson referred to as COVID-19 parties.

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. The effort to break up large house parties in Osceola County, some of which are being held with the intention of spreading COVID-19, is ongoing with more than a dozen arrests reported this weekend alone. According to the Osceola County Sheriffs Office, deputies worked with homeowner associations to stop eight large parties before they even began between Friday and Saturday. [RELATED: Our residents are afraid: Hundreds gather at Osceola parties to spread COVID-19, sheriff says | Several arrested at Osceola house parties during coronavirus pandemic]A fatal shooting was reported at one of the parties a few months ago and other violent incidents have been reported as well. Osceola County cant be listed as party central or COVID-19 party central and then -- were not going to do that, Gibson said on July 17. Anyone who has information about a large gathering or needs to report a noise complaint can call the Osceola County Sheriffs Office at 407-348-2222 or Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS (8477).

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. Authorities in Osceola County are looking into how they can stop vacation rental homes from being used for large gatherings. "We're gonna work with our county government, the board of county commissioners, and our county manager," Russ Gibson, Sheriff of Osceola County said. The county sheriff said the idea is not to target the owners of those vacation or rental homes. Sheriff Gibson said those house parties are taking place in the west side of Osceola County with up to 300 people not abiding social distancing guidelines. We're gonna send a clear message that you're not gonna be able to do that here in Osceola County.

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. For months now, unsavory people, including gang members, have been hosting massive parties at vacation rental homes with the intent of spreading COVID-19, according to Osceola County Sheriff Russ Gibson. Since mid-March, the sheriffs office has received more than 600 noise complaints, many related to what Gibson referred to as COVID-19 parties. There are some gangs, that are renting these houses, and theyre coming here to Osceola County. Osceola County cant be listed as party central or COVID-19 party central and then were not going to do that, Gibson said. The phone number for the Osceola County Sheriffs Office non-emergency line is 407-348-1100.

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – The Kissimmee Police Department marched alongside hundreds of community members in a demonstration that started at the Civic Center and ended at the Kissimmee Police Department. Kissimmee Police Chief Jeffrey O’Dell said when they found out the community was putting together a march, he reached out and said he wanted to stand side-by-side with the community. “We stand with our community, we are not going to tolerate police brutality or any type of racism in our agency,” Chief O’Dell said. O’Dell said in standing next to people and walking with them, he is able to listen. Adding, “I get to hear what hurts in their heart.”Osceola County Sheriff Russ Gibson, and his deputies also took part in March.

Cloud woman told detectives he saw the victim’s lifeless body in his parent’s garage the night she went missing, according to a video of the interview with Osceola County Sheriff’s Office detectives. Otero-Rivera and his father, Angel Rivera, 63, were arrested in late October in connection with Montalvo’s murder but have not been charged with first-degree murder. In the early days of the investigation, Nicholas Rivera, 28, the son of Angel Rivera, was arrested on unrelated charges in Georgia. In the video, detectives describe a scene in the Otero-Rivera garage, they said Nicholas Rivera told them about in another interview. Angel Rivera and Nicholas Rivera both made statements in jailhouse phone calls and to detectives implicating Christopher Otero-Rivera.

He asked during a news conference that death penalty be sought against whomever was responsible for the 33-year-old woman’s death. [RELATED: ‘Blame and lies:’ State attorney calls out Osceola sheriff amid Nicole Montalvo’s death investigation | Gov. DeSantis removes Nicole Montalvo murder case from State Attorney Ayala amid fallout]“During that meeting it became painfully obvious that the State Attorney was unhappy with my comments regarding the death penalty and she asked me to stop making comments regarding the death penalty. There is no statute of limitations in this case.”Ultimately, DeSantis made the decision to reassign the Montalvo case to neighboring State Attorney Brad King. “Prosecutors all over the state have secured convictions for murder without knowing the manner of death,” Gibson said.

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – At an unveiling of a new domestic violence vehicle, Sheriff Russ Gibson says he is waiting on Florida’s governor to make a decision in how Nicole Montalvo’s murder case will be prosecuted and by who. Ron DeSantis to reassign the case to a new state attorney altogether. "It is safe to say that the dispute between Sheriff Gibson and state attorney Ayala is now public, personal and appears to acrimonious," Moody wrote in a letter last week. Montalvo’s brother earlier this week issued a statement on behalf of the family that they are terrified by how this played out. The family has started a change.org petition to fight to get the law changed to make domestic violence charges a felony.

Osceola Sheriff awaiting governor's decision on Nicole Montalvo casePublished: January 24, 2020, 6:12 pmAt an unveiling of a new domestic violence vehicle within his fleet, Sheriff Russ Gibson says he is waiting on Governor Ron DeSantis to make a decision in the domestic violence case of Nicole Montalvo.

Angel Rivera and his son, Christoper Otero-Rivera, were arrested in October in connection with Nicole Montalvo’s death, but neither has been formally charged with murder. [Watch the state attorney’s full remarks at the top of this story]She said she received a call Thursday from the state office to ask if she needed help prosecuting this case. “My heart goes out to those who have been impacted by Nicole’s death," Ayala said. “From the beginning our goal is to bring justice to Nicole Montalvo, her family and the citizens of Osceola County. ­­My office will continue to work to ensure justice for Nicole Montalvo, her family, and the citizens of Osceola County,” Gibson said.

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – Osceola County deputies said they still believe Nicole Montalvo’s estranged husband and father-in-law are responsible for her October death, but the state hasn’t filed formal murder charges yet. Sheriff Russ Gibson said Thursday that the lack of formal murder charges is disappointing. Angel Rivera (News 6)[PREVIOUS: Attorney for man accused in Osceola mother’s murder says investigators ‘don’t have the evidence’ | Murder suspects’ family member calls Osceola mother’s death inhumane, barbaric]Earlier this week, new charges were filed against Otero Rivera for failing to report a death. The sheriff suggested, at the minimum, the state attorney’s office should put the proposed murder charges before a grand jury. A spokesperson for the state attorney’s office sent the following statement in response to News 6′s request for comment:“The State Attorney’s Office is responsible for the prosecution of criminal matters and is consistently mindful of statutory deadlines triggered upon the arrest of a suspect.

ORLANDO, Fla. – One of the suspect’s in an Osceola County mother’s slaying is still in jail with a $350,000 bail. Attorney Frank Bankowitz says the judge set Rivera’s bond high to purposely keep him in jail because he believes prosecutors and Osceola County Sheriff Russ Gibson rushed to arrest him for his daughter-in-law’s murder. Rivera was first arrested on Oct. 29 on a murder charge in connection with Montalvo’s death. Judge Morgan couldn’t on the murder charge by law and since Judge Wooten has discretion quote-unquote, he set an unreasonable bond," Bankowitz said. Instead, he said the judge set his bail at $350,000.

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. -- A court date has been set in the showdown over whether the estranged husband of a woman found murdered should be allowed to walk out of jail. Investigators arrested Christopher Otero Rivera for the murder of his wife, Nicole Montalvo, in October. A spokeswoman for the Office of the State Attorney said prosecutors do have 21 days to file charges, and if none are filed, prosecutors are afforded a maximum of 180 days. An Osceola County judge has now ordered a hearing to be held on Dec. 3. Rivera's father, Angel, and his mother, Wanda, have both been charged in connection with her murder, as well.

Many school district and county leaders in Central Florida said they're working to have multiple armed guards in the high schools. Below is a county-by-county breakdown of how schools are budgeted for the SRO program. The starting salary for a guardian is $32,000 while the starting salary for a deputy is $36,000. The SRO budget for 2019-2020 not yet finalized but is expected to be about $5 million. The total budget for the SRO program is $8.3 million, which includes training, salaries, purchasing vehicles and more.

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – The Osceola state attorney’s office will not seek the death penalty against the three people accused of being involved in an alleged murder-for-hire plot, according to court records obtained by News 6. Prosecutor Christopher Smith filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty Wednesday against Glorianmarie Quinones Montes, Alexis Ramos-Rivera and Ishnar Lopez-Ramos. "The heinous murder of one of our own citizens will not be tolerated in Osceola County," Gibson said. "All three confirmed that this was a murder-for-hire and that the victim was mistakenly -- again, mistakenly -- targeted and murdered as being the person they thought was the intended victim," Gibson said. He said she moved to Osceola County from Puerto Rico a year ago and lived with her husband, her 14-year-old son and her mother.