Tampa Police located the body of a woman believed to be Sylvia Pagan on Wednesday in the Wimauma area with the help of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
TPD started searching for the 34-year-old woman on Sunday morning near the 10400 block of Altman Street.
Then, around 11:30 p.m. Sunday, the Suwanee County Sheriff's Office was contacted by a detective from a Florida Police Department about a kidnapped child, later determined to be Pagan's nine-year-old daughter. The detective said the girl was taken by Pagan's boyfriend, prompting the Amber Alert.
Deputies then arrived at a motel at the intersection of CR 136 and I-75, where they confirmed that the suspect, Jovanni Caceres Steffani, 38, and the child had checked in. After entering the room, deputies said they found Steffani and the child.
According to the sheriff's office, deputies were able to rescue the girl and move her to safety, but Steffani refused to surrender and "began threatening to shoot himself."
Deputies said they attempted to reason with Steffani for over an hour. Tampa Police said Steffani then produced a handgun and shot himself in the head. He was given emergency aid but died from his injuries.
Officials said that Steffani was the only person of interest in Pagan's disappearance. There were no other subjects believed to be involved, according to police.
When debris from a tractor struck their vehicle on I-75, Denise and Mike Brennan were told by a state contractor that "they will take care of it." Now, more than six months later, the Brennans are still $7000 out-of-pocket for repairs and rentals.
Driver wants FDOT to pay for damage caused to car by flying debris on I-75
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