On June 11^th, 2019, Ronald Strouse, 77, called 911 and told the operator a “lady” was fighting with him. The “lady” turned out to be Strouse’s 77 year old wife of almost 50 years of marriage.  Later in the call, the defendant told the 911 operator he and his wife were physically fighting and he didn’t think she was with us any longer. The day before the murder, the victim confronted the defendant and told him she was leaving him. The next day, while the victim was lying on the couch, the defendant pulled her off and began aggressively battering her, while he sat on top of her and strangled her until she stopped moving. On June 27^th, 2023 Strouse was convicted by a Polk County Jury of 2^nd Degree Murder. He will be sentenced later this year and could receive Life in prison. State Attorney Brian Haas thanks Assistant State Attorney Mikaela Perry and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office for their work on this case.

Assistant State Attorney Mikaela Perry

On November 24, 2021, Michelle English visited multiple bars in Lakeland with her friend Lucretia Bruno, who was heavily drinking. Bruno left the bar and drove to a WAWA convenience store. After showing signs of impairment, the store clerk was given her keys by another customer who had observed Bruno with obvious signs of impairment. Bruno called her friend, Michelle English, who arrived at WAWA and asked the clerk to give her Bruno’s keys. Video surveillance showed English handing Bruno her car keys and Bruno leaving the store. Bruno immediately drove to I-4 and caused a crash that resulted in a fatality. Bruno’s DUI Manslaughter case is still pending. The case was investigated by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Monica Smith and Josie Colon.