Edition #1 3-min read Sunrise 7:21 AM in Sarasota
Overnight Roundup
While You Were Sleeping: Monday, Sept. 28
Your Monday morning catch-up on the Suncoast: a fatal motorcycle crash in downtown Sarasota, a $65K theft case, an update in a Bradenton double homicide, fresh sand at Coquina Beach and a new cancer center coming to Venice.
Good morning, Suncoast! Grab your coffee and settle in. The wee hours were pretty quiet around Sarasota and Manatee, so this roundup pulls together the most important local stories from roughly the past 36 hours, from Saturday evening through Monday morning.
Public Safety
1. Venice man dies after motorcycle crash in downtown Sarasota
A 51-year-old Venice man died after a crash involving two motorcycles and a vehicle around 2:30 p.m. Sunday near Gulfstream Avenue and Bayfront Drive, according to Sarasota police. Investigators say he struck a vehicle he was trying to pass, then hit a pole, and his motorcycle caused a second rider to crash; that rider was not hurt. He was taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital, where he died. Police are asking witnesses to contact Traffic Homicide Investigator Jason Frank at 941-263-6870.
Why it matters: Police are still looking for anyone who saw the crash. All lanes around Gulfstream Avenue and Bayfront Drive have since reopened.
Source: WWSB / MySuncoast Copy link
Courts & Crime
2. Palmetto woman charged with stealing nearly $65K from jailed acquaintance
Sarasota police arrested Jessica Elizabeth McVay, 48, of Palmetto on Sept. 23 on five felony charges, including grand theft. Police allege she used the bank accounts and credit cards of a woman held in the Manatee County Jail for personal expenses between November 2025 and July 2026, with an estimated loss of $64,923.85. According to the affidavit, McVay knew the victim through her work as a Veterans Affairs coordinator for the 12th Judicial Circuit Public Defender's Office. Through her attorney, she declined to give police a statement.
Why it matters: Police say the victim told investigators McVay was helping handle her affairs while she was in jail, and did not have permission to use her money for personal expenses.
Source: WWSB / MySuncoast Copy link
Public Safety
3. Possible suspect identified in Bradenton double homicide
Bradenton police say a man already in custody on unrelated charges may be connected to the Sept. 22 shooting in the 400 block of 12th Avenue East. Antonio Rosario, 30, died at the scene and Willie Stubbs, 43, died on the way to the hospital. No charges have been filed in the homicides and the suspect has not been named. Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or 941-932-9300.
Why it matters: The investigation is ongoing, and police are still asking the public for information.
Source: WWSB / MySuncoast Copy link
Beach Report Beaches
4. Coquina Beach renourishment almost wrapped up
Good news for beach lovers: the $2 million project to repair Hurricane Idalia damage at Coquina Beach is nearly done. Dredging and sand pumping finished last week, and crews expect to finish pipeline removal and beach tilling this week. The project restores nearly a mile of beach with 63,450 cubic yards of sand. Localized closures will move with the work, but the rest of the beach stays open.
Why it matters: FEMA is covering 75% of the cost, with the rest split evenly between the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Manatee County.
Source: WWSB / MySuncoast Copy link
Health
5. Sarasota Memorial moving ahead with a Venice cancer center
Sarasota Memorial Health Care System is moving forward with a new outpatient cancer center in Venice, bringing care closer to patients in south Sarasota County. It will be in a new outpatient building on Curry Lane, next to the Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Venice campus, and will also offer other services, including endoscopy. The project expands SMH's Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute, just months after the Milman-Kover Cancer Pavilion opened on the main Sarasota campus.
Why it matters: It expands access to advanced cancer care for patients throughout south Sarasota County and surrounding communities.
That's the news, friends. Be kind out there, and we'll see you tomorrow morning!