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1992 Sermons, Melissa Jo May 3,1992; Lakeland 26 YO
Topic Started: Nov 24 2006, 12:23 PM (1,117 Views)
PorchlightUSA
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http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/s/sermons_melissa.html

Melissa Jo Sermons


Above: Sermons, circa 1992


Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance

Missing Since: May 3, 1992 from Lakeland, Florida
Classification: Endangered Missing
Date Of Birth: August 13, 1965
Age: 26 years old
Height and Weight: 5'10, 175 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: Caucasian female. Strawberry-blonde hair, green eyes. Sermons's middle name may be spelled "Joe."


Details of Disappearance

Sermons was last seen in Lakeland, Florida on May 3, 1992. She attended a rodeo during the evening hours with Elwin Lawrence "Larry" Costine Jr. in Dade City, Florida. A photo of Costine is posted below this case summary. Authorities determined that Sermons never returned to her own Lakeland residence after the date. She has never been seen again.
Sermons and Costine's families both filed missing persons' reports with law enforcement when they failed to locate their loved ones by the following day. Costine was discovered deceased inside of his trailer home in the 12600 block of Moore Road in Lakeland on May 5, 1992, two days after he and Sermons were last seen. He was a victim of homicide; he had been shot to death. There was no trace of Sermons inside Costine's residence. Foul play is suspected in her case. Costine's murder remains unsolved as well.



Above: Costine, circa 1992


Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Polk County Sheriff's Office
863-534-7222
OR
863-533-0344



Source Information
Polk County Sheriff's Office
The Tampa Tribune
Florida Department Of Law Enforcement



Updated 1 time since October 12, 2004.

Last updated January 24, 2006; details of disappearance updated.

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PorchlightUSA
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http://z10.invisionfree.com/usedtobedoe/in...?showtopic=9415
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ELL
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http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/OSI/unsolved/c...tineSermons.htm

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NormaDePlume
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Melissa Jo Sermons was killed by Joseph Cleveland Cerezo and his brother Danny. Danny was jealous of Melissa's relationship with Larry Costine. The two brothers ran into Larry and Melissa at a rodeo that night. Later, after drinking at a bar in downtown Lakeland, Florida, near the Lakeland Civic Center, the two brothers decided to pay Larry and Melissa a visit. They found the two in bed together. While Joe held a gun on the couple, Danny grabbed Larry's gun from the bedside table and fired it at Larry, killing him. They took Melissa as they fled the scene. Witnesses saw them both at the bar, and leaving the scene that night. I am not sure how long Melissa lived but was told her death was "not nice". Melissa's body is buried in the Green Swamp of Central Florida.

Joe Cerezo shared the details of this crime with another inmate while he was incarcerrated at Cross City Correctional Facility in Northern Florida in June of 2007. This other inmate told me, and I passed information along to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement as well as the Polk County Sheriff's Department. The Polk County State Attorney's office refused to bring charges against the two, saying they needed more evidence.

Joe Cerezo died shortly before Thanksgiving in 2008 after only 9 months out of prison. Danny Cerezo is married and lives freely on the old family homestead in DeLand, Florida.

Melissa's body still lies in a cold unmarked grave somewhere in the Florida swampland.

Neither Cerezo brother was ever charged in the crime and due to the fallacies of the Polk County Flordia State Attorney's office and the Polk County Sherriff's Department, this crime will forever remain "unsolved".

Norma DePlume

A Murder In Polk County
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Polk County Sheriff's Office
Detective Larry Roberts
Homicide Unit
863-534-6379
E-Mail

Agency Case Number: 9251864

NCIC Number: M-563323141

Marks, Scars: A scar on her nose and pierced ears.
Clothing: A black shirt, turquoise pants, gray boots.
Jewelry: A horseshoe ring with diamonds.
AKA: Jo; Pauline Crouse
DNA: Available
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