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Colin Jeffery

Colin Jeffery

SEFFNER, Fla. (AP) -- Crews with heavy equipment on Sunday began the demolition of a Florida home over a huge sinkhole where a man is presumed dead after being swallowed by the earth three days ago.

The search for Jeff Bush, 37, was called off Saturday, and a heavy machine with a large bucket scoop was moved into position Sunday on what was believed to be solid ground. The 20-foot-wide opening of the sinkhole was almost covered by the house, and rescuers said there were no signs of life since the hole opened Thursday night.

Jeremy Bush, the man who tried to save his brother, was escorted with a woman by a deputy to the front of the house early Sunday before equipment moved into position. He repositioned some flowers from a makeshift memorial to a safer location, where Bush and the unidentified women knelt in prayer.

People gathered on lawn chairs, bundled up with blankets against unusually chilly weather. Several dozen milled about within view, including officials and reporters.

Hillsborough County Administrator Mike Merrill said officials had talked to Bush family Sunday. Crews would try their best to move the structure forward, toward the street, so the family can get some belongings, Merrill said.

"We don't know, in fact, whether it will collapse or whether it will hold up," he said.

He said crews' goal for Sunday is to knock down the house, and on Monday they will clear the debris as much as possible to allow officials and engineers to see the sinkhole in the open.

Bush was in his bedroom Thursday night in Seffner - a suburb of 8,000 people 15 miles east of downtown Tampa - when the ground opened and took him and everything else in his room. Five others in the house escape unharmed as the earth crumbled.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office is conducting the investigation. Detective Larry McKinnon said that sheriff's office and the county medical examiner cannot declare Bush dead if his body is still missing. Under Florida law, Bush's family must petition a court to declare him deceased.

"Based on the circumstances, he's presumed dead, however the official death certificate can only be issued by a judge and the family has to petition the court," McKinnon said.

Prosecutors to seek death penalty in Mo. slaying

Sunday, 03 March 2013 09:06 Published in Local News
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) -- Greene County prosecutors will seek the death penalty against a southwest Missouri teenager charged with killing another teenager.

Gabriel Roche, 18, of Republic, is charged with first degree murder and armed criminal action in the 2011 stabbing death of 17-year-old Weston North, also of Republic. A probable cause statement says North was stabbed and then begged for his life before Roche slit his throat.

The Springfield News-Leader reports (http://sgfnow.co/15pPxQ8 ) that prosecutors have filed their intention to seek the penalty against Roche. Prosecutors say Roche killed North because North was a witness in a felony offense.

Prosecutor Dan Patterson on Friday declined to say what that offense was but earlier court documents say Roche believed North was a "snitch."

Villopoto wins AMA Supercross race at St. Louis

Sunday, 03 March 2013 09:04 Published in Local News
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Ryan Villopoto took over the lead about midway through the 20-lap race and got his fourth career 450SX Class voictory in the AMA Supercross race Saturday night in front of 60,178 fans at the Edward Jones Dome.

The Kawasaki rider moved 12 points behind series leader Davi Milsaps. Suzuki's James Stewart, who won last week's event in Atlanta, finished second, followed by TwoTwo Motorsports rider Chad Reed in a race that had to be restarted after a red flag on the third lap.

"It was a crazy night out there," said Villopoto, who was fourth during the first lap. "I made a costly mistake on the first start, so I knew my work was cut out for me. I was able to make things happen on the second start and get out in front after some wild racing. It's coming down to crunch time and we were all able to make it happen tonight."

Honda's Wil Hahn won the Eastern Regional 250SX Class for the second straight week to move into the series points lead. Kawasaki's Dean Wilson finished second and fell one point behind Hahn, and Rockstar Energy Racing's Blake Wharton was third.

"That wasn't an easy race," said Hahn. "It was a tight race tonight with Blake (Wharton) pressuring me early and Dean came on strong late in the race. Tonight was awesome, and my family was here tonight to enjoy this with me."

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