The Martin County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a break-in at the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center that occurred earlier this month. Deputies said two brothers and their friends killed a tarpon and stole a snapper. -year-old Giovanni Del Greco and 18-year-old Matteo Dal Vecchio broke in with a 17- and 16-year-old in the center on August 5. People catch tarpon all the time, it’s a hunting fish. They jump off a shell and then gently release the fish. And in this case, they caught the tarpon, tore the hook out with so much force that it’s part of the fish inside and out. And they left him there to die,” Snyder said. Across the country: national coverage from WPBF 25 News All four suspects are suspected of burglary. Both adults have been arrested, while the 17-year-old has been given a search warrant. The fourth teen has not yet been served. Deputies believe this group was fishing somewhere before entering the center. “There is no connection between them and the center. There is no legitimate reason why they did what they did. In reality, it was just sheer meanness,” Snyder said. A spokesperson for the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center sent WPBF 25 News this statement below. “As a nonprofit focused on environmental education, Florida Oceanographic may not allow animals in the Coastal Center housing through a strictly regulated state license for educational purposes. Our Conservation Ambassador’s animals live on site specifically to cultivate a love of nature and the environment. The care and safety of these creatures is a top priority. These weren’t just animals – they were long-term members of our family teaching our community about marine wildlife and how to protect them. The animals that were killed lived with us since they were minors; this was their home. The amount of care, time and effort we have put into parenting is impossible to measure. As an organization That’s why we don’t take adult animals from the wild, and that’s why the Conservation Ambassadors taken from us are irreplaceable and we regret their absence. . In 2015, officials found an injured nurse shark hanged overnight. In 2020, officers investigated a case where a stingray appeared to be injured. Investigators also said a suspect stole a margate fish that year. The sheriff said the center has done everything it needs to in terms of security and surveillance protocols, including the pole and fencing. As for the August incident, Sheriff Snyder said they are unable to confirm an exact motive as to why they did what they did. “It seems to us, although we can’t get into their heads, they had intent to kill that tarpon,” Snyder said. As for the two 18-year-old suspects, their bail is set at $175,000 each. Follow us on social: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a break-in at the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center that occurred earlier this month.
Deputies said two brothers and their friends killed a tarpon and stole a snapper.
“Anyone with half a brain knows you don’t climb a fence to the oceanographic center to go fishing,” said Martin County Sheriff William Snyder.
Surveillance videos show 18-year-old Giovanni Del Greco and 18-year-old Matteo Dal Vecchio breaking into the center on August 5 with a 17- and 16-year-old.
The sheriff said the violation happened around 4 p.m. when the center was closed.
“People catch tarpon all the time, it’s a game fish. They’ll jump off a shell and then gently release the fish. And in this case, they caught the tarpon, tore the hook out with so much force that it joined from the inside of the fish. And they just left it there to die,” Snyder said.
Through the land: National coverage of WPBF 25 News
All four suspects are suspected of burglary. Both adults have been arrested, while the 17-year-old has been given a search warrant. The fourth teen has not yet been served.
Deputies believe this group was fishing somewhere before entering the center.
“There’s no connection between them and the center. There’s no legitimate reason why they did what they did. In reality, it was just sheer meanness,” Snyder said.
A spokesperson for the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center sent WPBF 25 News this statement below.
“As a non-profit organization focused on environmental-based education, Florida Oceanographic is allowed to house animals at the Coastal Center through a strictly regulated state license for educational purposes. Our Conservation Ambassador animals live on the property specifically to promote a love of nature and the environment. The care and safety of these creatures is a top priority. These were not just animals, they were long-term members of our family who taught our community about marine wildlife and how to protect them. The animals that were killed lived with us since they were young; this was their home. The amount of care, time and effort we put into raising them is impossible to measure. As an organization we don’t collect adult animals from the wild, and because of that are the Conservation Ambassadors who are us declined irreplaceable and we regret their absence.”
Deputies said the center has been the victim of similar break-ins in the past.
In 2015, officials found an injured nurse shark hanged overnight.
In 2020, officers investigated a case where a stingray appeared to be injured. Investigators also said a suspect stole a margate fish that year.
The sheriff said the center has done everything it needs to in terms of security and surveillance protocols, including the pole and fencing.
As for the August incident, Sheriff Snyder said they are unable to confirm an exact motive as to why they did what they did.
“It seems to us, although we can’t get into their heads, they had intent to kill that tarpon,” Snyder said.
As for the two 18-year-old suspects, their bail is set at $175,000 each.
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