Bassist’s Life Cut Short by a Robber’s Bullet
An Orlando musician is murdered when a bystander intervenes in an attempted robbery. The case is unsolved. Ralph Ameduri wasn't even supposed to be in Winter Haven that day.
Death of a Musician
This is a two-day, narrative non-fiction story about the unsolved murder of a musician shot when a bystander intervened in an attempted robbery credited by some for leading to an arrest and conviction. Awarded First Place, Feature & Arts Writing, Division C, from the Florida Society of News Editors.
This is the online component of the print package.
Police still seek clues in man’s death
A family grieves the death of their son, brother. A robber's gun has fired. Ralph Ameduri is struck in the head. This is the end of his story.
Winter Haven police seek clues in three other crimes
An 18-year-old boy who was chased down and shot in the early morning hours of Easter Sunday 2007.
A 38-year-old woman who was killed by a bullet fired through her apartment window May 18, 2010.
A 22-year-old Haitian woman who disappeared from her apartment without a trace in 2011.
A 38-year-old woman who was killed by a bullet fired through her apartment window May 18, 2010.
A 22-year-old Haitian woman who disappeared from her apartment without a trace in 2011.
Follow-Up Stories
The local bar Ameduri was playing at struggled to recover from his death's impact. Police arrest a man who was 17-years-old on the day of the killing. He's being charged as an adult.
Jessie's Lounge revitalizing music scene
Thomas Wynn and the Believers play at Jessie's Lounge for the first time since fill-in bassist Ralph Ameduri was shot and killed during an attempted robbery there. The bar, the band, is beginning to recover from the death.
18-year-old suspect indicted, charged as an adult
Eleven months and six days after Orlando musician Ralph Ameduri Jr. was shot and killed in a botched robbery behind Jessie's Lounge in Winter Haven, police said Thursday it was a 17-year-old boy who pulled the trigger.
Teen Accused in Orlando Musician’s Death Pleaded for God’s Forgiveness
The case against Sam Sweet Jr. is revealed in court documents. Police records detail the story of a high school boy now accused of the crime. The State Attorney's Office is charging him as an adult.
Sam Sweet Sentenced to Life for 2011 Murder of Musician in Winter Haven
Sam Sweet Jr. is sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Ralph Ameduri. Circuit Judge Donald Jacobsen doles out the sentence despite the mitigating circumstances in the discharge of a gun. The sentence doesn't absolve family, other victims from their fate.