News and Investigations

Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office located the body of a missing Lakeland man Friday morning, October 11, 2024, after he wandered away the night before. 

83-year old Marco Grillo was reportedly in the late-stages of Alzheimer’s disease, and had a heart condition and bad circulation. 

Marco’s wife, Suzanne told detectives that the couple had been sleeping in their van at the front of their Alderman Road neighborhood due to their home being flooded by heavy rain during Hurricane Milton. 

At about 7:31 am, the PCSO Air Unit spotted the victim’s body floating beneath the surface of the flood water behind the couple’s residence. 

“Despite Mr. Grillo being found in his backyard, the area was so flooded that our Aviation Unit had to direct deputies on an airboat to him. Our prayers are with his family.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff

The investigation is ongoing, and an autopsy is pending.