A Florida woman plotted to lure her neighbors, whom she claimed to have suspected were pedophiles, into a deadly trap at her residence.
Florida woman sends cops into ambush
However, her plan was thwarted by law enforcement officials, though not before one of the responding officers lost his life.
State attorney Bill Gladson, of Florida’s Fifth Judicial Circuit, emphasized to reporters, “This was nothing short of an ambush, the evidence will show that.”
Julie Sulpizio, 48, faces charges including first-degree murder, attempted murder, and nine additional crimes according to court records. She is currently detained without bail.
On Friday, her husband Michael Sulpizio sustained severe injuries inside their home after Lake County Master Deputy Bradley Link, 28, was fatally shot.
Deputy First Class Stefano Gargano was critically wounded in the incident and Master Deputy Sheriff Harold Howell, was also injured.
During a press conference, Sheriff Peyton Grinnell sad that Link’s body camera seemed to capture the Sulpizios taking their own lives, after he had been killed in a hail of their gunfire.
The deputies arrived at the Sulpizio’s home at 7:45 p.m. on Friday following reports that a Julie Sulpizio, was attacking her neighbors.
The complainant mentioned, “She (Sulpizio) was ‘acting religious,’ accusing them of being sinners, and she said that she knows what they did.”
Neighbors recounted that Michael Sulpizio had previously threatened their children, saying, “The next time I see you, I’m going to shoot you.”
Florida woman attacks neighbors
Upon an officer’s arrival, Julie Sulpizio introduced herself as “Helen under God’s will” and accused her neighbors of pedophilia, according to Grinnell.
When asked to step back, Julie resisted and referred to a Taser the deputy used on her as “God’s light.” She called out, “Michael, Gabriel, Timothy, it’s time now to protect my children,” as she fell to the ground.
One neighbor informed the deputy that she had attempted to lure them over to her house, but they did not trust her intentions.
In a subsequent interview with investigators, Julie admitted her goal was to bring the neighbors to her home so her husband could kill them.
Grinnell said, “She was not successful because of our deputies.”
A search of the Sulpizios’ Eustis home unearthed over 20 high-caliber rifles, shotguns, and pistols strategically placed in the living room.
There was a stockpile of ammunition, body armor, gas masks, ready-to-eat meals, ghillie suits, anti-government propaganda, and conspiracy theory media. The family had no phones or televisions.
Julie told investigators she could “visualize souls” and claimed it was her role to deliver “dark souls” to her husband.
Deputies walk into an fatal trap
The incident turned fatal after Julie’s arrest, when deputies conducted a welfare check at her home.
Grinnell explained, “Somebody at that scene told the deputies they needed to go to the other house, that that’s where there was a problem happening,”
Two dead dogs and a kicked-out window screen were found in the front yard.
A witness described Julie’s behavior, saying, “She was talking about how she was hell and God’s wife, and we were all demons, and our dogs were hell hounds.”
Inside the house, three people were seen running, leading officers to suspect a burglary. After an hour, deputies entered through a laundry room and encountered a man in body armor armed with a rifle.
Michael Sulpizio reportedly fired multiple rounds, hitting Link in the back. Howell was shot in the wrist, forcing the deputies to retreat.
While negotiating for the release of Link’s body, a woman inside was heard saying, “My king will kill all of you. You are Lucifer’s children.”
SWAT and deputies used a ballistic shield to re-enter the home. Gargano was shot through a wall, and other deputies extracted him. Link’s body cam recorded a woman discussing suicide.
Florida family commits suicide
At 11:02 p.m., three gunshots were heard inside the house. When authorities entered, they discovered the bodies of Savannah Sulpizio, 23, and Cheyenne Sulpizio, 22.
Michael Sulpizio was found mortally injured with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He later died int hospital.
Gargano is stable, and Howell is expected to recover fully. Link was airlifted to a hospital and pronounced dead at the facility.
Grinnell praised the deputies as “heroes” for their actions while under fire.
Rochelle Eldridge, a former stepmother to the Sulpizio sisters, mentioned past reports to the Florida Department of Children and Families about their home environment.
Eldridge expressed sorrow over Link’s death, stating, “It shouldn’t have happened. He shouldn’t have had to be there. This was 100% avoidable.
“My heart breaks for his family, and there are absolutely no words that will make it okay,” she added. “I’m sorry for everything.”
Given the serious nature of the charges, the case must be presented to a grand jury within 21 days. Julie Sulpizio’s arraignment is scheduled for September 3.
