Topline: The man claimed he was in North Carolina with the victim’s grandmother, and that the victim had flown to Jamaica to visit her ill father. Investigators quickly determined the statements were false.
Published: February 12, 2025 8:00 am ET
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Andrew Ridgeway (via Auburndale Police Department)
AUBURNDALE, FL — A Florida man is in custody after police say he brutally murdered his girlfriend and fled to Georgia in her truck.
According to a press release from the Auburndale Police Department, a missing person investigation was initiated on February 6 after 48-year-old Stacy Ann Powell had not logged into her work computer since Tuesday, February 4.
Officers responded to Powell’s residence at 505 Alleria Court in Auburndale and encountered a handyman who had been hired to perform cabinet repairs. The handyman reported, the residents were not home.
While officers were speaking with the handyman, Powell’s boyfriend, 46-year-old Andrew Alan Ridgeway, contacted him by phone to inquire about law enforcement’s presence at the property, according to police.
During a phone conversation with the investigating officer, Ridgeway claimed he was in North Carolina with Powell’s grandmother. He further stated that Powell had taken an Uber to Orlando International Airport on February 5 and flown to Jamaica to visit her ill father.
Investigators quickly determined that Ridgeway’s statements were false. Powell’s father resides in North Carolina, not Jamaica, and Powell’s father had also contacted law enforcement after being unable to reach his daughter for two days.
At approximately 7:12 p.m. on February 6, Auburndale detectives executed a search warrant at the residence on 505 Alleria Court. Inside, they discovered evidence indicating that Powell had been brutally attacked and murdered.
She was positively identified a day later.
On February 7, at approximately 10:45 a.m., Ridgeway was apprehended in Augusta, Georgia, while driving Powell’s Dodge Ram pickup truck. He is currently facing charges in Florida for providing false information to law enforcement and homicide.
He remains in custody in Georgia as of February 10.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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FALSE ALIBIS AND BLOODSHED: Florida Man’s Lies Exposed in Girlfriend’s Murder Investigation
The man claimed he was in North Carolina with the victim’s grandmother, and that the victim had flown to Jamaica to visit her ill father. Investigators quickly determined the statements were false.
By Jacob Charles
Published: February 12, 2025 8:00 am ET
Andrew Ridgeway (via Auburndale Police Department)
AUBURNDALE, FL — A Florida man is in custody after police say he brutally murdered his girlfriend and fled to Georgia in her truck.
According to a press release from the Auburndale Police Department, a missing person investigation was initiated on February 6 after 48-year-old Stacy Ann Powell had not logged into her work computer since Tuesday, February 4.
Officers responded to Powell’s residence at 505 Alleria Court in Auburndale and encountered a handyman who had been hired to perform cabinet repairs. The handyman reported, the residents were not home.
While officers were speaking with the handyman, Powell’s boyfriend, 46-year-old Andrew Alan Ridgeway, contacted him by phone to inquire about law enforcement’s presence at the property, according to police.
During a phone conversation with the investigating officer, Ridgeway claimed he was in North Carolina with Powell’s grandmother. He further stated that Powell had taken an Uber to Orlando International Airport on February 5 and flown to Jamaica to visit her ill father.
Investigators quickly determined that Ridgeway’s statements were false. Powell’s father resides in North Carolina, not Jamaica, and Powell’s father had also contacted law enforcement after being unable to reach his daughter for two days.
At approximately 7:12 p.m. on February 6, Auburndale detectives executed a search warrant at the residence on 505 Alleria Court. Inside, they discovered evidence indicating that Powell had been brutally attacked and murdered.
She was positively identified a day later.
On February 7, at approximately 10:45 a.m., Ridgeway was apprehended in Augusta, Georgia, while driving Powell’s Dodge Ram pickup truck. He is currently facing charges in Florida for providing false information to law enforcement and homicide.
He remains in custody in Georgia as of February 10.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
FALSE ALIBIS AND BLOODSHED: Florida Man’s Lies Exposed in Girlfriend’s Murder Investigation
The man claimed he was in North Carolina with the victim’s grandmother, and that the victim had flown to Jamaica to visit her ill father. Investigators quickly determined the statements were false.
By Jacob Charles
Published: February 12, 2025 8:00 am ET
Andrew Ridgeway (via Auburndale Police Department)
AUBURNDALE, FL — A Florida man is in custody after police say he brutally murdered his girlfriend and fled to Georgia in her truck.
According to a press release from the Auburndale Police Department, a missing person investigation was initiated on February 6 after 48-year-old Stacy Ann Powell had not logged into her work computer since Tuesday, February 4.
Officers responded to Powell’s residence at 505 Alleria Court in Auburndale and encountered a handyman who had been hired to perform cabinet repairs. The handyman reported, the residents were not home.
While officers were speaking with the handyman, Powell’s boyfriend, 46-year-old Andrew Alan Ridgeway, contacted him by phone to inquire about law enforcement’s presence at the property, according to police.
During a phone conversation with the investigating officer, Ridgeway claimed he was in North Carolina with Powell’s grandmother. He further stated that Powell had taken an Uber to Orlando International Airport on February 5 and flown to Jamaica to visit her ill father.
Investigators quickly determined that Ridgeway’s statements were false. Powell’s father resides in North Carolina, not Jamaica, and Powell’s father had also contacted law enforcement after being unable to reach his daughter for two days.
At approximately 7:12 p.m. on February 6, Auburndale detectives executed a search warrant at the residence on 505 Alleria Court. Inside, they discovered evidence indicating that Powell had been brutally attacked and murdered.
She was positively identified a day later.
On February 7, at approximately 10:45 a.m., Ridgeway was apprehended in Augusta, Georgia, while driving Powell’s Dodge Ram pickup truck. He is currently facing charges in Florida for providing false information to law enforcement and homicide.
He remains in custody in Georgia as of February 10.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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