Levy County Deputies responded to
the home of a very alert elderly man in Chiefland on October 1, 2016. The
victim reported his home had been burglarized and firearms were missing. The
victim told deputies he saw a green and gray truck pull into his drive and two
people get out and begin working on it. The victim went outside to see if he
could help. The driver identified as Gary Vanwinkle (8-17-80) of Fanning
Springs, engaged him in conversation and made the victim believe he knew him
and his mother. Vanwinkle’s mother did in-fact know the victim, but he had only
met the victim once, when over a year ago when he performed work at the
victim’s home.
Vanwinkle’s girlfriend Samantha
Corbin (7-15-87) of Old Town was with him. As Vanwinkle and the victim spoke,
Corbin asked to use the restroom. The victim showed her where the restroom was
and then went back outside to continue his conversation with Vanwinkle. Corbin
exited the home after approximately 10 minutes then struck up a conversation
with the victim. Vanwinkle then asked to use the restroom to wash his hands.
The victim allowed him to enter the home as Corbin spoke to him outside.
Both Vanwinkle and Corbin left
the home. Immediately upon going back inside, the victim discovered several
guns were missing. LCSO Criminal Investigations Division investigators were
able to identify Vanwinkle and Corbin and obtained arrest warrants. Vanwinkle
and Corbin were located at Vanwinkle’s mother’s home in Fanning Springs
(Gilchrist County) on October 14, 2016 and taken into custody by GCSO deputies.
Both are being held in the Gilchrist County Jail and had a predetermined bond
set on the Levy County crimes at $155,000.00.
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