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On Thursday, February 6th, 2025, the Auburndale Police Department (APD) initiated a missing person investigation. Stacy Ann Powell (DOB: 04\/26\/1976), the missing person, had not logged into her work computer since Tuesday, February 4th. Officers responded to Stacy\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While officers were speaking with the handyman, Stacy’s boyfriend, Andrew Alan Ridgeway (DOB: 12\/21\/1978), contacted him by phone to inquire about law enforcement\u2019s presence at the property. During a phone conversation with the investigating officer, Andrew claimed he was in North Carolina with Stacy\u2019s grandmother. He further stated that Stacy had taken an Uber to Orlando International Airport on February 5th and flown to Jamaica to visit her ill father. However, investigators quickly determined that Andrew\u2019s statements were false. Stacy\u2019s father resides in North Carolina, not Jamaica, and Stacy\u2019s father had also contacted law enforcement after being unable to reach his daughter for two days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At approximately 7:12 PM on February 6th, Auburndale detectives executed a search warrant at the residence on 505 Alleria Court. Inside, they discovered evidence indicating that Stacy had been brutally attacked and murdered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thanks to the collaborative efforts of APD detectives and the Polk Sheriff\u2019s Office (PCSO) Crime Scene Technicians, who worked tirelessly until early this morning, the PCSO Identification Section, made a positive identification of Stacy Powell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This morning, February 7th, at approximately 10:45 AM, Andrew was apprehended in Augusta, Georgia, while driving Stacy\u2019s Dodge Ram pickup truck. He is currently facing charges in Florida for providing false information to law enforcement and homicide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We extend our deepest gratitude to Sheriff Grady Judd and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office for their invaluable assistance in processing the crime scene and supporting this investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our thoughts and prayers remain with Stacy\u2019s family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time as they begin to heal and navigate through this painful journey of losing a loved one in such an unnecessary and horrific manner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the Auburndale Police Department at 863-965-5555.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Arrest Update:Andrew Alan Ridgeway remains in custody in Georgia awaiting extradition. If you have any details that may be pertinent to this case, please contact Detective DiGennaro at 863-528-7946 or by email at Sdigennaro@auburndalefl.com. All tips will remain confidential. \u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014 Original post: On Thursday, February 6th, 2025, the Auburndale Police Department (APD) initiated a missing […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":75617,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[36,56],"tags":[222,37,223,159,120,16,491,17],"class_list":["post-75618","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-auburndale","category-crime","tag-apd","tag-auburndale","tag-auburndale-police-department","tag-crime","tag-murder","tag-pcso","tag-police","tag-polk-county-sheriffs-office"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winterhavendaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/img_2929-2-1.jpg?fit=770%2C440&ssl=1","aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winterhavendaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/img_2929-1.jpg?resize=696%2C398&ssl=1\")
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