northwestern university in chicago is now asking about this case. >> the family was killed on christmas eve back in 1975. we are at the scene now and talking about some of the evidence. >> reporter: george, you can still see the bullet hole in the front window. there was a bloodbath here. including the man -- who the state says shot himself -- to look like a victim and throw off the police. >> 70-year-old convicted murderer tom echo zigler has been on death row, for 40 years -- for two death sentences and the gruesome christmas eve or murders of his wife, her parents and a customer at the furniture store in winter garden. he told channel 920 years ago

>> i think he is the most logical one. i think there is somebody behind him. >> over the years, there have been many questions. many people going to that for him. now the justice project at northwestern university led by professor klein, says they are in search of the truth. today, we asked him, why now? >> the jury recommended that he get life. in that case, the judge overruled the recommendation and gave him the death penalty. so his case is very relevant given the date and the reconsideration of the death penalty in florida. >> he says there are nagging questions. for one, he has heard he would've had to have shot himself with his nondominant hand -- judging by the angle of the bullet wound and possibly pulled the trigger with his thumb. he wants to track down the eyewitness who reportedly changed his story.

dna testing done -- bill passed tests have proved nothing. the northwestern group has helped free prisoners. we asked the governor's office today why no death warrant has been signed in 40 years. we still have not gotten an answer. reporting live in winter garden, channel 9, eyewitness news. nine investigates first exposed to this cat -- the staggering number of children forced to go without dental checkups. >> now we discover the problem may soon get worse. we're live here in the studio. florida is near the bottom. it seems hard to imagine the situation could deteriorate even further. >> right now, two, out of every three kids in florida on medicaid, do not see a dentist. part of the problem is money. part of the problem is that there are too few dentists of that take medicaid. now the legislature has a plan that they say will only get worse. >> this 11-year-old is in for a checkup today. he will get a -- a clean bill of health and appointed to come back in six months.

on medicaid. they drive all the way to stanford for care. >> this is their mother. she admits if it were not for the medicaid program, those six- month checkups may not happen. >> it would be devastating. i would have to do what i have to do. >> for parents like her, devastating now has a date. july 1, 2017. a bill passed in the legislature would remove dental services from medicaid. >> we cannot treat our youth like that. >> one doctor runs the sanford dental office. a navy veteran. he lives on his retirement, working here for free. it is the only way the lights stay on. >> if i to pay, somebody here will lose a job. >> right now, the medicaid bill needs the governor's signature. it requires the state to study the program. giving the legislature until drop -- july of next year to

if not, the service it would end and these kids would go without. >> why push these changes? the answer of course is money. lobbyists for insurance companies have been pushing for an overhaul of the system. this year, one provider hired 20 lobbyists -- including one that would go to governor rick scott. in volusia county tonight, an investigation into the police chief after comments about gays and even the holocaust. we're following this one. stepping down in the midst of this whole thing. >> stepping down in the middle of february from the halifax area advertising authority. this group is in charge of spending millions of tourism dollars on promoting the daytona beach area. so his job is extremely important to taxpayers. the county attorney started investigating last november when he found out about offensive comments that were made to employees about things like gender, race, and sexual

in one case, he suggested an employee go to an lgbt convention in fort lauderdale because he looked like "the greatest guy here" at a blues festival, he joked with another employee about the holocaust of saying it was "a good thing and supposed to happen". these are just a few from a very long list of things in the report that we have here. he was quoted in a local newspaper thing that most of these comments were taken out of context. some of them just simply were not true. and he has worked for the advertising company since 2014. he stepped down and there is no word on a replacement. reporting live in daytona beach, eyewitness news. breaking up, a vehicle has crashed into a house in osceola county. we're live. we have a picture over the scene here. troopers say a car hit an suv and then pushed it into a home. this is the view from the sky. we also have these pictures and

one person was taken to osceola regional. troopers have not said if anyone inside the house was hurt. and other big day in the race for the white house. voters in four states are voting in primaries and caucuses. >> despite republican efforts to stop donald trump, polls show him leading in all four states. his support has been unchanged for months. will support for ted cruz, marco rubio and john kasich has grown. >> they are spending tens of millions of dollars on fighting my establishment. they would rather not see me up >> on the democratic side, there are two races today in donald trump is a clear republican front runner. but it is reported that none of his victories at the polls matter if he does not earn nomination. >> a record number of republicans are turning out to vote in primaries and caucuses this year. for the first time since the

any of those votes will count on deciding the nominee. >> prior to 1972, the delegates -- people did not necessarily win states the way they do now. you are basically competing for delegates. and it would all go down at the convention. >> the issue is here. 1237 delegates are needed for the nomination. if no candidate gets to 1237, after the first round of the convention, party insiders will be open to vote for whomever they choose -- opening the door for anyone to enter the fray. >> if you get the majority of the delegates, you become the nominee. if you don't, the delegates decide. >> despite the talk of a contestant convention, one man thinks it will not be as dramatic as some anticipated. >> i would look at the likelihood of 85% or 90% -- that is what we have seen the last 40 years. >> and while a lot of people are playing the game of, what if, he reminds us that we early on in the process. and there are still a lot of states left to go. >> if someone ran the table right now -- any of the

until the 1st of may to become the nominee. >> the convention begins july 18 in cleveland, ohio. in washington, channel 9, eyewitness news. >> a democratic president -- the democratic presidential hopefuls will take to the stage tomorrow night in florida for the latest presidential debate. it is being held in miami tomorrow night at 9:00. we will have complete coverage of the event tomorrow night on eyewitness news at 10:00 on tv 27 and at 11:00 right here on channel 9. tonight, an investigation found oregon authorities were justified in killing armed rancher who helped lead a standoff at the national wildlife refuge. the deadly encounter that started with a protest over the sentencing of two ranchers. investigators say the man tried stop. he then got out of his vehicle and reached for something in the fbi says they found a loaded handgun in his pocket. invitations are going out today for nancy reagan's funeral to be held on friday in california.

the former first lady hillary clinton will be among 1000 invited guests. ronald r -- nancy reagan died sunday and was 94. the ronald reagan presidential foundation is planning the service. >> her most important request -- which was to be laid to rest rest, as close as physically possible to ronald reagan. so when her casket is lowered into the ground, she will be as close to him as though they could hold hands. >> rhonda -- nancy reagan will be buried next to her husband, ronald reagan. students will soon see improvements around the school's three locations. the board of trustees approving more than $26 million in capital improvements at the golf cart and salvation campuses. student housing and classrooms will get renovations and maintenance. marion county leaders want voters to approve a new temporary sales tax to improve

right now this -- the county is seeking funding for new projects and women for law enforcement. also fire rescue and ems. the temporary 1% tax will be on the presidential primary ballot on march 15. if you have a question, you can attend a special session on thursday at the mcpherson governmental complex. state lawmakers want to give parents the option to choose their child's school and their child's teacher. >> let our children have the future they deserve. and attend the schools that will be best for them. >> why local school leaders say the district can't afford the changes. >> we are still turning people away. we can only take so many. and more human trafficking survivors. finding refuge in orlando. the new help some are getting to start them on a new pathway. this cocoa woman did not miss her truck payment for a year. but the dealers still repossessed that. >> how customers who pay, can

we're still flying over breaking news happening right now in osceola county where a vehicle has crashed into a home. we're live over the scene. troopers say a car hit an suv and pushed it -- literally pushed it into the house. we also have these pictures into the newsroom. showing the damage from the ground. regional hospital. troopers have not yet said if anyone inside the home was hurt. we're monitoring the situation. we will let you know when we find out more. a cocoa woman claims a truck even though she had not missed a payment for a year.

>> and how a dealership sells your loan. >> melinda nelson just lost one of the few things she owns. this 2003 ford pickup truck. repossessed at carnation in cocoa. >> have you ever missed a payment? >> no. i have not. >> $165, every two weeks? >> yes. >> she had poor credit so she went to a, by here, pay here dealers. she says after six months, carnation sold her contract to a traditional lender, sterling credit. >> we want to help you better your credit. we will put you with this sterling credit corporation. sterling. she says last month, the new lender after about the truck's condition. >> i said, i will be honest with you. the truck have got problems. >> then she heard she no longer qualified and her loan was being sent back to carnation. >> that same day, her truck disappeared. >> i was dumbfounded. stole the truck.

repossessed her truck without giving her a chance to make the payment, do that week. >> she said her car was repossessed but she never missed a payment. >> a manager did not respond. >> was alone with sterling finance? or did she miss a payment? >> later the company said she was four days late. that is why sterling called to check on the truck. melendez said she was trying to pay and claims that carnation's manager blamed her for complaining to the new lender. >> if i had not told them truck and that it needed this work, i would have my truck. >> carnation told the wind third-party financing is rejected, it reevaluates along's risk but it works to give buyers a second chance. at many of these kind of love, your interest rate and risk can saw. you can share this story and tell others by going to the wftv action9 facebook pages.

can soon get a check from the department of education. the government overcharged tens of thousands of servicemen and women between 2009 and 2015 on student loan payments. they were being charged more than the lock and 6% rate while they were on active duty. the department of education says they will issue refunds as it identified victims. holcombe and took the stand for a second day in tampa. he is suing the gawker website for $100 million. after a sex tape was published of hulk hogan. he says the video was made without his knowledge. "gawker" says it was legitimate because hulk hogan talked openly about his sex life before. hulk hogan is claiming they violated his privacy. >> they played it for months and months. so much damage -- we had to live with that. >> a jury will decide if "gawker" violated his right to privacy. back to normal tonight after a semi crash from the

we were over the scene this morning. investigators say a semi hauling lumber lost control. look at that. and hit a car. you can see the lumber truck overturned spilling the wood everywhere. the man and the semi truck went to the hospital. expected to be okay. this week, a team of nine the apopka firefighters at a police officer will travel to new york for a convention to honor the 343 firefighters who died at the world trade center on september 11. this second annual firefighters stair climb is on sunday. first responders from all over the world will make a challenging climb wearing full firefighting gear with within air mask and a tank. >> we wish them luck. you keep showing these beautiful beach shots a. >> what are you doing to us? >> i have to. >> beautiful. >> this is spring break. >> fantastic. orange county, coming up in a couple of weeks. i hear that ucf is out of school already.

corners of the u.s. for daytona beach. the water temperature -- it is the first time to go running out in the surf -- it is about 60 degrees. either way, it is very nice. not much of a breeze right now. seventy-three degrees. we have an enhanced risk for rip currents -- especially during the low tide cycles. if you are on the beach and there is a lot of room, probably low tide. make sure if that is the case, watch the little ones and yourself. because the rip currents risk is very high all the way through the end of the week. if you're heading out there, look at this. spring break and bike week. temperatures right around 80 degrees. and mostly sunny skies. that is nice. seventy-five in sanford. and 73 at the coast. seventy-eight in clermont. the county seat in lake county -- 78. high-pressure giving us warm weather today. holding back all of the storms that are brewing to the midwest. so a very stormy week ahead. this high pressure area will gradually start to break down

some rainfall, toward the upcoming weekend. right now, not looking like a really high chance. more on that coming up. here is tomorrow. cloud cover over the interior, giving way to sunshine in the afternoon. a couple green specks on the map. generally more dry air. thursday, almost completely clear. that is high-pressure amplifying and drying of the atmosphere, giving us a warmer pattern for the end of the week. apopka tomorrow -- and the northwest recreation complex by the amphitheater -- lower-80s tomorrow. about 84, in orlando. eighty-five in clermont. as warm as 86 on thursday and friday. keeping it warm. by the weekend -- we will be watching the next storm system by late saturday afternoon. a chance for a shower. and then, into sunday, our highest chance for rain. holding at only about a 30% -- maybe as high as 40% rain chance. after a big ridge of high pressure, the atmosphere is relatively dry. we're expecting a pretty good stretch of weather.

it has already kicked in, in central florida. average high, 70 -- 70 degrees. daylight savings time -- getting here sunday. sunset after 7:35 p.m. here we go with the evening daylight. 5-day forecast for the weekend in view. climbing up to near 86 degrees. updating in the next half-hour -- how close that will be to record highs. there is the rain chance for the weekend. >> thank you. an officer looking for overtime -- and saying the department is playing favorites. we investigate the threat against the police chief from the officers who complained -- and a man accused of performing sex acts on himself or kids play. the other crimes we uncovered in his past. and giving parents the power to choose their child's school and their teacher. >> we're talking about

in the last three weeks, a orlando shelter designated for human trafficking survivors has taken -- have taken in three women who escaped control of the pants. we exposed the -- the desperate -- but desperate need for funding at the shelter. they are trying to help more victims. >> we cannot show you the outside. >> but samaritan village ceo christina walker says the two new beds on the inside of this modest orlando home are a sign of major progress to protect sex trafficking survivors. >> the costs are not just the new furniture for two more beds in the house. it is the increase -- and all the funding for food, therapy and clothing. and for dental and medical needs which are really significant for each of our lemon. >> we first take you inside this home last summer.

sex trade victims in the entire state, focus on preventing women from going back to the pimp for a lack of skills or education. relying solely on grants and donations. >> he had taken over my mind. i was powerless. >> since then, the survivor who had written that journal has gotten an internship with a law firm. and a second woman living in this home has gotten her first job ever. walker says after our story, donations poured in expanding the program's capacity. >> we contacted them and we were like -- wow, thank you for this generous donation. >> in the last three weeks, three new survivors have moved in. and while they spend the next two years going through therapy, drug treatment and job training, the waiting list will continue to grow. >> we are still turning people away. >> we can only take so many. >> part of the donations received last year will go toward buying a new that cat -- van to get women to job

they hope to open a second location specifically for women transitioning out of the program to help them live independently. we are a month away from tax day on april 15. a new report shows you might have a hard time reaching the irs if you have any questions. a new government audit found 49% of the time, the irs does not respond to mail correspondence within 45 days. that includes people reaching out because they are identity theft victims. taxpayers filing amended tax returns and also customers responding to requests from the actual irs. >> it is very troubling. a huge problem. it needs to be resolved. >> the irs puts the blame on budget cuts. they had to cut 15,000 employees. president obama is asking for an extra $1 million for the irs an extra's budget. new, for eyewitness news at 6:00. >> the threats. action9 investigates a local

>> and the drug ring schools busted by federal agents.

officers looking for off- duty work say the ocoee police department plays favorites. we learned that the chief threatened the cops that complaint. >> those officers took complaints to the city manager, the police union and the head of hr and asked for an investigation. >> a clear message for

shannon butler got her hands on this information. >> the chief was clearly not happy that they went over his head, instead of to him first. he says he sent this letter reminding them that it was a violation of policy. some saw the letter as a threat. he told channel 9 it was not. but he did remind them again that there was a violation in the way they handled it. >> this letter sent to the police association calls for the union to investigate the extra duty system in ocoee. a police officers said the supervisors are playing favorites on who gets to work for extra money and who doesn't. the letter was also sent to ocoee city hall but not to the police chief himself. >> a result of the ongoing frustration on what officers call, a culture of sweeping stuff under the rug inside the ocoee police department. the chief is now aware of the