Rubio Booted, Gator Snags Fish, Robbery Foiled: Weird Florida

Patch operates 24 daily news sites in the Tampa Bay area and surrounding counties. The following are some of the more unusual, wacky, wonderful or just plain weird stories that have had people talking over the past few weeks:

Casey Anthony May Have Accidentally Killed Caylee: Judge

It’s been almost nine years since 2-year-old Caylee Marie Anthony’s disappearance rocked the Orlando community. It’s been nearly six since her mother, Casey Anthony, was acquitted on first-degree murder charges in the child’s death. Now, the judge who presided over the case is offering his own theory as to what might have happened to Caylee.

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio Booted From Tampa Office

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio’s constituents in the Tampa Bay area will soon find themselves driving more to conduct face-to-face business with the Republican and his staff. Following a steady stream of protests outside his Tampa office building, Rubio’s been asked to pack up operations by Friday.

Watch: Giant Gator Snags Boy’s Fish

An opportunistic alligator with a taste for fish recently gave a little boy a lesson about the two types of critters in the world: the quick and the hungry. Casting itself in the role of the quick, the beefy gator swam up to the boy’s catch and snagged it right off his line. With the rather big fish in its jaws, the happy gator turned tail and swam away.

Watch: Bucs’ Jameis Winston Advises Silence For Ladies

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston is scrambling to recover from a fumble that has more than a few people crying foul.

Couple Hid Woman’s Body Since The Super Bowl: Cops

The Monday discovery of a woman’s body inside a Clearwater home resulted in two arrests. One of the 69-year-old woman’s tenants stands accused of shooting her. The other is accused of trying to help the first determine how to get rid of the body.

Video: Woman Foils Armed Robbery At Gas Pump

A 55-year-old woman parked at a Sarasota gas pump Thursday morning found herself the target of an armed robber. Deputies, however, say the woman fought back against the tire iron-wielding man long enough to get a good look at him and scare him off.

Accused Bathroom Peeper Charged In 2nd Case

A 28-year-old Brandon man who was arrested on video voyeurism charges in January after the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said he tried to record one of its female detectives in a Publix restroom faces more charges. This time the man is accused of taking photos of a woman in a Michael’s craft store restroom.

Deputy Attacked After Traffic Stop Makes Arrest Anyway

A 32-year-old Cape Coral man and a Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputy both took a trip to a local hospital after a Thursday night traffic stop took a violent turn.

Man Snatches Eagle From Gator's Jaws

A Florida man’s heroic attempt to snatch a bald eagle from an alligator’s jaws on Wednesday ended in tragedy. After receiving a medical evaluation, the bird was euthanized due to extensive injuries.

Photo courtesy of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission