I’M ERIN. GUY WITH YOUR NEWS TO GO RIGHT NOW. A CHAOTIC SCENE INSIDE A LAKE WORTH HIGH SCHOOL CAFETERIA. AND IT’S UNDER INVESTIGATION. DOZENS OF STUDENTS SENT TO THE HOSPITAL AFTER A FIGHT GOT SO INTENSE, A SCHOOL POLICE OFFICER HAD TO USE PEPPER SPRAY TO CONTROL THE CROWD. THANKFULLY, WE’RE TOLD THE INJURIES ARE CONSIDERED MINOR SCHOOL RESUMES AS NORMAL TODAY. THE GOVERNMENT IS EXPECTED TO WRAP UP THE CASE LATER ON TODAY, LATER THAN PREVIOUSLY PLANNED. ROUTH, WHO IS REPRESENTING HIMSELF IN COURT, IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN HIS DEFENSE LATER ON TODAY. SARAH ROUTH, WHICH IS RYAN, RUTH’S DAUGHTER, SAYS SHE BELIEVES HER FATHER WILL DO A VERY GOOD JOB WHEN IT COMES TO DEFENDING HIMSELF. RIGHT NOW, PALM BEACH COUNTY DEPUTIES ARE SEARCHING FOR A MAN WHO IS ACCUSED OF ASSAULTING A PALM TRAN BUS DRIVER. DEPUTIES SAY IT HAPPENED TUESDAY AFTERNOON AT THE INTERSECTION OF SIXTH AVENUE AND EIGHTH STREET IN LAKE WORTH BEACH. IF YOU RECOGNIZE THE MAN YOU SEE RIGHT HERE OR HAVE ANY INFORMATION, CALL THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE. AND WEATHER WISE, WE’RE GOING TO SEE HIGHS TODAY IN THE MIDDLE 80S TO UPPER 80S AND DRIER CONDITIONS. NO IMPACT. YELLOW WEATHER ICON UP ONLY A 10 TO 20% SHOT. WE’LL SEE SOME RAIN. SO DEFINITELY DRYING OUT. AND THAT’S A PRELUDE TO WHAT WILL BE A NICER WEEKEND FOR SOUTH FLORIDA. HOLDING THE LINE WITH THIS THROUGH SUNDAY. ENJOY IT.
Port St. Lucie man found guilty in murder of pregnant woman and unborn child
Updated: 7:22 PM EDT Sep 19, 2025
Video above: News and weather headlines for Sept. 19Jose Antonio Soto Escalera, of Port St. Lucie was found guilty Friday of two counts of first-degree murder of Tania E. Wise, 23, and her unborn son.Wise’s body was discovered on Aug. 24, 2018, along Russo Road near Johnston Road in a rural area of St. Lucie County.A passerby spotted Wise’s body and called 911. The sheriff’s office said that Wise was weeks away from delivering her baby. Wise died from blunt force trauma to the head and sharp force injuries to her neck.Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 NewsEscalera was arrested on Sept. 21, 2018. DNA evidence confirmed that he was the father of the unborn child.“I want to personally thank State Attorney Thomas Bakkedahl of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, along with prosecutors Donald Richardson and Justin Cormier, for their tireless efforts in bringing this case to a successful prosecution,” St. Lucie County Sheriff Del Toro said in a statement. “I also want to commend the men and women of the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office who worked diligently on this investigation. Their dedication helped secure justice for Tania Wise and her unborn son.”Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.Sentencing, which could lead to either the death penalty or life in prison, begins on Sept. 24.Top Headlines:Students talk about being pepper sprayed during fight at Lake Worth High School
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. —
Video above: News and weather headlines for Sept. 19
Jose Antonio Soto Escalera, of Port St. Lucie was found guilty Friday of two counts of first-degree murder of Tania E. Wise, 23, and her unborn son.
St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office
Antonio Soto Escalera
Wise’s body was discovered on Aug. 24, 2018, along Russo Road near Johnston Road in a rural area of St. Lucie County.
A passerby spotted Wise’s body and called 911. The sheriff’s office said that Wise was weeks away from delivering her baby. Wise died from blunt force trauma to the head and sharp force injuries to her neck.
Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News
Escalera was arrested on Sept. 21, 2018. DNA evidence confirmed that he was the father of the unborn child.
“I want to personally thank State Attorney Thomas Bakkedahl of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, along with prosecutors Donald Richardson and Justin Cormier, for their tireless efforts in bringing this case to a successful prosecution,” St. Lucie County Sheriff Del Toro said in a statement. “I also want to commend the men and women of the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office who worked diligently on this investigation. Their dedication helped secure justice for Tania Wise and her unborn son.”
Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.
Sentencing, which could lead to either the death penalty or life in prison, begins on Sept. 24.
Top Headlines:
Students talk about being pepper sprayed during fight at Lake Worth High School