June 2, 2026
Recent coverage of the Plant City homicide investigation has raised questions about why investigators have not publicly released all available information, and why that silence, frustrating as it is, may actually be protecting the integrity of the case.
When a violent crime affects a community, the public wants answers immediately. That is an understandable response. But experienced criminal defense attorneys know that releasing information too early can undermine a case before it ever reaches a courtroom. This post explores the legal and strategic reasons why law enforcement withholds certain details during active investigations, and what that means for anyone connected to a case.
Why Don’t Police Release All the Information During a Criminal Investigation?
Police typically withhold information during an active investigation to protect the outcome of the case. Releasing details too early can compromise physical evidence, influence witness accounts, and make it significantly harder to secure a conviction later. Each investigation is different. The timing of what is shared often depends on what investigators believe they can release without jeopardizing the case.
Key Takeaways About Criminal Investigations and Information Release
- In Florida, active criminal investigation records are exempt from public records requests under Florida Statute §119.071(2)(c)
- Law enforcement often withholds specific case details to detect false confessions — only a real perpetrator would know certain facts
- Pretrial publicity from released evidence can compromise a defendant’s Sixth Amendment right to a fair trial
- Social media speculation during an incomplete investigation often produces misinformation that can misdirect the public and interfere with legitimate tips
- Anyone contacted by law enforcement, as a witness or a person of interest, may benefit from speaking with a criminal defense attorney before giving a statement
Key Statistics About Evidence Integrity and False Confessions
- According to the Innocence Project, approximately 29% of wrongful convictions later overturned by DNA evidence involved a false confession
- The National Registry of Exonerations has documented hundreds of cases nationwide where evidence mishandling at the investigation stage contributed to wrongful convictions
- Florida has recorded more than 80 DNA-based exonerations, illustrating how early decisions in an investigation can have consequences that last decades
These numbers reflect why controlling what information is released, and when, is not just a legal strategy. It is a safeguard for everyone involved.
What Is an Active Criminal Investigation?
Not every investigation moves at the same pace, and that is intentional. Before law enforcement can make an arrest or file charges, they typically need to build a case strong enough to hold up in court. Understanding what happens during this phase helps explain why information is carefully controlled, and why that process often takes longer than the public expects.
How Does Law Enforcement Define an “Active Investigation”?
An active criminal investigation is one where law enforcement is still gathering evidence, identifying persons of interest, or working toward a formal arrest. During this phase, investigators typically have wide discretion over what information reaches the public.
The TV Effect: Why Reality Doesn’t Follow the Script
We often learn about criminal investigations from police procedurals and true-crime dramas. On television, forensic results return in an hour, witnesses are tracked down in minutes, and cases are solved before the commercial break. The reality in Florida is vastly different. Real-world investigations involve months of rigorous chain-of-custody protocols, backlogged forensic labs, and meticulous data verification that cannot be rushed.
When the public expects the speed of a TV show, the silence from law enforcement can feel like a cover-up. In reality, that silence is often the only thing preventing a procedural error from overturning a conviction later.
Why Is the Active Phase So Critical to a Case?
The active phase is when most of the case-building occurs. Investigators are collecting physical evidence, conducting interviews, securing search warrants, and analyzing forensic data. Each piece of that work depends on the others.
In cases involving multiple crime scenes, like the investigation in Hillsborough County, evidence may be coming in from several locations at once. As attorney Rohom Khonsari explained to 10 Tampa Bay News: “If you don’t have video footage or phone footage or somebody actually seeing the crime, then they’re having to recreate what actually occurred that night.”
Cell data, DNA analysis, and surveillance footage each operate on different timelines. Releasing partial information before that work is complete can send investigators, the media, and the public in the wrong direction.
The Lifecycle of a Florida Criminal Investigation
- Phase 1: Initial Contact & Evidence Collection (The “Active” phase where police secure scenes and interview potential witnesses).
- Phase 2: Forensic Processing (The most time-consuming stage; DNA, digital, and ballistic evidence are processed through independent labs).
- Phase 3: Building the Case Narrative (Investigators cross-reference withheld details against potential suspect statements).
- Phase 4: Prosecutorial Review (The State Attorney’s Office reviews the case file to determine if charges can be filed).
- Phase 5: Formal Charges or Case Resolution (The point at which much of the information becomes public record).
Understanding these phases helps clarify why the “slow” pace is a necessary safeguard for the integrity of the process.
Why Do Police Withhold Information During an Active Investigation?
The short answer is that silence is often a strategy, not a gap in communication. Every detail investigators choose not to release publicly serves a specific purpose: protecting evidence, preserving testimony, and maintaining advantages that may only matter months later in a courtroom.
From his perspective as a former Assistant State Attorney in the Tampa Bay area, Rohom Khonsari notes: “When I was a prosecutor, we were constantly balancing the need for public assistance with the absolute necessity of keeping ‘hold-back’ evidence confidential. If you reveal the specifics of how a crime was committed or what unique item was left behind too early, you lose your best tool to verify if a suspect is telling the truth or simply regurgitating what they saw on the news.”
This practice reflects how carefully a solid criminal case must be built from the start.
How Does Withholding Evidence Details Protect a Case?
One of the primary reasons investigators hold back specific evidence is to prevent a suspect from crafting an explanation around it. When someone knows exactly what evidence exists, they can tailor their account before being formally questioned. Keeping certain details confidential gives investigators a significant advantage during interviews.
How Does Information Release Affect Witness Statements?
Witnesses who hear case details from news coverage or social media before giving their own account may unconsciously incorporate those details into their recollection. This is sometimes called memory contamination, and it can seriously undermine the reliability of testimony in court. This is one reason investigators often ask witnesses not to discuss what they saw or heard with others.
How Do Police Use Withheld Details to Evaluate Confessions?
Law enforcement routinely holds back one or more specific details about a crime that only the actual perpetrator would likely know. When someone provides a confession, investigators compare what that person says against those withheld details. If the account does not match, the confession may be unreliable. This practice has played a role in identifying false confessions in documented cases across the country.
How Does Pretrial Publicity Affect Jury Selection in Florida?
Once information about a case becomes widely known through media coverage, finding an impartial jury can become difficult. The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to a fair trial before an unbiased jury. Florida courts have granted change-of-venue motions in cases where pretrial publicity was severe enough to make a fair local trial unlikely. Limiting early disclosures is one way law enforcement tries to preserve that right.
What Does Florida Law Say About Releasing Criminal Investigation Records?
Florida has one of the broadest public records laws in the country. The Florida Sunshine Law generally makes government records accessible to the public, but it carves out specific, important exemptions for law enforcement.
| Type of Information | Florida Law Exemption | When It May Become Public |
| Active criminal investigation records | §119.071(2)(c) | After investigation closes or charges filed |
| Grand jury proceedings | §905.27 | Rarely; specific court order required |
| Identity of confidential informants | §119.071(2)(f) | Generally protected indefinitely |
| Victim identity in certain crimes | §119.071(2)(h) | Protected unless victim consents |
| Names of witnesses in active cases | §119.071(2)(c) | After investigation resolves |
What Does Florida Statute §119.071 Actually Say?
Under Florida Statute §119.071(2)(c), criminal intelligence information and criminal investigative information that is part of an active investigation is exempt from public records requests. Law enforcement agencies are not required, and in many cases are not permitted, to release this information while an investigation is ongoing.
What Is the Florida Grand Jury Secrecy Rule?
If an investigation involves a grand jury, Florida Statute §905.27 requires those proceedings to remain confidential. Grand jurors, witnesses, and attorneys are generally prohibited from disclosing what occurred inside those proceedings. This layer of secrecy exists to protect both the investigation and the rights of individuals who have not yet been charged.
What Problems Can Arise When Investigation Details Go Public Too Early?
Releasing information before an investigation is ready does not just slow things down, it can actively damage the case. When details reach the public too early, the consequences ripple outward in ways that are often difficult to reverse. From witness contamination to legal challenges at trial, premature disclosure creates problems that prosecutors, defense attorneys, and investigators all have to reckon with long after the initial news cycle has moved on.
Why Do Rumors Spread During Incomplete Investigations?
When official information is limited, social media and community speculation fill the void. In the Plant City case, online commenters posted theories about suspects, motives, and timelines, often without any factual basis. This type of misinformation can distort the public narrative, interfere with legitimate tips, and in some cases put innocent people in an unfair spotlight.
How Does Early Disclosure Affect Witness Safety?
When the public knows who may have seen or heard something relevant to a case, those individuals can become targets for pressure or intimidation. Law enforcement often withholds the names and roles of potential witnesses specifically to protect their safety and preserve their willingness to come forward.
Can Pre-Trial Disclosures Create Legal Problems for the Prosecution?
In Florida criminal proceedings, defense attorneys have broad discovery rights under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.220. If investigators or prosecutors release information publicly before it has been formally processed through proper legal channels, it can create complications during trial. In some cases, improper pretrial disclosures have contributed to evidence suppression hearings or other legal challenges.
When Should You Contact a Criminal Defense Attorney?
If you are connected to an active criminal investigation in any capacity, as a witness, a person of interest, or someone who has received a request to speak with detectives, speaking with a criminal defense attorney before making any statements is typically in your best interest.
Does Hiring a Lawyer Make You Look Guilty?
No. As attorney Rohom Khonsari stated publicly in connection with the Plant City investigation: “I think anyone that is being questioned by the police as a witness or a potential suspect should retain criminal counsel.” Exercising your legal right to counsel is not an admission of guilt. It is a practical decision that can protect you from having your words taken out of context at a later stage.
What Can a Criminal Defense Attorney Do Before Charges Are Filed?
A defense attorney in the Tampa Bay area can advise you on your rights before any formal charges are filed, communicate with investigators on your behalf, help you understand the scope of any search warrant or subpoena, and work to make sure your rights are protected from the earliest stage of the case.
Practical Steps If You Are Connected to a Criminal Investigation in Florida
Many people involved in a criminal investigation, even those contacted only as witnesses, find it helpful to take certain steps early on:
- Keep personal notes of any law enforcement contact, including dates, times, and what was discussed or requested
- Avoid discussing the case on social media, including sharing opinions or defending anyone connected to the matter
- Do not consent to a search of your home, vehicle, or devices without first consulting with an attorney
- Understand that a request to come in for voluntary questioning is typically not legally compelled unless you receive a formal subpoena
- Consult with a criminal defense attorney before providing any written, recorded, or formal statement to investigators
These are general considerations. What may be appropriate for your situation depends on the specific facts involved.
Ask Khonsari Law Group
Q: Can I find out if I am under criminal investigation in Florida before being arrested?
A: In most situations, there is no formal notification that you are the subject of an active investigation. However, if detectives have reached out to you for questioning, or if you are aware of a connection to a case being investigated, those may be signals to consult with a criminal defense attorney before the situation develops further. Acting early typically gives you more options.
Q: What should I do if police come to my home asking questions?
A: You have the right to remain silent and the right to legal counsel. You are generally not required to answer questions at your door. Many attorneys advise politely declining to speak without counsel present and asking whether you are free to go or are being detained. Contact a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible after any such contact.
Q: I was called in as a witness. Could I later become a suspect?
A: It is possible. In Florida, investigators may interview someone as a witness and later treat them as a person of interest if additional evidence emerges. Statements made during a “witness” interview can be used in later proceedings. Speaking with an attorney before any police interview, regardless of how it is framed, is often a wise step, even if you believe you have nothing to hide.
Criminal Investigation Questions Answered by Attorneys
Florida law does not set a fixed deadline for how long an investigation may continue before charges are filed. The relevant time limit is typically the statute of limitations, which varies depending on the offense. For serious felonies including murder, Florida has no statute of limitations, meaning an investigation may remain open indefinitely.
Under current Florida law, law enforcement officers may use certain deceptive tactics during interrogations in most adult cases, including making false statements about evidence. However, for juvenile suspects, Florida Statute §39.0573 now requires that investigators inform minors of their rights before any custodial interview. Adults who are questioned should understand that statements made by investigators about the evidence are not always accurate.
Typically, no. Florida Statute §119.071(2)(c) specifically exempts criminal investigative information from public disclosure while an investigation is open. Once a case is resolved or charges are formally filed, many of those records may become accessible through a public records request submitted to the relevant law enforcement agency.
Social media posts about a case can interfere with witness memory, expose investigative details, and complicate jury selection. Florida courts have considered social media activity in pretrial proceedings. Anyone with a connection to an active investigation, even someone posting an opinion or sharing a news article about it, should exercise caution about their online activity.
You Have the Right to Know Where You Stand
When a criminal investigation touches your life, the process can feel out of your control. The information is limited. The timeline is unclear. And the pressure to speak up, or to say nothing at all, can be difficult to navigate without guidance.
At Khonsari Law Group, our role is to make sure you understand your rights at every stage. Whether you have been contacted as a witness, received a request for questioning, or believe you may be a person of interest, we work to protect your position from the earliest possible moment.
Rohom Khonsari is a former Assistant State Attorney in the Tampa Bay area. He understands how these investigations unfold from both sides, and he knows what investigators are typically looking for, and how your earliest decisions can shape everything that follows.
If you or someone you know is connected to a criminal investigation in Pinellas or Hillsborough County, contact Khonsari Law Group at (727) 269-5300 or visit klgflorida.com. Consultations are confidential.