Detectives Make Five Arrests for Discharging Destructive Devices
During the evening and early morning hours on 07-19-15 and 07-20-15, unknown persons placed and detonated PVC pipe bombs inside mailboxes on McCaw Road, Neff Lake Road, Halsey Road, and Earnest Lee Road, all of which are located in Brooksville.
Debris from the explosions was estimated to have traveled as far as 130 feet at some of the scenes.
During the investigation, contact was made with each homeowner/victim. Through these contacts, detectives learned that each homeowner had either sons or daughters who had problems with the same group of individuals over the last year. The individuals in question were identified as Kyle Stocker, Joshua Kolaric, Taylor Milligan, Cody Maniates, and Dakota Ellerbee.
The problems associated with these individuals were mostly attributed to failed friendships and/or failed dating relationships. Each victim stated they believed these individuals had some involvement in the bombings.
Further investigation revealed that on the night of the bombings (07-19-15), Kyle Stocker used his personal debit card to purchase a five-foot piece of PVC pipe along with 20 PVC endcaps from Lowes in Brooksville. Surveillance footage showed that Kyle was accompanied by a white female, later identified as his girlfriend.
On 07-28-15, Detective Dustin Adkins made contact with Kyle Stocker at his girlfriend’s house in Brooksville. Stocker and the girlfriend agreed to accompany Detective Adkins to the office to discuss the case.
Post Miranda, Stocker admitted to his involvement in the bombings. He also confirmed that Josh Kolaric, Taylor Milligan, Dakota Ellerbee, and Cody Maniates were involved.
Stocker also confirmed that the PVC pipe and endcaps he purchased was used to make the bombs, along with black gun powder, blue PVC glue, and some green wicks. Stocker stated that he, Kolaric, Ellerbee, and Maniates all assisted in making the bombs, which took place at Kolaric’s house.
Once the bombs were made, they discussed the locations where they would be placed.
The group then left the house to place and discharge the bombs in mailboxes.
Stocker told detectives that they did not intend to hurt anyone and this event was done as a prank. He said they felt remorseful about the incident and destroyed any leftover materials to insure that no other bombs could be made.
Stocker also confirmed that the targeted residences were people that someone in the group had some sort of conflict with in the past, mostly relationship type issues.
Kyle Alexander Stocker W/M DOB/02-03-1994 was placed under arrest, charged as follows:
– Discharge/Place Destructive Device – 4 counts
– Bond – $20,000.
Warrants were obtained for the other suspects.
On 07-29-15, detectives located Kolaric, Ellerbee, and Maniates. All three were interviewed at the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office. Each admitted to his participation in the bombings. They were placed under arrest and charged as follows:
Joshua Kolaric W/M DOB/10-04-1994
– Discharge/Place Destructive Device – 4 counts
– Bond – $20,000
Dakota Ellerbee W/M DOB/04-23-1998
– Discharge/Place Destructive Device – 1 count
– Transported to DJJ
Cody Maniates W/M DOB/07-28-1998
– Discharge/Place Destructive Device – 1 count
– Transported to DJJ.
On 07-30-15, Taylor Milligan W/F DOB/03-10-1996 was located. An interview was conducted at the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office. Milligan confessed to her involvement in the bombings. She was charged as follows:
– Discharge/Place Destructive Device – 4 counts
– Bond – $40,000.
