On Thursday, March 25, 2021, Lakeland Police Department detectives presented investigative findings in two homicide cases to a Polk County Grand Jury, recommending charges of First Degree Murder in the deaths of 22-year-old Takeria Adderly and 65-year-old Ricky Kimball. The death investigations of Adderly and Kimball both began in July of 2020, and at the time, were thought to be exclusive of each other.
After a nine-month investigation, detectives determined 22-year-old Ladevon Cottingham to be the suspect in both cases. This afternoon, Cottingham was formally indicted on multiple felony charges, including two counts of First Degree Murder for the deaths of Ms. Adderly and Mr. Kimball. Cottingham has been in custody at the Polk County Jail since August 2, 2020.