Takeria Adderly, a 22-year-old Uber driver from Lakeland, Florida, was reported missing on June 30, 2020. Her body was discovered on July 29, 2020, in a wooded area near the 2000 block of West Bella Vista Street. The Medical Examiner's Office ruled her death a homicide, revealing that she had been shot once in the back of the head. Adderly was known for her vibrant personality and her willingness to help others, making her untimely death a significant loss to her community.
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investigation into Adderly's death led to the arrest of Ladevon Cottingham, a 22-year-old who was formally indicted on two first-degree murder charges. Cottingham was also charged with the murder of Ricky Kimball, a 65-year-old gas station clerk who was reported missing on the same day as Adderly. Kimball's body was found on July 2, 2020, in a different location. Cottingham, who had been released from prison just two weeks before the murders, was identified as a suspect after a nine-month investigation. Evidence, including phone records and surveillance footage, linked him to both crimes.
Cottingham's criminal activities extended beyond the murders. He was also charged with robbery with a firearm, tampering with evidence, false imprisonment, and armed kidnapping. The police believe that Cottingham called Adderly after killing Kimball, hoping she would assist him. When she declined, he killed her and disposed of her body. Cottingham's DNA was found in Adderly's vehicle, which was abandoned on July 7, 2020. He was arrested in August 2020 for an armed home invasion that occurred on July 4, 2020, and has been in jail since then.
The community of Lakeland was deeply affected by the tragic deaths of Adderly and Kimball. Friends and family remembered Adderly as a kind and hardworking individual who was always willing to help others. The legal proceedings against Cottingham are ongoing, with the community hoping for justice for the victims and their families.
