Florida Death Penalty Case · Broward County True Crime
The Waffle House at 2580 Davie Road in Davie, Florida — store #929 in the chain — was the site of a double murder on March 11, 2002. Gerhard Hojan and Jimmy Mickel entered the restaurant and robbed it, then shot employees Christina Delarosa and Willy Absolu. Both were killed. Employee Barbara Nunn survived.
Hojan was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. The case proceeded through Florida's appellate system; the Florida Supreme Court denied Hojan's appeal. The NBC Miami report on the case confirmed the appeal denial. Mickel was prosecuted separately.
The restaurant continued operating after the murders. It remains at the same address as an active 24-hour Waffle House location. The pre-research Google Places data contamination returned a Toledo, Ohio Waffle House at 6725 Central Ave — a completely different location. The correct venue is confirmed at 2580 Davie Rd, Davie/Fort Lauderdale FL 33317.
Sources
- https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/florida-supreme-court-denies-davie-waffle-house-murderers-appeal/91397/
- https://www.chamberofcommerce.com/business-directory/florida/fort-lauderdale/miscellaneous/2000136829-waffle-house
Cold spotsFlickering lights
Staff at the Davie Waffle House have described cold spots in the restroom area and flickering lights that correlate with no electrical cause. These reports have not been documented through formal investigation and no paranormal tour programming has developed around the site.
The draw for dark tourism visitors is the documented criminal history rather than any paranormal claim. The 2002 murders and the subsequent death penalty prosecution are matters of public court record. The building is a functioning commercial restaurant with no acknowledgment of its history in official signage or materials.
