Florida woman who claimed to work for God charged with murder of deputy sheriff

A Florida woman has been arrested in connection with an ambush attack that killed a deputy sheriff and injured two others this month.

Julie Ann Sulpizio, 48, was charged with several counts on Monday, including three counts of attempted first-degree intentional murder of a police officer, conspiracy to commit first-degree intentional murder, assault on a police officer and three counts of assault on another person.

FOX 35 in Orlando reported that the indictment was brought by a grand jury convened by the Fifth Judicial District Attorney Bill Gladson's office.

Gladson had previously stated that the death penalty could be imposed in this case, the broadcaster added, but a final decision had not yet been made. His office has 45 days to review the evidence and decide whether or not to seek the death penalty.

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Julie Sulpizio (Lake County Sheriff's Office)

Sulpizio was taken into custody at a hospital in Tavares, Florida, on August 5 after being taken there for treatment on August 2, when the crime occurred.

Deputy Sheriff Bradley Michael Link, 28, was killed in the shooting, which Lake County Sheriff Peyton Grinnell described as an “ambush.” ​​Deputy Sheriff Harold Howell, 41, and Deputy First Class Stefano Gargano, 28, were injured in the attack.

Officers initially responded to a report of a disturbance at a home around 8 p.m. before being dispatched to another home near the city of Eustis.

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Master Deputy Bradley Link, 28, was killed in the line of duty Friday night in what the Lake County Sheriff calls an “ambush.” (Lake County Sheriff's Office via X)

They found the back door kicked in and heard a commotion inside the house. As they entered the house, officers were met with gunfire. Link was shot and remained trapped inside the house. He later succumbed to his injuries.

Grinnell gave a timeline of events on the night of the shooting, saying the caller said a woman, later identified as Sulpizio, was attacking people and trespassing on their property. Sulpizio allegedly hit residents and made religious comments, including calling them sinners.

“The complainant stated [Sulpizio] “She acted religiously accusing them of being sinners and she knows 'what they did,'” the sheriff said. “They identified Julie Sulpizio as their neighbor, but Julie says she is 'Helen, under God's will.'”

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Deputy First Class Stefano Gargano (left) and Master Deputy Sheriff Harold Howell were injured during an ambush rescue attempt Friday evening and are currently in critical condition. (Lake County Sheriff's Office via X)

“During a calm exchange, Julie Sulpizio explained that they, the group of people present there, were involved in pedophilia,” Grinnell added. “She again claimed to be 'Helen,' and she asked one of the victims she had abused, 'Who was your God?'”

In a later interview with investigators, Sulpizio said she tried to lure neighbors into her house so her husband could kill her, Grinnell said.

“Their success did not come at the expense of our deputies,” he said.

Grinnell said Sulpizio told people there, “Julie is in heaven.”

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“Then she said, 'Look, the thing is, we had to trick Lucy,' and we later learned [Lucy] a name she calls Lucifer,” the sheriff said. He added that Sulpizio then pointed at the deputy and said, “You're one of them.”

While officers were attempting to arrest Sulpizio, they also conducted a check of her residence further down the street. When they arrived, they found two dead dogs outside and an open window with the screen kicked out. Officers sensed this and called for backup.

Link and Howell entered the house through the back entrance and walked through the living room and hallway when Link, who had his back turned, was ambushed by Sulpizio's husband, Michael, who the sheriff said was armed and ready. Link was shot in the back and received several more shots as he tried to crawl away after running out of ammunition.

The couple's two daughters, Savannah and Cheyenne, were also in the house. One of them shouted: “My king will kill you all! You are Lucifer's children!”

Footage from Link's body camera showed Michael and his daughters discussing suicide before they were all found dead with gunshot wounds to the head, the sheriff said.

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The sheriff said that during a search of the home, officers found a stash of guns, ammunition and water bottles, but no phones or televisions. They also discovered “anti-government propaganda” and material from media outlets that appealed to conspiracy theories.

Grinnell said Sulpizio appeared to show no remorse and had been in the hospital for observation days before her arrest.

Landon Mion of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.