You’ve probably seen the memes. Every day in Florida feels like a fever dream, but December 9th has a way of turning the volume up to eleven. Honestly, if you live here, you just kind of get used to the headlines. But for everyone else? It’s basically a spectator sport.
One day you're drinking your cafecito, and the next, you're reading about a guy trying to settle a domestic dispute with a decorative conifer.
That’s the beauty—or the horror—of the Florida Man December 9th phenomenon. It isn't just one story. It is a recurring calendar date that seems to attract the kind of chaos that would make a fiction writer quit out of pure jealousy. From the "Christmas Tree Incident" to the release of a man who spent three decades behind bars for something that’s now legal in half the country, this specific date is a wild cross-section of the Sunshine State’s soul.
The Christmas Tree Incident: Dinner and a Battery Charge
Let’s talk about the most famous Florida Man December 9th story. It happened in Lake County, specifically in a place called Fruitland Park.
Back in 2022, a 52-year-old man named Richard Atchison found himself in the back of a patrol car for something most people only joke about during a stressful holiday season. The story goes that he and his wife were arguing because she asked for help with dinner.
Standard stuff, right?
Well, things escalated when a spoon accidentally splashed some water on him. According to the arrest affidavit, he lost his temper, tried to pack his bags, and then changed his mind because he’d been drinking. Instead of just going to bed, he allegedly picked up the Christmas tree from the corner of the room and threw it at her.
He was charged with domestic battery and false imprisonment. It’s one of those stories that sounds funny in a "Florida Man" headline until you realize there was a real person on the receiving end of a flying Douglas Fir.
The Long Road to Freedom: Richard DeLisi’s December 9th
While many December 9th stories involve machetes or fast food, the 2020 entry was actually pretty moving.
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This was the day Richard DeLisi finally walked out of a Florida prison. He was 71 years old. He had been serving a 90-year sentence for a nonviolent marijuana smuggling conviction from the late 80s.
Think about that.
Ninety years. He spent 31 of them behind bars. By the time he was released on December 9th, 2020, he was considered the longest-serving nonviolent cannabis prisoner in the United States. He missed out on seeing his kids grow up and lost his wife and parents while he was locked away.
When he finally stepped out, his first meal was at a crab restaurant with his grandkids. It was a heavy reminder that for all the "weird" news, Florida’s legal system produces some incredibly intense, life-altering outcomes on this specific date.
Chaos at the Flea Market and "The Dead are Rising"
If you want the "classic" Florida Man experience, we have to look at the 2020 crime spree in Escambia County. This one is sort of the "Gold Standard" for why people search for Florida Man December 9th.
Lahorace Pickett Jr., who was 23 at the time, decided to kick off his Wednesday morning by attacking a coin machine at a flea market.
Then he started screaming that the dead were rising.
But he didn't stop there. He reportedly stripped naked, stole a car, and tried to kiss an elderly woman after grabbing her by the hair. He eventually tried to break into an RV and ended up throwing a brick at the resident inside. When the cops finally caught him, he was hiding in the bed of a truck wearing a green housecoat.
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The police found a throwing star and synthetic marijuana in his bag. It was an absolute whirlwind of a day that happened in less than an hour.
The Fraud Schemes and Federal Courthouses
Not every Florida Man story involves being naked or throwing foliage. Sometimes, it’s just plain old white-collar weirdness.
On December 9th, 2024, a man named Sharma was sentenced to over three years in federal prison for a wild N95 mask scheme. This went back to the height of the 2020 pandemic. He allegedly lied to a company, claiming he had access to 30 million masks.
He didn’t.
The company wired $3 million to a Florida lawyer’s account, and—surprise—the masks never showed up. It turns out he was already a convicted fraudster. It’s a different flavor of Florida Man, the kind that uses a phone and a bank account instead of an alligator or a lawnmower.
Why Does This Keep Happening on December 9th?
You might wonder if there’s something in the water on this day. Honestly, there probably isn't. It’s a mix of a few things:
- Sunshine Laws: Florida has incredibly robust public records laws (the "Government in the Sunshine Act"). This means mugshots and arrest affidavits are available to reporters almost instantly.
- The Heat: Even in December, Florida can be sweltering, which leads to... well, people being outside and making questionable choices.
- Holiday Stress: Mix some eggnog with family tension and a dash of Florida heat, and you get "Christmas Tree Battery."
What Most People Get Wrong About the Meme
People think "Florida Man" is a single guy. It’s not. It’s a reflection of a state that is massive, diverse, and incredibly transparent about its flaws. When you search for Florida Man December 9th, you aren't just looking for a joke; you're looking at a snapshot of a place where the social safety net is often replaced by a news camera.
There's a dark side to it, too. A lot of these stories involve mental health crises or substance abuse. The guy at the flea market screaming about the dead rising wasn't just "being a Florida Man"—he was clearly having a break from reality. We laugh at the headlines, but the people behind them are often going through the worst day of their lives.
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What You Should Do If You're Following These Stories
If you’re a fan of the "Florida Man" beat, don't just stop at the headline. The real story is usually in the arrest affidavit.
- Check the County Sheriff's Page: Most Florida counties (like Pasco, Volusia, or Marion) have public portals where you can see the actual charges.
- Look for the Resolution: Many of these "crazy" arrests end with the charges being dropped or the person getting the help they need.
- Support Local Journalism: Outlets like the Tampa Bay Times or the Orlando Sentinel are the ones actually doing the legwork to find these stories.
If you’re planning a trip to Florida around December 9th, maybe just... keep an eye on your Christmas tree. And if someone starts talking about the dead rising at the flea market, it’s probably time to head to the beach.
The best way to stay informed is to follow the actual court records. You can visit the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) website to see how these cases actually pan out over time. It’s usually less "meme-worthy" and more "sobering" once the dust settles.
Practical Steps for Researching Florida News:
- Use the Clerk of Court websites: Every county in Florida has one. You can search by name to see the full history of an incident.
- Set Google Alerts: If you’re tracking a specific date like December 9th, set an alert for "Florida Man" and the date to see what pops up in real-time.
- Verify before sharing: Always look for a second source. Social media often exaggerates these stories for clicks.
The reality of December 9th in Florida is that it’s just another day in a state that refuses to be boring. Whether it’s a man being released after 30 years or a flying tree, it’s a reminder that life in the subtropics is anything but predictable.
Next Steps:
If you want to track more specific historical cases, you can search the Florida Department of Corrections inmate database to see where some of these individuals are today. For those interested in the legal side of the marijuana release story, the "Last Prisoner Project" provides detailed archives on cases like Richard DeLisi's.
To see more recent December 9th incidents, check the local blotters for Lake and Escambia counties, as they tend to be hotspots for these types of viral reports. Keep your eyes on the 2026 headlines; history suggests something weird is bound to happen.