You’ve seen the memes. You’ve probably googled your own birthday just to see which "Florida Man" headline pops up to represent your soul. But for some reason, the November 28 Florida Man results always seem to hit a little harder.
Maybe it’s the timing. November 28 often falls right in the middle of the Thanksgiving holiday chaos. You’ve got a mix of family stress, too much leftover turkey, and, apparently, a lot of people in the Sunshine State making very questionable life choices.
Honestly, the stories from this specific day range from the tragic to the "wait, did he really do that?" kind of bizarre. It's not just one guy; it's a legacy of late-November madness that keeps the internet fueled for months.
The Deadly Thanksgiving Crash in Osceola
The most sobering story tied to November 28 Florida Man isn't a funny meme at all. In 2024, a devastating three-vehicle crash occurred on the Poinciana Parkway in Osceola County. It was late—around 11:41 p.m.—right at the tail end of Thanksgiving.
A 44-year-old man from Davenport, Eddy Edmond, was driving a 2004 Acura MDX. He slammed into the back of a stopped Hyundai Tucson. The impact was so violent it flipped the Hyundai and pushed it into a Ford F-150.
An 18-year-old woman lost her life. Five others were injured. Edmond was arrested on November 28 and charged with DUI manslaughter.
It’s a grim reminder. Holiday travel in Florida is dangerous. When you mix heavy traffic with impaired driving, the "Florida Man" headline stops being a joke and starts being a tragedy. Florida Highway Patrol troopers often see a massive spike in these incidents during this exact window.
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The Case of the "Evil" Ball Python
If you dig a little deeper into the archives, November 28 brings up the story of Roy Strickland. This one is weird. It’s also pretty dark.
Back in 2012, Strickland was arrested after a truly bizarre act of animal cruelty in Pompano Beach. He didn't just hurt an animal; he targeted a friend’s pet ball python.
He stabbed the snake 19 times.
When deputies asked why, he reportedly told them the snake was "evil." The poor reptile was still alive when animal control arrived, but they had to euthanize it because the injuries were too severe. By November 28, the court details were making rounds, with Judge John Hurley describing the violence as "gratuitous."
Strickland was already out on pre-trial release for other charges at the time. It’s the kind of story that solidifies the Florida Man mythos—a strange cocktail of superstition, violence, and total unpredictability.
Terrorism and the Synagogue Plot
Then there's the high-stakes legal drama. On November 28, 2017, James Gonzalo Medina was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison.
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Medina wasn't your typical "caught with an alligator in a trunk" Florida Man. He was involved in a plot to attack the Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center with an explosive device.
The FBI had been watching him. They actually provided him with a "bomb" that was, thankfully, an inert device. He was caught approaching the synagogue on foot, ready to commit a mass casualty event.
The Department of Justice used his sentencing date to send a message about hate crimes in the state. It shows that the "Florida Man" tag covers everything from petty theft to federal terrorism cases.
Why November 28 Always Blows Up
Why does this specific date feel so active?
Part of it is the "Thanksgiving Effect." Florida's population swells during the holidays. More people means more police reports.
- The Weather: While the rest of the country is freezing, Florida is still 80 degrees. People are outside. They are active. They are drinking.
- The Travel: Millions of people are on the roads, leading to a higher frequency of arrests for DUIs and road rage.
- The Meme: At this point, the Florida Man phenomenon is self-perpetuating. People look for these stories on this date, so even small incidents get national traction.
What Most People Get Wrong
People think "Florida Man" is a specific person. It’s not. It’s a byproduct of Florida’s incredibly robust public record laws, often called the "Sunshine Laws."
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In other states, if a guy tries to trade a live alligator for a pack of cigarettes, the local media might not find out for weeks. In Florida, that police report is available almost instantly.
Journalists sit on these feeds. They wait for the weirdest stuff to drop. And on November 28, with a slow news cycle because of the holiday, these stories get elevated to the front page of Reddit and Twitter (or X, whatever you're calling it these days).
How to Handle Florida Travel This Time of Year
If you’re planning to be in the state around late November, don't become a headline.
First, watch the roads. The Poinciana Parkway and I-4 are notorious for holiday accidents. If you're driving late at night on the 27th or 28th, be extra vigilant for erratic drivers.
Second, remember that Florida Fish and Wildlife (FWC) doesn't play around. Whether it's messing with alligators or smuggling turtles (which another Florida man, John Michael Kreatsoulas, recently pleaded guilty to regarding a massive turtle-smuggling ring), the environmental police are everywhere.
Basically, just stay chill.
Next Steps for You:
If you're curious about your own "Florida Man" birthday, check the official Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) public access system rather than just relying on clickbait sites. You can search by date and county to see the actual raw data of what goes down in the Sunshine State. For those traveling, keep an eye on the FL511 app for real-time traffic alerts during the Thanksgiving rush to avoid the areas where these major "Florida Man" accidents tend to cluster.