Spring Break of 2023 has seen a lot of violence, and now Tracey Penrod, co-owner of the famous Elbo Room in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Penrod has allegedly passed away due to a domestic incident.
Penrod was remembered fondly by her family and friends. On Facebook, her relative wrote, “My aunt Tracey Penrod passed away peacefully this morning. Please be respectful of our family during this time as we go through another loss this year.” A friend wrote, “Tracey Penrod was the best person with the best personality. She was one of the sweetest kindest souls ever.”
The Fort Lauderdale Police Department is investigating the incident, which is being treated as domestic battery. According to a heavily redacted police report, a caller reported that “she was climbing over the banister. I don't know! She fell onto the concrete.”
Penrod’s death comes at an especially difficult time for her family. In August of last year, her 24-year-old son passed away. On Facebook, five months ago, Penrod had commented on a photo of herself, writing, “Life has gotten very stressed since this pic.”
Spring break has been wild this year forcing police to crack down in Miami after two people were murdered in separate incidents.
Until the domestic incident involving Penrod Fort Lauderdale had been experiencing a very quiet Spring Break.
Fort Lauderdale police told Fox News, "There were no major incidents related to the 2023 Spring Break season," minus two "notable" arrests for a random assault on a disabled man and a fight with a security staff member at a bar.
Things were so bad in Miami that the city declared a state of emergency.
"In response to the illegal and unruly behavior exhibited by these large crowds during March 2023, and in order to provide for the health and safety of persons and property, the city deployed hundreds of law enforcement officers," according to Miami Beach's state of emergency declaration.
Meanwhile, things in Fort Lauderdale were fun and peaceful.
Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis told reporters that he has been really pleased with how things have gone this year.
"We don't allow drinking on the beach, unless you're being served by a hotel," Trantalis told CBS. "The bars are open to a certain time, they're not open as late as other cities are. We try to curb the excitement a little bit."
