Pensacola True Crime Tour: Detective-Led Sweet Tea Murders

Five documented murders told by the detective who investigated them

A 75-minute guided walking tour of downtown Pensacola led by Michael Earl Simmons, a retired 30-year homicide investigator and author of 15 local crime books. The tour unpacks five authentic killings (including the 1833 assassination of Mayor Salvador Alba, maritime violence, and a 1914 mother's vengeance) on the flat perimeter of historic Plaza Ferdinand VII. Small groups allow live Q&A with the guide.

Step-by-step itinerary

Sweet Tea Murders walking tour

• Meet outside The Bodacious Olive
• Explore historic Plaza Ferdinand VII
• Walk through downtown Pensacola streets
• Hear stories of five authentic killings
• Visit landmarks related to local crimes
• Return to The Bodacious Olive

The experience

Michael Earl Simmons spent three decades investigating homicides for the Pensacola Police Department. Now he leads this 75-minute walk through documented local crimes that shaped the city's past, starting outside The Bodacious Olive on Palafox Street. The route stays on flat, paved sidewalks under one city block total, no strenuous trekking, and circles the historic Plaza Ferdinand VII, where Andrew Jackson formally accepted West Florida from Spain in 1821. The five cases span from frontier violence to early 20th-century vengeance, each one grounded in court records and local archives, not ghost stories or theatrical invention.

The tour runs Saturdays at 4:00 PM and keeps groups small so you can ask questions as you walk. Simmons draws on his own investigative experience and his 15 published books on Pensacola crime and history, giving the stories the weight of someone who worked the cases or knew the detectives who did. You'll pass the 1887 Renaissance Revival building that once housed the U.S. Customs House and Courthouse, now the Artel Gallery, and the 1912 Neoclassical courthouse that held a third-floor gallows: the site of the region's last execution in 1920. Each stop anchors a crime to the actual places where it unfolded.

What’s included

• 75-minute guided walking tour led by a retired homicide detective.
• Commemorative Tour Cards.

Before you book

Days and timesSaturdayDeparts at 16:00

Book up to1h before

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Sweet Tea Murders

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English and delivers the commentary as a retired investigator, so the stories land as firsthand professional knowledge rather than theatrical interpretation: suited to anyone who wants documented history told by someone who worked the cases.

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Top questions

What crimes does the Sweet Tea Murders tour cover?

The tour unpacks five documented local killings: the 1833 assassination of Mayor Salvador Alba, maritime violence, and a 1914 mother's vengeance, among others. Each case is grounded in court records and local history, not folklore.

How far do you walk on this tour?

The route covers approximately 1.5 miles on flat, paved sidewalks around the historic Plaza Ferdinand VII and downtown Pensacola, staying under one city block total in terms of elevation change or difficult terrain.

Who leads the tour?

Michael Earl Simmons, a retired Pensacola Police homicide investigator with 30 years on the force and author of 15 local crime and history books, leads the tour and takes live questions from the group.

When does the tour run and how many people go?

The tour departs Saturdays at 4:00 PM from outside The Bodacious Olive at 407 S. Palafox Street. Groups are kept small to allow Q&A with the guide throughout the walk.