A spray-painted message reading “Dead Dyer” showed up on a wall across from the lake and walking path in Orlando’s Baldwin Park over the weekend, jolting residents in the typically quiet, upscale neighborhood. The fresh tag followed an earlier “Dump Dyer” scrawl that had been covered up, and at least one of the slogans stayed in public view for two days.
According to West Orlando News, both “Dead Dyer” and “Dump Dyer” were painted on the wall facing the popular lakefront path and remained visible through the weekend. The outlet reported that city public information managers Ashley Papagni and Andrea Otero did not respond to repeated inquiries, and that a staffer in the mayor’s office confirmed both were on duty Monday morning but would not take calls or reply to emails about the messages.
City Hall Stays Mum While Messages Linger
Buddy Dyer is the mayor of Orlando, as listed on the City of Orlando’s official website. The Orlando Police Department’s 2025 annual report identifies Lieutenant Yong Hall as the public information commander, the position that typically handles communication around investigations into threats and neighborhood vandalism.
Where Vandalism Meets Florida Felony Law
Florida law does not take written threats lightly. F.S. 836.10 makes it a crime to post any writing or other record that contains a threat to kill or cause bodily harm. Another statute, F.S. 784.048, defines aggravated stalking when a pattern of conduct amounts to a “credible threat.”
Those laws leave room for investigators and prosecutors to decide whether graffiti like this gets treated as protected political speech or as a criminal threat, a distinction that could mean the difference between a vandalism case and something far more serious.
Residents Rattled Amid Tensions Around Dyer
West Orlando News noted that letting the messages sit in an affluent neighborhood is not a good look for Orlando, and some residents told the outlet the slogans felt unsettling as they walked and biked past the wall.
The graffiti also lands in the middle of ongoing friction over Mayor Dyer’s public comments. Orlando Weekly reported that Dyer once referred to a Pulse victims’ advocate as a “second terrorist” during a dispute over the Pulse memorial, a remark that drew criticism from survivors and advocates.
What Happens Next
The Orlando Police Department indicated that investigators would look into the Baldwin Park incident, while the city’s communications team had not issued an immediate public statement about the graffiti.
Residents who noticed suspicious activity near the lake and walking path in Baldwin Park over the weekend are asked to contact OPD’s non-emergency line at 321-235-5300. Anyone facing an immediate threat should call 911.
