Keeping it hushed up

Unfortunately, yes. There have been many car jackings on highway 200 just north of Troncones. - some in broad daylight.
Cars have been shot at. No one says anything because it might discourage tourists from coming.

This subject of the carjackings was brought up here earlier this year and I responded openly about it, but a resident of Troncones got angry and asked me to remove the comments, first saying they weren't true and later after being shown the proof claiming they were unaware. I refused to remove the comments and they later cancelled their use of my services. Perhaps there's a connection or perhaps it's just a coincidence. Nevertheless, that is what folks in the area are up against, and I would do the same again.

The local governments, on the other hand, being a principle source of revenue for many regional news media simply stop buying advertising in any media that continues publishing unflattering but truthful news. This sort of pressure is common in many tourist destinations, including Florida.