LAKE CITY, Fla. – Columbia County investigators are trying to identify a body found late Friday morning in Lake City by searchers looking for a missing Baker County woman.
K-9 units discovered the body on property near the intersection of State Road 47 and Business Point Drive around 11:30 a.m.
It was discovered just yards from where 56-year-old Sharon Jackson's car was found June 22.
Jackson (pictured) disappeared nearly two weeks ago, and her Chevrolet Equinox was found the next day along Highway 47, just south of Lake City. Deputies said Jackson's purse was still in the SUV, but its contents had been scattered around.
Investigators said it's unclear if the body that was found is a man or woman, and they are not drawing any conclusions just yet.
Still, Jackson's family was notified about the discovery and was at the scene Friday.
"(Baker County) Sheriff (Joey) Dobson has been over there speaking with her family, and they're quite upset," Columbia County Sheriff Mark Hunter said. "You know, we don't know that this is her. There's a good chance it is, but at this point, I cannot say definitely that it is her until we get through with our process."
Hunter said there are other missing persons reported in the area, which is why it's not safe to jump to any conclusions about who the body might be.
Several agencies were processing the scene for clues Friday afternoon, and a large area was taped off. Deputies asked residents to stay clear of the area as K-9 teams continued to investigate.
Hunter said a lot of questions remain in the case, but they are considering the death a homicide.
The body was delivered to the medical examiner, who will determine its identity and cause of death.