BALDWIN, Fla. – The family of a 25-year-old woman found dead on the side of the road in Baldwin this weekend said they want to make sure people know how much they loved her.
The death of Nikki Lynn Redden is being investigated as a homicide, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, her body was found by a patrol officer Sunday night in the cul-de-sac of Baldwin Tradeplex Circle, off U.S. 301 outside Hard Rock Materials Company.
Kim Redden said she’s still grieving the loss of her sister Nikki Redden.
“This is the saddest thing ever. I thought losing my momma was bad, but this is like, just as bad,” Kim Redden told News4Jax.
She said she found out Nikki Redden was missing when their father posted on Facebook, “Has anyone seen Nikki?”
“The next thing we got is a homicide detective at my dad’s house, telling us that it was Nikki’s body found in Baldwin on the side of the road,” Kim Redden said.
Kim Redden said her sister leaves behind two children, a 3-year-old and a 7-year-old.
She also talked about how close she was with her sister.
“She’s the baby of seven of us. And I’ve lived a rough life. And I’ve been on drugs and in the streets. And out of all people, I never would have thought that would’ve been my sister. I would have thought it would have been me before my sister. It’s horrible. This is the worst thing in our life that we have to go through, is burying our baby sister. It’s horrible,” Kim Redden said, crying. “And I just want justice for my sister. And her kids.”
Kim Redden said she and her family are staying in touch with police.
The Sheriff’s Office said it’s been working with the Medical Examiner’s Office to gather evidence, and homicide detectives are actively pursuing the case. They have not announced a suspect.