JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Police are investigating a woman's death as murder after her body was found Monday morning underneath a bridge on Zoo Parkway near Dunn Creek, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.
According to the incident report, Dana Renee Danson, 31, was found dead lying on her back wearing only a bikini top, which had been pulled down. The report initially classified the woman's death as undetermined, but police later said her death was being investigated as murder.
Jason Cain, who said he was down by the river to catch fishing bait, told News4Jax he made the grim discovery.
"At first I was like, 'I hope she is alright,' and then once I (got) closer and looked at her, I'm like, 'She's gone,'" Cain said. "Her whole face was red, bluish and a purple color."
The tide was low when Danson's body was found, the Sheriff's Office said. During high tide, the area where she was found is mostly covered.
Cain said Danson was unrecognizable when he found her. He said he hopes her killer is brought to justice.
"You wouldn’t know unless you'd seen it. It was horrible," Cain said.
No arrests were made in Danson's murder, police said. Anyone with information should contact JSO at 904-630-0500 or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-866-845-TIPS.
According to JSO, Danson is the 79th person murdered in Jacksonville in 2018. That does not include homicides that are pending classification.