CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – A 65-year-old woman last seen in March is presumed dead after human remains were found Tuesday night in her Middleburg home, according to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies called to investigate the disappearance of Paula Kirk at her home on Sherwood Drive were greeted by her 41-year-old son. After detecting an odor of decomposition, the Sheriff’s Office obtained a search warrant. The remains were found inside.
The son, Cameron Kirk, left the home during the search. He was located a few miles away, taken into custody and later charged him with second-degree murder. He was booked into the Clay County Jail early Wednesday morning.
Police have been at the scene for 24 hours.
News4Jax crime and safety analyst Ken Jefferson says in cases where human remains are found, the investigation can take quite awhile.
“They’ve got to be methodical. Take their time,” Jefferson said. “They’ve got to make sure that they’re covering every piece of evidence in that house, so they’re going to scour that house from top to bottom to make sure they don’t miss anything.”
Neighbors said they’ve witnessed officers stopping by the home fairly regularly for weeks.