JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A woman was found dead Thursday in front of her home in Arlington, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said.
Police responded around 10:15 a.m. to the home on Cesery Boulevard after receiving a 911 call.
Sgt. Steve Rudlaff with the JSO Homicide Unit said foul play is suspected, as the woman’s body had blunt force injuries, possibly stab wounds. He said kitchen utensils were found near the body.
The body was transported to the medical examiner’s office.
Investigators said the homicide took place after 6 a.m., which was when the woman — who was identified by her ex-boyfriend and several close neighbors as 68-year-old Gail Clark — spoke to her daughter. Rudlaff said the daughter told JSO there was nothing out of the ordinary about the conversation.
“All of this is a big surprise to us. Unexpected. No one knew of her having any kind of enemies or having any kind of beef with anybody,” said Terry Clark, the victim’s ex-boyfriend. “I just don’t understand why.”
Terry Clark said he and Gail Clark had a son together and their son recently moved in with her, but the move was not permanent.
“It was not like a 100-percent in and 100-percent out. It was just to keep an eye on (her),” Terry Clark said.
When Terry Clark arrived on scene, he said he was looking for his son, but hadn’t been able to find him.
Rudlaff said at a news briefing that the Sheriff’s Office would be reaching out to the woman’s son.
Neighbors, who News4Jax has chosen not to identify, were both frightened by what happened and saddened about losing a neighbor.
“I’m shocked that a murder could happen so close by,” one neighbor said.
Another neighbor said: “This is a quiet little neighborhood. Not much goes on here, so I’m mostly surprised.”
Detectives said they were working to question neighbors, friends and anyone else who may have information.
“The female was attacked,” Rudlaff said. “We do not know if this is domestic or unknown, so at this point, there’s concern. We ask that anybody who was in this area that does have any type of surveillance video cameras at their house, please contact us. We are going door to door, canvassing the area.”
Anyone with information or who lives in the area and has surveillance footage is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 904-630-0500. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS (8477).
Cesery Boulevard between Redberry Lane and Maple Leaf Drive North, a few blocks south of Merrill Road, was closed for several hours while police investigated the woman’s death.