JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A woman was found dead Monday at a home in Mandarin, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
Officers said they were called about 6:45 a.m. to Big Feather Trail, near the intersection of San Jose Boulevard and Crown Point Road. That’s where police said they found a woman, described as being in her 60s, dead inside a home.
Police said the body was first found by a family member who came to check on the woman because she had not been responding to calls Monday morning.
Detectives said that there are indications of foul play and that the woman’s death is being investigated as a homicide.
The medical examiner’s office will be completing an autopsy.
According to JSO, there were no signs of forced entry to the home. Investigators said one other person, a family friend, lived there but hasn’t been found or accounted for yet. They said they are looking for the roommate to question them, if nothing else, to confirm that person is safe.
“I don’t know that we have suspects. We are looking for people that that live in the home or had contact with this young lady that we’d like to talk to,” said JSO Sgt. Mike Russell.
The incident put nearby residents in a state of disbelief.
“It’s a very good neighborhood. I mean, it’s a good school district. You got kids running around, playing all the time, and you don’t have anything going on this. I thought it was a crime-free neighborhood,” said Eldwin Marzan, who lives nearby. “Neighbors say hello, goodbye. Everybody’s walking up and down at all weird hours.”
“I’m in awe. I walk up and down the streets at night, sometimes just walking around to de-stress — never, not a peep,” said Nancy Marzan, who lives nearby. “I hope that there’s like police security going around. I mean, you never know exactly what happened. This is crazy.”
They weren’t the only ones who say violence is rare in the neighborhood.
“Oh, it’s real quiet, really a nice neighborhood. People are always walking the dogs. There’s always activity going on,” said a neighbor, who asked not to be identified. “To see something this close is definitely scary.”
According to JSO crime records, over the past six months, there have been relatively few violent incidents within a mile of Big Feather Trail. Records show one incident of carjacking with a deadly weapon and several incidents of domestic battery have been reported.
Anyone with information about Monday’s homicide is asked to call JSO at 904-630-0500. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS (8477).
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story said police responded to a report of a person shot, but JSO later told News4JAX that a shooting did not occur.