JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A body discovered in the woods near Little Talbot Island State Park in 1990 still has not been identified, and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is looking for your help.
On Jan. 20, 1990, a couple went for a walk near Heckscher Drive and made a shocking discovery.
“They came across the skeletal remains propped against a tree,” Detective Travis Oliver Sr. said. “They contacted law enforcement. Homicide detectives responded to the area and found parts of the victim’s body.”
Oliver said the person died from a gunshot wound. They believe the body had been in the woods for about six months before it was found, which has made identifying the victim extremely difficult.
He said the victim was a white man in his 50s.
Investigators place the victim around 6-foot-2 to 6-foot-4.
“So we know we’re dealing with a very large human being,” Oliver said.
He said identifying the victim is vital to moving the investigation forward.
“The first step into the investigation is identifying the victim,” he said. “Once you identified the victim and then you dig into what your victim was involved with, then that helps you identify who he was involved with. So, the thing that has hindered this investigation for 30-plus years is not knowing who he is.”
Oliver said it’s possible witnesses might not be alive and any evidence might be lost after 30 years, but they’re not giving up on solving the case.
Anyone with any information is encouraged to contact JSO’s non-emergency line at 904-630-0500.