Body found in St. Johns County pond identified as missing New Port Richey man

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What they still don’t know is why.

Investigators are working to figure out how the missing New Port Richey man wound up dead in a St. Johns County pond.

A sheriff’s office helicopter spotted his body on Tuesday night in the pond at an abandoned KOA campground near the Sandy Creek neighborhood. It’s on the east side of I-95, south of County Road 210.

On Wednesday, the medical examiner identified the body.

White’s mother told the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office her son was in Jacksonville in late January visiting family.

He was last seen at a St. Augustine convenience store.

Detectives found the SUV he was driving in an industrial park’s abandoned parking lot on County Road 210.

SJSO said White’s last cell phone records show he was in the area of Country Road 210.

That’s why they flew the helicopter in that area on Tuesday night.

The medical examiner found no obvious signs of foul play.

Authorities identified a man and woman seen on surveillance video with White at the St. Augustine convenience store.

A SJSO spokesman said the investigation is ongoing.

“They should put fences around these ponds,” said neighbor Mike Stanchie.

Stanchie said he was there when missing 2-year-old Jett Gonzalez, who had special needs, was found in another retention pond in the Sandy Creek neighborhood in 2012.

He said adding fences would save lives.

“It would give some type of barrier,” said Stanchie.

Authorities said White was a recovering drug user, and the medical examiner’s office is waiting on toxicology testing.

Cox Media Group