Officers searching for priest, person of interest at Jacksonville motel

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office suspects foul play in the disappearance of a 71-year-old priest.

Father Rene Robert was reported missing Tuesday. Jacksonville Sheriff's officers were at the Stars Rest Inn on the Westside on Wednesday afternoon going door-to-door looking for Father Rene and person of interest, Steven Murray.

The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office located Father Rene's vehicle late Tuesday night and attempted a traffic stop. Law Enforcement from SJSO then chased the vehicle on Interstate 95 where the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office assisted. The high-speed pursuit went through the county and into Jacksonville, where the vehicle was lost in the construction area of Interstate 95 and J. Turner Butler Boulevard.

The vehicle has not been found, said SJSO.

It is believed that Murray, 28, of Jacksonville, was driving Father Rene's vehicle, which is a 2012 blue Toyota 4-door Corolla with a Florida Special Olympics tag of SBA 594. Father Rene is 5 feet 8 inches tall and wears eyeglasses.

Deputies believe Father Rene was helping Murray through a tough time, and Murray was staying at Father Rene's home. Murray has three prior arrests in Duval County, the most recent on March 22 for a suspended driver's license and failure to appear. Murray was released from the Duval County Jail on April 6, according to the JSO Inmate Information Search.

Murray's other two arrests in Duval County were in 2012 and 2015. In 2012, he was arrested for burglary, dealing in stolen property and giving false verification of ownership of pawned items. In 2015, he was arrested for failure to appear.

Anyone with any information concerning the whereabouts of Father Rene or his vehicle is asked to contact SJSO Major Crimes Detectives with at (904) 824-8304.

Trending on ActionNewsJax.com:

• Uber driver, college basketball player among 12 arrested in St. Johns county child sex sting
• St. Johns County authorities searching for missing priest
• 3 arrested in rape that reportedly took place at Terry Parker High School
• Man who got 'diabetes here i come' on Starbucks cup wants to bring awareness to diabetes
• Man goes in for routine dental surgery, wakes up with no teeth

Cox Media Group