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Jacksonville police are working to identify a body found along Interstate 295 on the Westside on Monday.
The remains were discovered just around the corner from Walmart on Collins Road, where missing mother Brandi Mershell was last seen two weeks ago.
A local mother of two has been missing for more than two weeks. I'm talking with family members who are desperate to find her. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/DOMrqwJWu1
— Christy Turner (@ChristyANJax) February 5, 2018
Action News Jax’s Christy Turner spoke with Linda McClamma, Mershell’s mother, earlier in the day on Monday. At the time, she said she was hopeful her daughter would come home.
She said she was trying to stay positive for her daughter’s two children, ages 12 and 4, but now she is fearing the worst.
Brandi, a mother to a 12 and 4 y/o, was last seen on surveillance video leaving the Walmart on Collins Rd. Employees said she was acting erratically, per family members. @ActionNewsJax
— Christy Turner (@ChristyANJax) February 5, 2018
Officers on scene said Monday afternoon they are working to figure out how the body got there, as well as how the victim died.
Police have not yet released the identity of the body found, but McClamma called Turner just hours after they spoke to say police came to her home to tell her they think they found her daughter’s body.
The mother of Brandi Mershell called to tell me that detectives showed up to her doorstep this afternoon to say the body found along 295 may belong to Brandi. @ActionNewsJax
— Christy Turner (@ChristyANJax) February 5, 2018
Earlier Monday, McClamma said she was worried sick.
“My baby can't be gone. She just can't be gone. She's got her kids to raise,” McClamma said. “It's just tearing me up.”
“That’s my mommy.” Savanna looks at the missing person’s poster for her mother, Brandi Mershell. Heartbreaking. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/V7PJbeSCCh
— Christy Turner (@ChristyANJax) February 5, 2018
McClamma they are waiting on autopsy results from the medical examiner’s office, but detectives told her the tattoos on the body match the ones that Mershell has.
Follow @ActionNewsJax on Twitter and watch CBS47 at 5 for the latest information.
The mother of the missing woman said detectives told her the body found on I-295 had tattoos that matched that of Brandi Mershell. @ActionNewsJax
— Christy Turner (@ChristyANJax) February 5, 2018
WATCH LIVE: Traffic on I-295 after body found
Body found on side of I-295 in JacksonvilleWe will have the LATEST on what we know at CBS47 at 5. BODY FOUND ON I-295: This is right before the Collins Road exit. We are working to learn if foul play is suspected: http://bit.ly/2GRQwkY
Posted by Action News Jax on Monday, February 5, 2018
I’m working to speak with the officers on scene. Detectives are looking at something right where the woods begin. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/LjYFHHDMkg
— Christy Turner (@ChristyANJax) February 5, 2018
Confirmed with officers on scene that a body was found along the interstate. @ActionNewsJax
— Christy Turner (@ChristyANJax) February 5, 2018
Officers say they expect to be out here for awhile investigating. They’ve requested Road Rangers to assist with traffic. @ActionNewsJax
— Christy Turner (@ChristyANJax) February 5, 2018
The body is right where the woods begin. The officer said they’re not sure how the person died or how they got there. Homicide detectives are investigating. @ActionNewsJax
— Christy Turner (@ChristyANJax) February 5, 2018
Heads up drivers! Police activity on 295 SB just before Collins Rd. exit. Police have crime scene tape up along the wood line. A detective is on scene. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/8iGwHxPzgT
— Christy Turner (@ChristyANJax) February 5, 2018
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