JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Update 12/29 3 p.m.: Action News Jax has confirmed that the woman found dead in a Cedar Hills home Saturday was Atlantic Coast High School teacher Vivian James.
After multiple sources told Action News Jax they believed the woman found dead was James, Atlantic Coast High School PTSA posted an announcement that James died.
“She was simply AMAZING.” Teachers at Atlantic Coast High School tell me they started a #Justice4MsJames hashtag for Vivian James, a teacher found dead in her home Saturday. @ActionNewsJax @WOKVNews @RussellANjax @LorenaANjax pic.twitter.com/TQd23XuEJG
— Alicia Tarancon (@AliciaANJax) December 29, 2019
There will be grief counselors available for students and faculty at ACHS next week.
JSO could not confirm James’s identity because her family enacted Marsy’s law. We reached out to Duval County Public Schools to confirm this new development and they said their offices are closed until next week.
Original story: A woman in her 40′s was found dead inside her home Saturday on the 5100 block of Glen Alan Court in Cedar Hills, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
Neighbors told Action News Jax the woman was a school teacher. One neighbor said she had been trying to call her all morning, but has not been able to reach her.
“My heart is broken,” A friend of the woman told us. She did not want to give out her name.
Police responded to the home around 7:40 a.m. Saturday, and the death is being investigated as a homicide.
The street where a woman was found dead in her home is no longer blocked off. Police only have the victim’s hope blocked off. A JSO officer just told me that he’s sitting outside to make sure no one goes inside. Detectives will be back tonight to continue investigating pic.twitter.com/50Cd3jFzjV
— Meghan Moriarty (@MeghanANjax) December 28, 2019
The woman lived alone and a friend discovered her body, police say. Investigators believe she died within the last 48 hours.
Neighbors told Action News Jax this is usually a safe neighborhood.
“We never had no problems where someone came out of nowhere killing,” Sebrina Williams said. She lives on the same block as the victim.
In the last month, there was one reported crime, just a street over. The JSO crime map lists the crime as a burglary. No weapons were involved. Otherwise, we found no reports of violent crimes in the neighborhood.
“I’m praying that they will find out who did this, because it’s very puzzling,” The victim’s friend said.
Action News Jax is working to confirm the identity of the woman with JSO.
© 2019 Cox Media Group
