JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said its traffic homicide unit is now leading the investigation in the case of a woman who disappeared after a crash on the Mathews Bridge on Dec. 8. Her body was found a week later in the St. Johns River.
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Jacksonville police and Jacksonville Fire and Rescue responded to the crash at the top of the bridge the day of the wreck. That’s where they found Jareesha Wilkerson’s disabled vehicle, but the 27 year old was not there, according to a JSO news release.
“The investigation revealed that Wilkerson’s sedan became disabled near the top of the bridge span,” the news release states. “A pickup truck then collided with her vehicle, followed by an SUV that crashed into the pickup truck. In a separate lane, there was an additional three-car crash.”
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JFRD’s rescue boat arrived on the scene and searched the river along with the department’s dive team, the news release states. “Officers contacted her [Wilkerson’s] loved ones, attempted to reach her at multiple phone numbers, visited addresses associated with her, and checked area hospitals and jails, but she could not be located,” the news release states.
Police found her phone in her disabled vehicle. JSO missing persons unit investigated the disappearance and the JSO marine unit followed up with additional searches in the river.
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JSO’s marine unit recovered Wilkerson’s body from the St. Johns River about three and a half miles from the Mathew Bridge, the news release states. “JSO’s Traffic Homicide Unit detectives are now leading the investigation into her death,” police said.
Anyone with information related to the case is asked to contact JSO at 904-630-0500 or JSOCrimeTips@jaxsheriff.org. To remain anonymous, call First Coast Crime Stoppers at 1.866.845.TIPS or text **8477.
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