Woman found dead on side of A1A in St. Johns County is 24-year-old from Middleburg

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. —

A woman found dead on the side of A1A on Sunday morning in St. Johns County has been identified as a Clay County woman.

The woman is Brianna Jane Gibson, 24, of Middleburg, according to a release from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office.

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When Gibson was found dead, the Florida Highway Patrol originally thought her cause of death was due to a hit-and-run crash, SJSO said.

Gibson’s sister, Taylor Gibson, spoke to Action News Jax about the life the 24-year-old leaves behind.

“As an older sister you always think your younger sister is going to be coming to you for guidance. There were plenty of times, plenty of times, I had to go to her,” said Taylor. “…She was my baby. She’ll be greatly missed.”

Investigators with SJSO’S Major Crimes Unit took over the investigation and found that Gibson and her boyfriend left Gibson’s family’s home on Saturday night and she, her vehicle -- a white Hummer -- and her boyfriend hadn’t been seen since.

Gibson’s vehicle was later found abandoned in an apartment complex, which SJSO said was “some distance away from the partner’s residence.”

SJSO investigators seized the vehicle and shortly thereafter, “family members of the boyfriend contacted the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and stated the subject wished to turn himself in regarding an outstanding and unrelated warrant,” the release detailed.

Investigators have met with the boyfriend, who has been cooperating and provided an account of the night’s events, SJSO said.

Deputies say there are no named suspects at this time.

Taylor discussed her sister Brianna’s relationship with her boyfriend.

“He loved her to death, and she adored him. He motivated her,” said Taylor. “… We don’t feel like he would cause her intentional harm.”

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Detectives are continuing to seek any information regarding the whereabouts of Gibson and her vehicle from 10 p.m. Saturday evening until early Sunday morning.

SJSO said the vehicle is known to have been in Duval, St. Johns and Clay counties during this time frame.

If you have any information regarding this investigation you are asked to call the SJSO Major Crimes Unit at 904-824-8304.

The investigation is ongoing.

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St. Johns County Sheriff's Office have identified the woman who was found on the side of A1A. Detectives are continuing to seek any information regarding the whereabouts of Brianna Gibson and her vehicle from 10 p.m. Saturday evening until early Sunday morning.

Woman found dead on the side of A1A

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