Uncle accused in pregnant niece's murder ordered to remain in jail on no bond

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Johnathan Quiles, 34, will not be allowed to leave jail until his trial.

He faced a judge Friday morning for his first appearance after being in indicted on two counts on murder and one count of sexual battery.

JSO detectives working the case believe Quiles holds the answers to finding the body of 16-year-old Iyana Sawyer and her unborn child.

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Prosecutors moved forward with charges despite not knowing where the teen’s body is.

Action News Jax Law & Safety expert Dale Carson said circumstantial cases are not uncommon.

“There may have been physical evidence that we’re not yet aware of that was found in the automobile, that was found in the residence perhaps,” said Carson.

Sawyer’s relatives were also at the court hearing, they didn’t want to talk on-camera. One man told Action News Jax that his shirt says it all – it read “justice for Iyana”.

On Dec. 19, 2018, Sawyer was seen leaving Terry Parker High School.

Almost a month later investigators scoured a landfill for evidence and then on Jan. 31 Quiles was named a suspect.

Thursday, he was officially indicted.

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“You do have motive and that is the motive that she was pregnant with his child and he didn’t want that disclosed,” said Carson.

The address listed under “incident location” on JSO’s transparency page is for ACE Pick-A-Part on Main Street which is where Quiles worked, was later arrested and where Sky Action News Jax spotted detectives searching an SUV.

“When you see an address where an incident has occurred typically that’s where they believe the offense occurred,” said Carson.

Quiles is due back in court on Aug. 7.

Cox Media Group