Synopsis: On February 19, 1971, the body of a white female homicide victim was discovered under the Lake Panasoffkee Bridge at Interstate 75 in Sumter County. The victim has never been identified.

In March 2012, Sumter sheriff's detectives requested the Anthropology Department at the University of South Florida conduct further testing on the 41 year old remains after learning of the university's involvement in other bay area cold cases. The Anthropology Department re-examined the remains and generated a new composite image of the victim and that of her clothing worn at the time of her death. Those new images are listed above. At the time of her death, she was between 17-24 years of age, approximately 5'02"-5'05" tall, weighed approximately 110-120 lbs. and had dark colored hair and brown eyes. She was wearing plaid green pants, a matching solid green shirt, and a shawl with green and yellow print. She had a Baylor wrist watch on her left hand, a yellow gold ring with clear stone on her left ring finger, and a small, thin yellow gold necklace.

The victim's teeth were examined by the Geological Sciences Department at the University of Florida. The conclusion of the analysis determined that the victim is possibly of Greek descent and most probably had come to the United States ten to twelve months before her death. Further testing determined the victim's teeth contained a high level of Pb (lead) that may link the victim to the small town of Lavrion, which is located approximately 60 miles southeast of Athens, Greece. Lavrion is known for its high level of lead contamination associated with mining operations in the region.

Anyone with any possible information, please contact Sumter County Sheriff's Office Detective Darren Norris at 352-569-1617 / 352-569-1600 or by email at dnorris@sumtercountysheriff.org.  

On Friday November 6th 1970 the body of Erith Wybert Hall was discovered at the Super Test Station formerly located at 210 N. Main St. Wildwood, Florida. Hall an employee at the station was the victim of homicide, the incident was believed to have occurred during the commission of a robbery. Hall was shot multiple times with a small caliber firearm. No witnesses have ever come forward in the case. This incident is believed to have occurred while a Wildwood High School Football game was being played nearby. If you or someone you know has information regarding this case, please contact Captain Kevin Hofecker at the Sumter County Sheriffs Office by telephone at (352)569-1600 or (352) 569-1680, fax # (352) 569-1605 or by email at khofecker@sumtercountysheriff.org.  

On February 22nd 1972 at around 8 a.m. the bodies of 19 year old Shirley Elizabeth Whitten and 26 year old Roger Dale Higgins were discovered in the Oak Grove Cemetery at the end of CR 232 in Wildwood, Florida. Both persons were determined to be the victims of homicide as they were both stabbed multiple times. Shirley Whitten worked at the Union 76 Truck Stop at the time of her death. Roger Dale Higgins had just accepted a new position as a lumper for a moving company and had stopped in to rest at the truck stop with his employer. If you or someone you know has information regarding this case, please contact Captain Kevin Hofecker at the Sumter County Sheriffs Office by telephone at (352) 569-1600 or (352) 569-1680, fax # (352) 569-1605 or by email at khofecker@sumtercountysheriff.org. 

On July 27th 1976 at approximately 10:12 a.m. the skeletal remains of 17 year old Marilyn Elizabeth McKenzia were discovered in a wooded lot off of Jackson Street in Wildwood, Florida. She was possibly last seen in the Wildwood area getting into a 1970's model blue and white Buick Electra 225 with two unknown black males. McKenzia had left Pennsylvania in November of 1975 to pick apples and later traveled with the seasonal farm laborers picking watermelons between Immokalee, Florida and Wildwood, Florida. Marilyn McKenzia's cause of death was determined to be a homicide and it is suspected that she was physically beaten just prior to her death. It was estimated that McKenzia had been killed approximately two months prior to the discovery of her body. Anyone with any possible information, please contact Captain Kevin Hofecker at the Sumter County Sheriffs Office by telephone at (352) 569-1600 or (352) 569-1680, fax # (352) 569-1605 or by email at khofecker@sumtercountysheriff.org. 

On January 23rd 1977 at approximately 4:45 p.m. the skeletal remains of an unidentified male were discovered off of S.R. 44 approximately 5 miles west of Interstate 75. The remains were uncovered inside what is known as the Ventura Ranch just inside the fence line. The cause of death was determined to be a homicide as a result of trauma to the head. The remains were that of a black male estimated to be between 57 and 62 years of age. The victim was believed to be approximately 5'6" and 170 lbs. He would likely have had a muscular build and his upper row of teeth were missing with three remaining on the lower row. The victim was found wearing a brown shirt, brown pants, and bright blue - size 10 penny loafer style shoes. The victim had in his possession a men's stainless steel Ermano brand diver's style watch. Anyone with any possible information, please contact Captain Kevin Hofecker at the Sumter County Sheriffs Office by telephone at (352) 569-1600 or (352) 5691680, fax # (352) 569-1605 or by email at khofecker@sumtercountysheriff.org. 

On May 2nd 1979 the skeletal remains of 19 year old Virginia Mary Ries were discovered in a wooded median strip on Interstate 75 just north of the Webster Exit #309. Virginia Ries was last seen leaving her mothers home located in Punta Gorda, Florida with her boyfriend. Her boyfriend reportedly dropped her off at Interstate 75 and Bush Blvd in Tampa, Florida. From there Virginia was to hitchhike her way back to Columbus Airforce Base in Mississippi where she had been serving in the Air Force. Her cause of death was determined to be a homicide as a result of stabbing. Anyone with any possible information, please contact Captain Kevin Hofecker at the Sumter County Sheriffs Office by telephone at (352) 569-1600 or (352) 569-1680, fax # (352) 569-1605 or email at khofecker@sumtercountysheriff.org. 

In the early morning hours of Sunday June 17th 1979 the Webster Fire Department responded to a report of a residential structure fire at the home of 89 year old Addie Torrance. The body of Addie Torrance was later found inside of her bedroom. Her death was determined to be a homicide and evidence suggested that her body had been doused with gasoline and then ignited causing her death. Anyone with any possible information, please contact Captain Kevin Hofecker at the Sumter County Sheriffs Office by telephone at (352) 569-1600 or (352) 569-1680, fax # (352) 569-1605 or by email at khofecker@sumtercountysheriff.org. 

On October 11th 1979 the body of 21 year old David Richard Edwards was discovered just off of W. CR 48 approximately three miles west of Interstate 75 in Bushnell, Florida. David Edwards was determined to be the victim of homicide resulting from multiple gunshot wounds. He was last seen as he left his home in Ocala on the way to the Super Bowl Bowling Alley also in Ocala on October 8th 1979. The victim's 1979 Silver Pontiac Trans Am was later found parked and abandoned at the Tampa International Airport. The victims credit card was also found to have been used in Tampa with two suspects being present at the time of sale. Anyone with any possible information, please contact Captain Kevin Hofecker at the Sumter County Sheriffs Office by telephone at (352) 569-1600 or (352) 569-1680, fax # (352) 569-1605 or by email at khofecker@sumtercountysheriff.org.  

On April 6th 1981 at approximately 3:30 p.m. the body of 53 year old Luellen Gadson was discovered in a wooded area off of CR 219 approximately one mile west of the City Limits of Wildwood, Florida. Gadson had been shot in the face with a shotgun. An eyewitness reported seeing Luellen Gadson being forced into a brown Ford Station-Wagon around midnight on the night she was last seen. According to the eyewitness, the vehicle was occupied by two black males. The occupant's pulled along side Gadson at which time the driver exited the vehicle and pushed her inside. She was not seen again until her body was discovered four days later. Anyone with any possible information, please contact Captain Kevin Hofecker at the Sumter County Sheriffs Office by telephone at (352) 569-1600 or (352) 569-1680, fax # (352) 569-1605 or by email at khofecker@sumtercountysheriff.org. 

On April 13th 1992 at approximately 6:55 a.m. the body of 44 year old Jan David Fox was discovered along N. C.R. 475 just south of CR 470/Interstate 75. The cause of death was determined to be a homicide as a result of a single gunshot wound to the head. The victim had recently been seen with two unidentified large men described as "biker types" at the Fuel City Truck Stop located at C.R. 470 and Interstate 75. During the initial investigation, numerous sources suggested that members of the Outlaws Motorcycle Gang had put a hit out him. Anyone with any possible information, please contact Captain Kevin Hofecker at the Sumter County Sheriffs Office by telephone at (352) 569-1600 or (352) 569-1680, fax # (352) 569-1605 or by email at khofecker@sumtercountysheriff.org.  

On May 7th 2006 at approximately 1:01 p.m. the body of 30 year old Robert Lee Preston was discovered in a wooded area off of Interstate 75 in Sumter County. The victim's death was determined to be a homicide as a result of multiple gunshot wounds. He had previously been reported missing by his girlfriend after she last saw him on April 23rd 2006 in St. Petersburg, Florida. Anyone with any possible information, please contact Captain Kevin Hofecker at the Sumter County Sheriffs Office by telephone at (352) 569-1600 or (352) 569-1680, fax # (352) 569-1605 or by email at khofecker@sumtercountysheriff.org. 

On September 17th 2007 the body of 20 year old Jaime Ortiz-Morales was discovered in a wooded area off of CR 656-G in the "Croom" area of Sumter County, Florida. The cause of death was determined to be homicide as a result of multiple gunshot wounds. The time of death was estimated to be sometime between the early evening hours of September 13th 2007 and the morning hours of September 14th 2007. The victim had a unique tattoo on his left upper bicep which may help someone remember seeing him. Anyone with any possible information, contact Detective Darrin Norris at the Sumter County Sheriffs Office by telephone at (352)569-1680 or (352) by fax at (352) 569-1605, or email at dnorris@sumtercountysheriff.org