A 49-year-old Jacksonville man is now booked into the Duval County jail after authorities linked him to the November killing of a 58-year-old woman. Investigators identified the victim as Alesa Leach, who was found dead inside a Northside home on November 17, 2025. Detectives say they later obtained an arrest warrant and served it this month while the suspect was already in custody. The investigation, officials emphasize, is still very much active.
JSO Lays Out Timeline And Arrest
District 5 patrol officers responded to a deceased-person call on November 17, 2025, and found Leach inside a residence near West 14th Street and Myrtle Avenue. Detectives later filed for an arrest warrant charging murder and other violations. According to investigators, that warrant was received on March 20, 2026, and served while the suspect was already behind bars.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office identified the suspect as 49-year-old Joseph Anderson. Investigators said they had previously sought a separate warrant accusing Anderson of violating an injunction Leach had obtained. Anderson was arrested in Connecticut on December 5, 2025, on that injunction-related warrant and later extradited back to Jacksonville, according to the Jax Sheriff's Office.
Protective Order And Legal Context
Leach had an injunction against the suspect, a legal tool victims use to limit contact and increase their safety. Under Florida law, violating a protective injunction can be prosecuted as a criminal offense and can carry penalties ranging from a first-degree misdemeanor to elevated felony charges in cases involving repeat violations or aggravated conduct. The statutes also allow courts to enforce injunctions through civil contempt or criminal prosecution and permit warrantless arrests in certain circumstances.
Those provisions help explain why detectives pursued both the injunction case and the homicide warrant as the investigation moved forward, as outlined by the Florida Senate.
What Happens Next And How To Help
Anderson remains in custody at the Duval County jail while detectives continue their work and prosecutors review the evidence. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office tip line at 904-630-0500.
The JSO website lists inmate-search tools and contact information for the county's pretrial detention facilities for those seeking booking or custody details. Investigators say they are still collecting evidence and welcome tips from anyone who may have witnessed the November incident or recorded video from the area. More information is available on the JSO corrections page at the Jax Sheriff's Office.
