Hillsborough County deputies say a months-long mystery in the woods of Lutz has led them to a family caregiver now facing felony charges.
On Tuesday, the Sheriff’s Office announced it had identified human remains found last summer in a wooded area off the 19100 block of Ramblewood Road as those of 78-year-old Jacquelyn Cirone. Investigators allege a family member who was caring for Cirone disposed of her remains in the woods after her death.
The remains were first discovered on Aug. 8, 2025, when a passerby called deputies after spotting what appeared to be human bones in the Ramblewood Road area, according to the Tampa Bay Times. At the time, the Medical Examiner’s Office determined the remains belonged to a woman and reported no obvious signs of trauma. Detectives sealed off the area, collected evidence and began the slow work of forensic testing to pin down identity and cause of death.
Working with specialists from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, detectives eventually matched the remains to Cirone and zeroed in on a relative who had been acting as her caregiver, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. That caregiver, 64-year-old Rebecca Stewart Vaughn, was arrested following what deputies described as a months-long investigation.
Investigation and Charges
Vaughn is charged with unlawfully holding or moving a dead human body in unapproved conditions, tampering with physical evidence and failing to report a death to the medical examiner or law enforcement, the sheriff’s office said. Detectives allege the family member caring for Cirone “disposed of the victim’s remains in the woods after her death.”
Under Florida law, tampering with physical evidence is typically prosecuted as a third-degree felony; see Florida Statute 918.13. Florida’s medical examiner system and death-reporting requirements are outlined in Chapter 406 of state law, which also governs how deaths must be reported to authorities.
What Happens Next
The State Attorney’s Office will now review the arrest report and accompanying evidence and decide whether to pursue additional charges. An arraignment date had not been posted publicly as of the announcement, and officials did not immediately release information about bond.
Anyone with information that could help investigators is asked to contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Public Affairs Office or reach out anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
