Late Tuesday morning, a woman was found dead along the banks of Goodby's Creek behind the Hooters on San Jose Boulevard in Jacksonville, and the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office has opened an investigation. Deputies were called to the scene around 11:30 a.m. and pronounced her dead on the creek bank. Her name has not been released, and authorities have not provided an official cause of death.
According to News4JAX, the person who spotted the woman went inside the restaurant and told a Hooters manager, who then got authorities involved. A viewer who shared video with the station said they watched investigators pull what appeared to be an unclothed body from the water. The outlet reports it first started questioning the sheriff's office about the situation on July 10 after viewers began sending in tips. The department released an incident report but has otherwise kept public details to a minimum.
Where the discovery was made
The Jacksonville Hooters at 8938 San Jose Blvd sits directly on Goodby's Creek, and the restaurant's online listing notes dock access, putting the business right up against the water's edge. Nearby launch points on the creek include the John Lowe boat ramp at Goodby's Lake, listed in cleanup materials published by the City of Jacksonville. With restaurants, marinas and public ramps all feeding into the same stretch of water, it is not surprising that people out on boats were among the first to notice something was wrong.
Investigation and how to help
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office has confirmed the case is still under active investigation while detectives wait for the Duval County Medical Examiner to rule on the cause of death, and it has not said whether the woman has been formally identified, according to News4JAX. Anyone with information is asked to call the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office non-emergency line at 904-630-0500 or reach out through the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office website. Tipsters can also contact the Homicide Unit directly at 904-630-2172. Anonymous tips may be submitted to First Coast Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.
Neighbors and regulars who use the St. Johns River and Goodby's Creek said they were rattled by the scene, as video clips and speculation circulated locally. This story will be updated as authorities release more information.
