A pregnant woman was found dead by a person who was walking along Jacksonville’s Riverview Park on Saturday around 6:30 am. The woman’s body who has since been identified as 21-year-old Felicia Jones was reported to be 9 months pregnant and due to give birth on Oct.8.
According to First Coast News, a 911 call was placed at the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office after an individual found Jones inside the park unresponsive. Officers arrived at the scene and found Jones but later pronounced her dead. After securing the scene, investigators from the JSO’s Homicide Unit along with its Crime Scene Unit and the State Attorney’s Office responded to the area to conduct an initial investigation.
Authorities merely stated that they were treating the incident as a suspicious death involving suspected foul play, although they did not disclose or elaborate on what led them to this assumption. The Sheriff’s Office has not mentioned whether they have a suspect in the case.
No further details and information have been provided as investigations are still ongoing. Meanwhile, Jones’ family has been urging the community to come forward with any information surrounding the young pregnant woman’s death. "I want Jacksonville to come together on this. We can't let this go. We can't let this slide. We need everybody to come together," said Jones' aunt, Angelica Williams.
The victim’s family said Jones’ pregnancy was planned and that she was due to give birth to a baby boy but did not say who the baby’s father was. Williams told the media, “Her baby was expected. We wanted this baby. I was super excited about my nephew. All of that has been taken away from us.”
The cause of death of the young woman is yet to be confirmed by the medical examiner.
A GoFundMe was created by the family to help pay for funeral costs for Jones and her unborn son as they try to cope with her death. Williams repeatedly questioned Jones’ death as they could not understand who would do such a thing. "We're not taking it well right now," she added. "We want answers. We want to know why.”
