On Wednesday, June 9, 2021 at approximately 8 p.m., the St. Petersburg Police Department responded to assist the Fire Department with a fire near the rest area of the Skyway Bridge.
The Fire Dept. initially responded to a grass fire in a wooded area near the north Rest Area just before the Skyway Bridge.
Once they put out the fire, they discovered a body and notified police at about 8 p.m.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has linked this discovery to a missing person case in Hillsborough County.
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On Wednesday, June 9, 2021, at approximately 7:00 p.m., deputies were dispatched to the Beach Walk Condominiums, located at 4349 Bayside Village Drive in the Town ‘N’ Country area, in reference to a missing person call.
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The caller said their family member, who works as a security guard at the apartment complex, had not returned home by her usual time. Upon arrival, deputies discovered the victim’s car in the parking lot.Â
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Simultaneously, St. Pete Fire Rescue was responding to a fire in a wooded area, near a rest stop, located by the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. A body was discovered, and based on preliminary investigative details, detectives believe they have identified the missing woman from Hillsborough County.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has made an arrest in connection to a death investigation connected to a missing person case in Hillsborough County.
Fred Williams, age 55, is facing a charge of Tampering with Physical Evidence after being booked into the Hillsborough County Jail.
This remains an active and open investigation. No other information can be provided at this time,
Prior to the arrest on June 19th, Sheriff Chad Chronister stated, “Our detectives have identified a person of interest and are working to piece together this heinous crime.” “We are urging anyone who may have seen something suspicious, to please come forward. The more details we have, the faster we can make an arrest.”
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Anyone with information is urged to call the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office at (813) 247-8200.