Crime & Safety

Update: Woman Found at Relative's Home

According to St. Petersburg Police, Jennifer Elizabeth Dunford's disappearance appears to be suspicious. Police say Dunford has been missing since Tuesday night.

Update, 10:15 p.m.: According to St. Petersburg Police, a relative contacted police Wednesday and said 28-year-old Jennifer Dunford was at a relative's home. Dunford was located safely and police say there is no evidence at this time of a crime taking place. 

Earlier: A woman called 911 at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday from 28-year-old Jennifer Dunford's cell phone asking for help. 

According to police, the phone quickly disconnected. When police arrived at Dunford's residence at 1919 Dr. MLK Street North, she was not there. 

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St. Petersburg Police said Dunford's live-in boyfriend, Douglas Fowler, arrived at her home prior to the police and found her cell phone lying broken
 on the floor.  

Dunford is described as a white female, 5' 4" tall, 130 lbs, with brown hair and hazel eyes. 

Find out what's happening in St. Petewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

There were several items inside the residence that were out of place, and police suggest this means a possible struggle.

Detectives have interviewed Dunford's current boyfriend, Fowler, and an 
ex-boyfriend who lives a short distance away. Nothing so far has been
 discovered to pinpoint her whereabouts, police said.

Detectives have also checked numerous hospitals, spoken with neighbors and interviewed various acquaintances without results. Dunford does not have access to a vehicle, police said.

A K-9 unit and a blood hound from Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office did a 
grid search of the area after which a thermal imaging helicopter
 did a search, all with negative results.

Acccording to police, detectives secured Dunford's residence as a potential crime scene pending further investigation.

Detectives are now seeking the public's assistance in locating Dunford. Anyone
 with information may contact Detective Brian Taylor, at 727-893-4955, or
 the police non-emergency number, at 727-893-7780.


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