Positive ID of victim at gruesome crime scene

The District 23 Medical Examiner, Dr. Terrence Steiner, has released his report to Historic City News following an autopsy examination of human remains recovered October 14th by St. Johns County Sheriff’s deputies in a heavily wooded area off of SR-207 and Lightsey Road.

Using available dental records, Dr. Michael Versaggi confirmed the identity of the remains as those of 45-year old Brittany Jeniveve Tavar. Further examination was conducted by Dr. Michael Warren at the C.A. Pound Human Identification Lab of the University of Florida.

Steiner has ruled Tavar’s manner of death a homicide. The cause of death, according to the autopsy examination report, is blunt force trauma.

26-year old transient Joseph Dean Roberts is named as the only “person of interest” in the now apparent murder of 45-year old Brittany Jeniveve Tavar — Roberts was stopped driving Tavar’s car in Wyoming before Tavar was reported missing.

Roberts is in custody at the St. Johns County Detention Facility; charged with auto theft and violation of probation. He is being held in lieu of $500,000 bond.

Roberts was arrested last Tuesday afternoon in Seattle, Washington, on retail theft charges. He waived extradition and was brought back to St. Johns County Saturday — escorted by St. Johns County Homicide Detectives George Harrigan and Charles Brantley.

Additional charges against Roberts are pending further investigation.