Detectives make arrest in 2007 murder

St Johns County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson, Cpl. Catherine Payne, reported to Historic City News this morning that an arrest has been made in the January 28, 2007 murder of Clark Edwin McWhorter.

At the completion of his autopsy, the District 23 Medical Examiner ruled that McWhorter was killed by a single gunshot wound. His body was discovered in the roadway along Coastal Highway in Guana State Park.

Tips from witnesses in the case led detectives to 34 year-old Phillip Carl Pomper, who resides at 2533 Tempo Drive in Jacksonville.

With the assistance of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the United States Marshal Service, officials with the St Johns County Sheriff’s Office were able to locate Pomper. During that interview, Pomper admitted to his involvement in McWhorter’s death.

Pomper told investigators he did not know McWhorter. The information he provided led detectives to believe the murder was completely random and unprovoked.

The office of State Attorney R J Larizza assisted detectives in obtaining a warrant for Pomper’s arrest.

Pomper was arrested this morning, charges with first-degree murder, and has been booked into the Duval County jail.

“At this time, detectives are not seeking additional suspects in this case,” Payne told Historic City News.