No word since Roberts spotted in Oregon

Historic City News reporters were provided recent video surveillance still-images of the 26 year-old fugitive, Joseph Dean Roberts; last reported to be located in Ontario, Oregon, by St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Charles E. Mulligan.

An arrest warrant has been issued for Roberts who is charged with grand theft auto. Roberts was known by police to be in possession of the dark blue Toyota Rav4, belonging to a missing 45-year old St. Johns County woman, when Roberts was stopped and given a verbal warning for excessive speed at 2:00 a.m. on July 11th. The police officer at the Evanston Police Department who stopped Roberts in Wyoming before Brittany Jeniveve Tavar had been reported missing, said, “Roberts was driving and the victim was not in the vehicle at that time.”

Over 12 hours later Roberts entered an Oregon Wal-Mart where he purchased a tent, a vintage styled black t-shirt and tan cargo shorts. He was seen in the store wearing a dark colored t-shirt and tan colored shorts.

Tavar, along with her vehicle and her two dogs, went missing from her St. Johns County residence on South Beach Drive on July 6th. Her dogs were recovered in Hopkins, South Carolina on July 10th.

Tavar’s family has offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to Roberts’ arrest.
Roberts is described as a 26 year-old white man, 6’1” tall, 170 pounds with brown hair and hazel eyes. Tavar is a 45 year-old white woman, 5’7” tall, 120 pounds with blonde hair and brown eyes. The missing 2004 Toyota Rav4 has Florida tag “Q66 2NJ”.

The U.S. Marshal’s Service is actively assisting in the investigation and the F.B.I. has opened a case file. Anyone with any information concerning this investigation is asked to contact Detectives George Harrigan or Charles Brantley at the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office at (904) 824-8304. You can also email tips to crimetips@sjso.org, or through your local CrimeStoppers.