Florida Authorities Move to Quell Public Fear
A Florida sheriff's office has been compelled to publicly deny rumours of a serial killer operating in Jacksonville, following the discovery of three women dead in the area over three consecutive days. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office took to social media on Tuesday to directly address the growing speculation, stating unequivocally: "We can confirm these claims are FALSE."
In an official post, authorities acknowledged they were "aware of rumours circulating about a serial killer on the loose in Jacksonville." They sought to reassure the public, adding, "We want to reassure the community there is no danger to the public related to these incidents." The post confirmed that detectives are actively investigating the recent homicide cases involving female victims, following the facts and evidence in each individual case.
Victims and Timeline of the Tragedies
The fears of a serial killer began to circulate online after three separate fatalities were reported in quick succession. The first victim, Cherrish Nunley, a 24-year-old mother of two, was found shot to death in a parking lot on Saturday. A GoFundMe page established for her family described her as a "bright, beautiful girl, a wonderful mom and aunt, the best sister, and a great daughter," who was "killed in cold blood."
The following day, on Sunday, the body of Tiffany Felton was discovered by a fisherman under a bridge at Blanding Boulevard. Then, on Monday, Jacksonville sheriff’s deputies found a third woman unresponsive in a rooming house located in the Phoenix neighbourhood. A sergeant told local media that the circumstances around this woman's death were not immediately clear.
Social Media Speculation Defies Official Statement
Despite the sheriff's office's firm denial, social media users continued to fuel speculation about a potential serial killer. One Facebook user commented, "Isn’t this what the police say in a news conference in every serial killer movie!" Another sceptical user wrote, "3 bodies in 3 days? Forgive me but you can’t credibly say it’s not a serial killer if you haven’t solved it yet." The theory gained enough traction to spawn an entire dedicated thread on Reddit.
While the official line from investigators is that initial reports suggest the deaths are not connected, the rapid succession of tragedies has left the community on edge. It remains unclear if any arrests have been made in connection with the cases. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has promised to share updates as soon as they are able.
