Unsolved Homicides

DOMINIQUE DEVON LEWIS

12-11-2007

Case # 2007-42296

Dominique Lewis, a resident of St. Petersburg, Florida, was murdered shortly after Thanksgiving 2007. Dominique’s body was discovered on 12-11-2007, in a wooded area near Brooksville Rock Road in Brooksville (Hernando County).

At the time of her murder, Dominique was a student at the Ultimate Medical Academy in Clearwater, Florida. Dominique was 19 years old.

RICHARD LEO MARCH

12-23-2001

Case # 2001-23873

Richard March was murdered on 12-23-2001, between the hours of 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The murder occurred at the DAB Construction complex, located on Spring Hill Drive just west of Broad Street (U.S.-41), where Richard was employed as a security guard.

JESSIE JOHNSON

01-26-1998

Case # 1998-01314

On Monday, 01-26-1998, unknown person(s) intentionally set Jessie Johnson’s house, located on Josephine Street in South Brooksville, on fire. Jessie sustained critical injuries in the fire and died several days later.

On the evening of the fire, witnesses reported observing two individuals near the front of Jessie’s residence, just minutes before the fire started.

JAMES AVERY

08-06-1990

Case # 1990-11289

On 08-06-1990, the skeletal remains of James Avery were located in south/central Hernando County.

James was last seen on 11-26-1986, in his hometown of Walhalla, South Carolina. James left South Carolina to travel to Florida, to supposedly meet with his ex-wife, who was believed to be residing in the area of Naples, Florida at that time.

JILL VANWORMER

05-15-1990

Case # 1990-07261

Jill Vanwormer was employed as an auto parts delivery person for a company in the Tampa/St. Pete area.

Jill was reported missing to law enforcement in Pinellas County, Florida on 04-08-1986, when she failed to return to her workplace after an auto parts delivery.

On 04-09-1986, Jill’s auto parts delivery vehicle was located in western Hernando County.

On 05-15-1990, Jill’s skeletal remains were located in north/west Hernando County.

YVONNE DAVENPORT

03-22-1987

Case # 1987-03741

On 03-22-1987, Yvonne Davenport was found, murdered, in south/central Hernando County.

Prior to her death, Yvonne worked in the Tampa/St. Pete area as an exotic dancer.

TIMOTHY JERONIMUS

10-05-1982

Case # 1982-18866

On 10-05-1982, Timothy Jeronimus was found, murdered, in eastern Hernando County.

Timothy had previously lived in the state of Illinois.

LUCIAN GREEN

11-30-1981

Case # 1981-22053

Lucian Green was murdered on 11-30-1981 at approximately 8:45 p.m.

At the time of his murder, Lucian was attempting to obtain a vehicle description and tag information on a vehicle that fled the scene of an attempted commercial burglary at a gas station, located at I-75 and Cortez Boulevard in eastern Brooksville.

RICKY MERRILL / DORI COLYER

05-09-1981

Case # BPD-1981-16687

Ricky Merrill and Dori Colyer were last seen on 05-09-1981 when they left the Hilltop Lounge in Brooksville. Before leaving, they told friends they would be returning shortly. Ricky and Dori never returned.

At approximately 2:30 a.m., the fire department was dispatched to the 300 block of Stafford Avenue in Brooksville regarding a possible brush fire.

Upon arrival, firefighters discovered a vehicle on fire. Once the fire was extinguished, two bodies were located inside the vehicle. The bodies were later identified as Ricky Merrill and Dori Colyer.

JOSEPH MILLER

02-06-1977

Case # 1977-01106

Joseph Miller was reported as a missing person on 12-18-1976. Joseph was last seen on 12-14-1976.

Joseph’s vehicle was later located, abandoned, in central Hernando County.

On 02-06-16977, Joseph’s body was located in central Hernando County.

LOUISE NORTON

03-10-1973

Case # 1973-08344

On 03-10-1973, Louise Norton was found, murdered, in the south Brooksville area of Hernando County.

Prior to her death, it was reported that Louise was involved in a verbal altercation with someone (possibly her common law husband – Cassie Andrews).

PEGGY JOYCE SHELTON

07-19-1972

Case # 1972-06053

On 07-19-1972, the body of an unidentified female was discovered in the area of High Corner Road and Cortez Boulevard in Brooksville (Hernando County).

At the time of the discovery, detectives believed the victim had recently traveled to Hernando County from either north Florida or Alabama.

The victim was described as follows:
- Between 30 and 40 years of age
- Approximately 5’ tall
- Between 125 and 145 pounds
- Short brown hair
- Only six upper and six lower teeth.

The victim was discovered wrapped in a bedspread, with a distinctive pattern, possibly described as a “Pineapple Damask” print. The bedspread had three square corners and one rounded corner.

Over the years, Cold Case detectives continued to investigate the case; however, no new leads were developed.

On 08-11-2022, Detective George Loydgren received a call from Michael Vogen, with Othram Labs. Mr. Vogen provided Detective Loydgren with a possible name on the ‘Jane Doe’ victim.

Jane Doe was identified as Peggy Joyce Shelton DOB/03-30-1943, of Kentucky.

On 09-14-2022, Othram Labs sent a “kinship report” to detective Loydgren, which positively identified Jane Doe as Peggy Joyce Shelton.

The case, a cold case homicide, is still being investigated by Detective Loydgren, in an effort to identify the person or persons responsible for the murder of Ms. Shelton.

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