Lawanna Ruth McDaniel, aged 44, was found deceased on December 5, 2014, in Jacksonville, Florida. Her body was discovered in a ditch near Yellow Water and Wells roads on the city's Westside. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO) responded to the scene around 9:50 a.m. and identified McDaniel as the victim. She had been shot, though it was unclear whether she was shot at the location where her body was found or elsewhere.
The case quickly became a focus for homicide investigators, who
began examining the circumstances surrounding her death. Despite their efforts, the investigation faced significant challenges. The lack of immediate leads and witnesses made it difficult to piece together the events leading up to McDaniel's death. Over the years, the case remained unsolved, becoming one of Jacksonville's many cold cases.
In June 2024, nearly a decade after her death, the JSO highlighted McDaniel's case in their "Cold Case Spotlight" series. Detective Harmoni Brooks, who was assigned to the case, provided an update on the ongoing investigation. The JSO continued to appeal to the public for any information that could help solve the case, urging anyone with knowledge about McDaniel's death to come forward. Despite these efforts, no arrests had been made, and no suspects had been publicly identified.
The investigation into McDaniel's death remains active, with detectives diligently reviewing all available evidence and following any potential leads. The JSO has emphasized their commitment to bringing justice to McDaniel and her family, and they continue to seek the community's assistance in solving this tragic case.
