Assist on Fatality

On the afternoon of April 12th, the Collier County Sheriff?s Office notified an Everglades NP district ranger that a body had been found floating in waters near what they thought might be park land. A crime scene unit was being dispatched to the scene and the sheriff?s office asked for assistance with obtaining transportation to the site and in determining jurisdictional lines. Everglades advised Big Cypress of the incident and of the possibility that it had occurred within the boundaries of the latter. Due to the uncertainty of the location of the incident and the circumstances surrounding the apparent death, Big Cypress NP notified the FBI. It was decided to continue having Collier County Sheriff?s Office take the lead on the investigation, with full support from both NPS units. Rangers from both parks responded to the on-water location along with a sheriff?s deputy to secure the scene and document the GPS coordinates. Rangers assisted in the body recovery and a search of nearby areas for evidence and also provided the sheriff?s office with a GIS-based map of the locations investigated. The investigation into cause of death is ongoing. The identity of the victim is unknown. Ultimately, it was determined that the body was located about 100 yards outside of Big Cypress?s boundary.