Mom leaves flowers on son's grave every weekend; no arrests in 2-year-old homicide

Will Greenlee, Treasure Coast Newspapers
·3 min read

ST. LUCIE COUNTY − It’s a weekly ritual for Clover Anderson — traveling to her son’s final resting place at Riverview Memorial Park, north of downtown Fort Pierce.

“I visit his gravesite every weekend to bring fresh flowers,” Anderson, 50, said in a recent interview. “He's truly just missed. Beyond measures. That's my whole heart.”

Anderson’s son, 22-year-old Akiefe Jamal Anderson, died two years ago, found with a gunshot wound about 2:45 a.m. on Aug. 28, 2021.

Akiefe Jamal Anderson
Akiefe Jamal Anderson

St. Lucie County sheriff’s deputies patrolling the Harbour Pointe area on Avenue M Extension east of U.S. 1 north of downtown Fort Pierce discovered him. He died after being taken to what is now HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce.

Investigators learned there had been a large party there, and said they are trying to find a 2012 silver Ford Focus in connection with the homicide. The Sheriff’s Office has not announced any arrests in the case.

Clover Anderson, of Fort Pierce, places fresh flowers at the gravesite of her son, Akiefe Jamal Anderson, on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023, at Riverview Memorial Park in downtown Fort Pierce. "This is my weekly life," said Anderson. "We keep him clean because that's the person he was, neat and clean and good." Akiefe, 22, was found with a gunshot wound about 2:45 a.m. on Aug. 28, 2021 on Avenue M Extension east of U.S. 1 north in Fort Pierce. St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office has not announced any arrests but said they are trying to find a 2012 silver Ford Focus in connection with the homicide.

“We're definitely still having a hard time dealing with his loss,” Clover Anderson said. “He is just missed every single day. We just have a hole that's irreplaceable right now because of his loss.”

Clover Anderson, who lived in Daytona Beach at the time, said her son resided in a home east of Interstate 95 and south of Orange Avenue. Clover Anderson moved to the St. Lucie County residence in December.

“I had to move back here because I was just missing his presence so much from being in Daytona,” Clover Anderson said. “I would travel down here every weekend just to go to the burial site just to visit him, and it just became too much on me to travel back and forth.”

Akiefe Anderson was born in Vero Beach, but attended schools in St. Lucie County, graduating in 2017 from Fort Pierce Westwood, his mother has said. He worked for Amazon, and was a serious gamer with Apex Legends being a favorite game.

Clover Anderson said she left his room at the home the exact same since the incident, though recently began moving things into his childhood room. His cat, Titan, and gecko lizard, Timon, remain.

“I have the fondest, fondest memories of him, from his birth, to walking, to driving, graduation day,” Clover Anderson said. “I wish they just weren't memories because I miss him so much.”

She said her son, who loved candy and fastidiously brushed his teeth, stayed out of trouble, getting just one speeding ticket since he was 16.

Clover Anderson, of Fort Pierce, cleans her son, Akiefe Jamal Anderson's, headstone, Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023, at Riverview Memorial Park in downtown Fort Pierce. "This is my weekly life," said Anderson. "We keep him clean because that's the person he was, neat and clean and good." Akiefe, 22, was found with a gunshot wound about 2:45 a.m. on Aug. 28, 2021 on Avenue M Extension east of U.S. 1 north in Fort Pierce. St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office has not announced any arrests but said they are trying to find a 2012 silver Ford Focus in connection with the homicide.

Clover Anderson said she hasn’t heard anything about what may have occurred that night. She said he supposedly went with friends.

“I have a message for anyone that reads the story that this could have happened to their family member, and if you see something you should say something,” Clover Anderson said. “Don't just be silent because you don't want to break a street code.”

Jordan Howard, 18 at the time of his passing, and Akiefe Anderson’s family members have said Howard was his girlfriend, although they broke up the month before.

Clover Anderson (right) and her friend Naarl Richard, both of Fort Pierce, clean and place fresh flowers at the gravesite of Anderson's son, Akiefe Jamal Anderson, on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023, at Riverview Memorial Park in downtown Fort Pierce. "This is my weekly life," said Anderson. "We keep him clean because that's the person he was, neat and clean and good." Akiefe, 22, was found with a gunshot wound about 2:45 a.m. on Aug. 28, 2021 on Avenue M Extension east of U.S. 1 north in Fort Pierce. St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office has not announced any arrests but said they are trying to find a 2012 silver Ford Focus in connection with the homicide.

Howard remains part of Clover Anderson’s life, and lives with her now.

“She misses him terribly,” Clover Anderson said of Howard. “She's been with me since the day he passed and has not left.”

Howard said she accompanies Clover Anderson to the grave on weekends. She hopes those with information come forward.

“I would feel so much better just knowing that he got justice,” Howard said.

Sheriff Ken Mascara said detectives have exhausted all leads in this case.

"We ask anyone with information regarding Akiefe Anderson’s death to contact detectives at 772-462-3230 or Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at 1-800-273-TIPS,” he said.

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Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on Twitter @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-692-8936. E-mail him at will.greenlee@tcpalm.com

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Sheriff's officials continue investigating Akiefe Anderson homicide