One body, one injured teen found roadside in rural SE Marion. What happened?
Editor's note: This story was revised at 6 p.m. March 31 to add additional information about the victims.
Sheriff's detectives are investigating an unusual case: A dead body and a badly injured young woman were found roadside, less than 5 miles apart, late Thursday/early Friday in rural southeast Marion County.
Sheriff's Office officials aren't saying anything about the deceased victim, except to say he was male and had been fatally shot. The victim's family has invoked the state's Marsy's Law, which means no identifying information, including age, will be released by authorities.
The young woman, age 16, is hospitalized in critical condition. She suffered gunshot wounds. The Star-Banner is withholding her name because of her age.
As of 6 p.m. Friday, the sheriff's office was interviewing a person of interest in one or possibly both cases. Officials would not specify.
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The young woman was found about 11 p.m. Thursday at Forest Lakes Park on Southeast 183rd Avenue Road. She was transported to an undisclosed hospital for treatment.
Nearly eight hours later, deputies were called to Southeast 94th Street and 188th Court in response to someone on the side of the road.
Deputies arrived to find the man was deceased. No other identifying information has been provided.
Though the scenes are relatively close to each other, and though both the man's body and the injured young woman were found roadside, deputies said it's unknown if the cases are connected.
Anyone with information can call Detective Ryan Stith at (352) 368-3542. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers of Marion County at (352) 368-STOP (7867_ and reference 23-22 in your tip.
Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com or @almillerosb
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Deputies find body and a badly injured woman in rural SE Marion County
