Missing Savannah Gold body found

Missing 21-year-old woman found dead in pond after texting family that she ‘met a great guy’

The body of a missing young Florida woman has been found and her co-worker has been arrested on murder charges.

Jacksonville.com reports that Savannah Page Gold, 21, was found dead in a Jacksonville pond on Saturday. She had been reported missing earlier this week after she did not appear to work at her job at Mandarin Bonefish Grill.

Family members told police they had received text messages from Savannah saying she had met a great guy and was planning on running away with him.

Investigators initially believed foul play was not a factor in Savannah’s disappearance, but after questioning witnesses found that Savannah’s co-worker and on-again, off-again boyfriend Lee Rodarte Jr., 28, contradicted his stories about his alibi. Police searched surveillance camera footage from the restaurant that appeared to show Savannah walking to Rodarte’s car on Wednesday evening.

The video shows Rodarte exiting his car and puncturing the tires of Savannah’s car, but Savannah does not exit the car.

Rodarte admitted to police that he and Savannah got into an argument in her car, and later confessed to killing her during the argument. He also told police that he disposed of her body and that investigators could find it in the pond.

A motive for the killing is not yet known.

Rodarte is reportedly being held without bail.

 

Feature photo: Handout