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Friday, March 29, 2024

Marion sheriff seeking tips in four separate homicide cases

Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods is asking for the public’s help in providing tips that could lead to justice for the families of four homicide victims.

“In 2022, LaToya Reaves, Dequandre Alexander, Kent Patterson Jr., and Kenneth Carr Jr. all had their lives taken from them,” stated Sheriff Woods in a social media post on Thursday. “We need your help to get their murderers off of the streets.”

The murder of LaToya Reaves

On January 31, 2022, at approximately 9 p.m., Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the 3400 block of NW 16th Avenue in Ocala due to reports of a shooting in the area. Upon arrival, deputies located 36-year-old LaToya Reaves, and she had sustained a gunshot wound.

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LaToya Reaves, 36, was shot on January 31, 2022, and she succumbed to her injuries at the hospital on February 1, 2022

Reaves was rushed to a local hospital, and she sadly passed away from her injuries the following day.

“Now, someone saw something, and someone knows something, but no one has uttered a word to help us. We have had zero tips that could help us catch her killer,” stated Sheriff Woods.

If you have any information that could help this homicide investigation, please contact the Crime Stoppers of Marion County at 352-368-STOP (7867) and reference 22-04 in your tip.

The murder of Dequandre Alexander

On Monday, July 18, 2022, at around 10:15 a.m., MCSO deputies responded to the 15700 block of NW 41st Avenue in Reddick due to reports of a deceased body along the roadway. Upon arrival, deputies located the body of 23-year-old Gainesville resident Dequandre Alexander, and he had been fatally shot.

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Dequandre Alexander, 23, was fatally shot on July 18, 2022

If you have any information that could help this homicide investigation, please contact the Crime Stoppers of Marion County at 352-368-STOP (7867) and reference 22-39 in your tip.

The murder of Kent Patterson Jr.

On Saturday, August 6, 2022, at approximately 1:48 a.m., MCSO deputies responded to the 4700 block of W Highway 318 in Citra due to a report of a shooting in the area. Upon arrival, deputies located the deceased body of 16-year-old Kent Patterson, Jr. inside a home.

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Kent Patterson, Jr., 16, was fatally shot on August 6, 2022

If you have any information that could help this homicide investigation, please contact the Crime Stoppers of Marion County at 352-368-STOP (7867) and reference 22-45 in your tip.

The murder of Kenneth Carr Jr.

On Wednesday, November 9, 2022, MCSO deputies responded to the Campground Cemetery located at 8565 NW 130th Street in Reddick and found the deceased body of 16-year-old Kenneth Carr, Jr.

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Kenneth Carr, Jr., 16, was found deceased at a cemetery in Reddick on November 9, 2022

Carr had been shot, and his body was located on the grave of Kent Patterson, Jr.

If you have any information that could help this homicide investigation, please contact the Crime Stoppers of Marion County at 352-368-STOP (7867) and reference 22-63 in your tip.

Sheriff Woods concluded the social media post by stating that some investigations have a missing piece that is needed to solve the case, and someone may know something about the events that took these individuals’ lives from them. 

“One of you has the missing piece,” added Sheriff Woods. “Please help us put their murderers behind bars.”