ST. PETERSBURG, Fla- — A burnt body found near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge Wednesday night is connected to a missing person's case out of Hillsborough County, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
According to St. Pete police, around 8 p.m., the fire department initially responded to a grass fire in a wooded area near the rest area of the Skyway Bridge. Once the fire was extinguished, a body was discovered.
HCSO said Thursday the victim was a woman in her 30s who worked as a security guard at the Beach Walk condominiums, located in the Town 'n' Country area of Tampa.
A concerned family member contacted HCSO Wednesday night saying the woman had not returned home.
Her body was discovered within the hour on the other side of Tampa Bay.
"We’re asking the public, anyone who may live in the same apartment complex or near it, to please come forward if you saw anything strange overnight that could help us with this case," said HCSO spokesperson Crystal Clark.
Deputies said they have a person of interest at the condo complex, but no one has been arrested at this point.
Neighbors describe the security guard as a welcoming presence at the condo complex.
"Very cordial with everybody, she’d always be talking to everybody," said Rocky Rocamora. "She just seemed like a very good person."
If you have any information on this case, you're asked to contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office at 813-247-8200.
