Tavar Still Missing; SJSO Seeks Help From Community

Roberts Sought As Person Of Interest

In a release issued by the SJSO this afternoon, officials say Joseph Dean Roberts, 26, is being sought as a person of interest in the disappearance of 45-year old Brittany Jeniveve Tavar earlier this month.

Press Release:

A 26-year old transient is being sought nationwide as a person of interest in connection with the disappearance of a 45-year old St. Johns County woman earlier this month.  An arrest warrant has been issued for the subject, identified as Joseph Dean Roberts, 26, no address on a charge of grand theft auto.  He is also a person of interest into the disappearance of 45-year old Brittany Jeniveve Tavar. She was last heard from at 12:00 p.m. on 06 July by a close friend.

The suspect was last seen with the victim during the time frame of her disappearance and he told neighbors that he was the victim’s nephew, however, that is not true according to family members contacted by the Sheriff’s Office.  The victim along with her vehicle, a 2004 dark blue Toyota Rav4, and her two dogs are missing from her residence in the 100 block of South Beach Dr., in the North Beach area of St. Johns County.

The investigation has revealed that one of the victim’s dogs was located in Hopkins, South Carolina on 10 July at 4:00 p.m.  A witness spotted the dog chasing a vehicle and took it to a local Veterinarian.  A micro chip was scanned that identified the victim as the dog’s owner.  The following day, a police officer at the Evanston Police Department in Wyoming, conducted a traffic stop on the victim’s vehicle.  At the time, she had not been reported missing and the suspect, who was driving, was given a verbal warning for excessive speed.  The victim was not in the vehicle at that time.

The suspect, who did not have an address, had been arrested on two occasions over the past two years.  He was arrested on a retail theft charge at Wal-Mart on 20 February 2009 and was arrested on 19 March 2010 at an abandoned house in the 6600 block of U.S. 1 South.  He was charged with retail theft for being in possession of two DVD’s belonging to the St. Johns County library and possession of drug paraphernalia.

A Nationwide alert has been issued for the suspect and the victim as the investigation continues.  In addition, the victim’s family has offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Roberts.  Anyone with any information concerning this investigation is asked to contact Detectives George Harrigan or Charles Brantley at the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office at (904) 824-8304.

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