The person at the center of this case
Jarvis Lamar Merricks
Missing Person · Open
9 years waiting · since 2016
Missing Person: Jarvis Lamar Merricks
Justice for Jarvis Lamar Merricks — the trail went cold in 2016, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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evidence
Lead #1How were the human remains identified, and do they definitively belong to Jarvis Merricks?
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timeline
Lead #2What occurred between November 2016 and February 2021 that prevented his disappearance from being reported earlier?
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location
Lead #3Why was the vehicle abandoned at that specific location, and what was Jarvis doing in the area?
Jarvis Lamar Merricks, a 30-year-old Black male, went missing in Auburndale, Florida on November 29, 2016, when his vehicle was discovered abandoned on James Avenue near Dairy Road. In February 2021, human remains were found in a grassy field near Kenwood Grove Lane, within walking distance of where his car was left, along with personal effects including his driver's license. The case remains under investigation by the Polk County Sheriff's Office to confirm the identity of the remains and determine the circumstances of his disappearance.
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
💡
clue
Lead #4What circumstances led to the discovery of remains in the grassy field so close to where his vehicle was found?
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Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
NamUs case MP90717. Missing person: Jarvis Lamar Merricks.
Last known contact: 2016-11-29 in Auburndale, Polk, FL. Circumstances: On 11/29/2016, members with the Polk County Sheriff's Office responded to the area of James Avenue and Dairy Road in Auburndale; in reference to a vehicle which was abandoned in the roadway.
The vehicle owner was Jarvis Merricks and attempts to contact him were unsuccessful. On 02/25/2021, members with the Polk County Sheriff's Office were conducting an investigation of human remains which were found in a grassy field in the area of Kenwood Grove Lane in Auburndale.
Personal effects, to include a drivers license for Jarvis, were located in the wooded area lining this grassy field. This area is within walking distance from where the above listed vehicle was abandoned.
Contact was made with family after locating the license and it was learned that they had not seen or heard from Jarvis in several years. At that time, law enforcement entered the victim into FCIC/NCIC as a missing person and began a missing persons investigation since he had not been reported as such.
Demographics: 30 years, Male, Black / African American. Physical description: 5 ft 10 in, 200 lbs, hair: Black, eyes: Brown.
Investigating agency: Polk County Sheriff's Office | 21-8482 | 2021-02-25.
Timeline of Events
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2016-11-29
Vehicle Abandoned
Jarvis Merricks' vehicle was discovered abandoned at James Avenue and Dairy Road in Auburndale; attempts to contact him were unsuccessful.
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2021-02-25
Human Remains Found
Human remains were discovered in a grassy field near Kenwood Grove Lane in Auburndale, within walking distance of the abandoned vehicle. Personal effects including Jarvis's driver's license were located in the wooded area.
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2021-02-25
Missing Person Investigation Opened
After family confirmation that they had not seen or heard from Jarvis in several years, law enforcement entered him into FCIC/NCIC as a missing person and began formal investigation.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:November 29, 2016
Last Updated:June 4, 2026
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Phone: 8632986834
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Case Information
Incident:November 29, 2016
Last Updated:June 4, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 8632986834
You can remain anonymous