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 have they been confirmed as Jarvis Merricks?
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timeline
Lead #2What happened between November 2016 when his vehicle was abandoned and February 2021 when remains were found?
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location
Lead #3Why was the discovery site not thoroughly searched in the initial investigation following the abandoned vehicle?
Jarvis Lamar Merricks, a 30-year-old Black male, disappeared in late November 2016 after his vehicle was found abandoned on James Avenue near Dairy Road in Auburndale, Florida. In February 2021, human remains and his driver's license were discovered in a wooded area near Kenwood Grove Lane, just walking distance from where his vehicle was found, prompting a formal missing persons investigation. The case remains open as authorities work 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.
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witness
Lead #4Were there any witnesses to the vehicle abandonment or activity in the Kenwood Grove Lane area?
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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
Polk County Sheriff's Office responded to an abandoned vehicle owned by Jarvis Merricks at James Avenue and Dairy Road in Auburndale. Attempts to contact him were unsuccessful.
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2021-02-25
Remains and Personal Effects Found
Human remains and a driver's license belonging to Jarvis Merricks were discovered in a grassy field near Kenwood Grove Lane, within walking distance of the abandoned vehicle location.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:November 29, 2016
Last Updated:June 8, 2026
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Phone: 8632986834
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Case Information
Incident:November 29, 2016
Last Updated:June 8, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 8632986834
You can remain anonymous