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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timeline
Lead #1Why was there a nearly 5-year gap between Jarvis's disappearance in November 2016 and the discovery of remains in February 2021?
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location
Lead #2What circumstances led to the vehicle being abandoned at James Avenue and Dairy Road, and were there any witnesses to this event?
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evidence
Lead #3What do the personal effects and remains tell investigators about the cause and timeline of death?
Jarvis Lamar Merricks, a 30-year-old man, went missing in Auburndale, Florida on November 29, 2016, when his vehicle was found abandoned near James Avenue and Dairy Road. In February 2021, human remains and his driver's license were discovered in a wooded area near Kenwood Grove Lane, within walking distance of where his vehicle was found, but the case remains under investigation. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance and death remain unclear, and investigators continue seeking information about what happened to him.
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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 Jarvis's activities on November 29, 2016, or in the days preceding his disappearance?
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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
Last Known Contact
Jarvis Lamar Merricks last known contact in Auburndale, Polk County, FL
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2016-11-29
Vehicle Abandoned
Jarvis's vehicle found abandoned in roadway near James Avenue and Dairy Road; attempts to contact him unsuccessful
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2021-02-25
Remains and Personal Effects Found
Human remains discovered in grassy field near Kenwood Grove Lane; driver's license for Jarvis located in wooded area; family confirmed no contact for several years
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2021-02-25
Missing Persons Investigation Opened
Polk County Sheriff's Office entered Jarvis into FCIC/NCIC as 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:September 27, 2026
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Phone: 8632986834
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Case Information
Incident:November 29, 2016
Last Updated:September 27, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 8632986834
You can remain anonymous