One year later, still no arrests or answers in Jacksonville triple murder

This week marks one year since a young Jacksonville couple and their baby were murdered in their home on India Avenue.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office has received eight tips, but no arrests have been made.

Loved ones of the triple murder victims don’t want to see this case brushed aside and forgotten.

Ariyan Johnson, 19, and Quasean Trotter, 20, were a young couple just starting their lives together when they welcomed a baby girl.

“When [Ariyan] had that baby, it brought our whole family so much joy because we hadn’t ever seen a baby that beautiful,” said Ariyan’s cousin, Sanji Sancho.

On Dec. 12, 2017, JSO says, Johnson and Trotter were shot and killed.

STORY: 'Our family will remain strong:' Family of Jacksonville triple murder victims release statement

Action News Jax sources say 11-month-old Arielle Trotter died of smoke inhalation after the killer or killers set the family’s Christmas tree on fire and left.

“We still haven’t heard anything,” said Ariyan’s cousin, Latavia Harris.  “We don’t know anything more than we did the day that they passed.”

Though one year is a benchmark for an unsolved case, Action News Jax law and safety expert Dale Carson said key witnesses -- who were afraid to come forward then -- sometimes do later on.  Carson said there have also been advancements in how investigations are conducted.

STORY: Family's message for person who killed young Jacksonville parents, baby: 'You know what you did'

“Now, with the input of new technologies, DNA is certainly one, but there are others, telecommunications, things that tell where people were, video cameras, all those things have an impact,” Carson said.  “It takes time to go through these [cases].”

Harris said this family is holding onto hope.

“This is going to be our first Christmas" without the three loved ones, "and we’re going to keep doing this every year, because they don’t come back from this,” Harris said.

First Coast Crime Stoppers is still offering a $3,000 reward for information in the case.
The family will be gathering for a vigil at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Riverwalk.

Cox Media Group