Friends and family are waiting on confirmation that a missing Neptune Beach father’s body has been found.
On Sunday, Action News Jax reported that police believe Timothy Hapsis' body was found in Jacksonville.
A coroner is now working to confirm the body’s identity.
Action News Jax’s Courtney Cole spoke to Ryan Carter, a friend of Hapsis, who told her his body was found in the passenger seat of a car.
“I’ve known Timothy my whole life. I’ve known him since I was 4-years-old. Our parents have been neighbors our whole life. We were a week apart at birth.” A close friend shares memories of Timothy Hapsis with @ActionNewsJax...at 5:30. pic.twitter.com/YCH7gMGKQO
— Courtney Cole (@CourtneyANJax) April 9, 2018
Carter said he was preparing to pass out flyers when he ran right into the crime scene.
He told Courtney he could hardly take it when he saw the lifeless body of the man he’s called a friend for almost his entire life being removed from the car.
Carter said Hapsis was someone he was proud to call a best friend and even family.
"I’ve know Timothy my whole life. I’ve know him since I was 4 years old. Our parents have been neighbors our whole life. We’re a week apart in birth," Carter said.
He said they shared everything together, even a job at Mojo Kitchen BBQ Pit and Blues Bar in Jacksonville Beach.
“I couldn’t say why anyone would harm him. He was one of the genuine people. Like he would do anything for anybody," Carter said.
Carter said the 28-year-old was well-known and well-loved in the community, which is making it even more difficult to cope with his death.
“The day I found out, I was in tears. It took four or five days just to get over -- well not get over, but stop crying. It was very, very heartbreaking,” Carter said.
Carter told Action News Jax he believes someone knows something about the death.
He asks anyone with information to come forward, so he -- along with Hapsis' family and other friends -- can have clarity and closure.
Cox Media Group
