SJSO: Woman's body found inside portable toilet after fire

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — Investigators in St. Johns County say a body found inside a port-a-potty in St. Augustine belongs to a woman.

Neighbors on Horseshoe Road in St. Augustine told Action News Jax Brittney Donovan that they heard an explosion around 7 a.m. Saturday.

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“I was just sitting watching TV and I heard a loud explosion, looked out the window,” Eddie Jameson said. “Then I heard the fire trucks and came outside and it was in a blaze.”

The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office says a portable toilet was on fire. When firefighters put it out, they found a woman's remains.

“The (portable toilet) blew up. I mean, there’s nothing left at all,” Jan Long said.

The toilet was in front of a home under construction next to Long’s. Her granddaughter was pulling up as detectives blocked the road.

"State police got here and they had to put gloves on, and they had a hazmat suit, I don’t know if they wore it or not but they were very obviously putting something in those cans," her granddaughter said.

Long told Action News Jax the port-a-potty had been in front of the home for five months. The owner said no one was working on the house this weekend.

“I know they took pictures (of) footprints over there,” Long said.

Deputies say they have not gotten any missing person reports they believe are connected to the woman’s remains. They are asking anyone who hasn’t heard from their loved one in the area to call them.

“Strange,” Jameson said. “I’m sure we’ll find out more.”

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