CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. (WINK) — The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public’s help in identifying a woman found dead in the water near Punta Gorda.
Deputies say the woman’s body was discovered on March 29 in Hunter Creek, near the Peace River.
Right now, investigators say they don’t have much to go on.
Because of the condition of the body, detectives believe the woman was likely between 50 and 80 years old. She was about 5 feet 5 inches tall and had light-colored hair.
One detail they hope could help someone recognize her—she had purple nail polish on her toes.
“It’s not a lot to go on, but unfortunately, we don’t have a lot,” a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office said. “We’re trying to get a little assistance from the community.”
Detectives say identifying the woman is critical to the investigation. Without knowing who she is, it becomes much harder to determine what led to her death.
“If we have an identity, then we can kind of go back and track who she is… and help tell a story of where she’s been and what led to her death,” Christopher Hall said.
Investigators are urging anyone who may recognize the description—or knows someone who hasn’t been heard from—to come forward.
Even if you’re not completely sure, deputies say they still want to hear from you.
“We would rather have tips that we chase down that aren’t accurate than have no tips at all,” Hall said.
Officials say someone out there likely knows who this woman is—and coming forward could help bring closure to the people who knew her.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit at 941-575-5361.
