The FBI has identified the deceased woman found wrapped in a garbage bag off Florida’s Gulf Coast over the weekend and is now calling her death “suspicious.”
Heather Rose Strickland, 34, was the woman found floating Saturday off Egmont Key at the mouth of Tampa Bay, the FBI Tampa Field Office says.
“Heather Rose Strickland was last seen on December 5, 2022, leaving HCA Florida Largo Hospital at 201 14th Street Southwest in Largo, Florida,” the office said. “Originally from the North Florida region, Strickland spent the past five years in the Clearwater-St. Petersburg area.
“The FBI is asking the public to help with any information that will help law enforcement reconstruct the events that led to Strickland’s death,” he added.
BODY OF WOMAN FOUND IN GARBAGE BAG ON FLORIDA GULF COAST, FBI SAYS
Heather Rose Strickland “spent the last five years in the Clearwater-St. Petersburg area,” the FBI says.
(FBI)
Strickland’s body was first found by fishermen operating in the area.
Witnesses said they were spearfishing when they went diving. While heading to the next location, they found the garbage bag. They tried to pick it up, but quickly realized it wasn’t trash.
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The US Coast Guard confirmed to FOX 13 that the body of a woman was found wrapped in a plastic trash bag off the coast of Egmont Key around 12:40 p.m. Saturday.
(FOX 13 Tampa Bay)
After cutting open the plastic and canvas bag inside, they said they saw skin and what was believed to be a bra or bikini strap. Witnesses said they made the distress call shortly after the discovery.
“The body was found wrapped in bedding in a plastic garbage bag,” the FBI said, noting that the discovery occurred 13 miles offshore.
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Where Heather Rose Strickland’s body was found.
(bing)
The FBI described Strickland as being around 5 feet 5 inches tall, with “a tattoo on the right side of his neck of ‘B’ and ‘E’ written in Old English and a rose tattoo on the outside of his neck.” his right thigh.”
The FBI is the lead agency investigating the incident since the body was found in federal waters.
