Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
We inform. You decide.
Friday, February 07, 2025

Local resident finds body in car, may be missing man

A man's body was found in a car near the UF campus Monday afternoon.

The body is believed to be that of John F. Waldo, 42, a Gainesville man who went missing on Feb. 11, according to Gainesville Police Department spokesman Keith Kameg.

A resident at the house the car was parked in front of, located along the 1900 block of Northwest Second Avenue, called GPD after noticing the body. Forensics arrived and found the body in the back seat of a 2001 BMW 330i with the temporary Florida tag ACM9754, Kameg said.

GPD is waiting for autopsy results before determining the cause of death or providing an absolute identification of the man, although police believe it to be Waldo because the vehicle and clothing match the description of the missing man, Kameg said.

He added that the department would be conducting a death investigation and is unsure whether or not foul play was involved.

Waldo was last seen on Feb. 11 at Calico Jack's Oyster Bar. He did not show up for work the next day, and there has been no word from him since.

Police are asking anyone with information regarding the disappearance to call Detective Cpl. Bennie Smith at 352-334-2488.

Support your local paper
Donate Today
The Independent Florida Alligator has been independent of the university since 1971, your donation today could help #SaveStudentNewsrooms. Please consider giving today.

Powered by SNworks Solutions by The State News
All Content © 2025 The Independent Florida Alligator and Campus Communications, Inc.