New details surface in death investigation of young Clay County woman

New details are surfacing in the death investigation of a Middleburg woman found dead on the side of A1A in Ponte Vedra Beach on Sunday.

Action News Jax first told you that investigators with St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit took over the case and discovered that Brianna Gibson and her boyfriend left Gibson’s family’s home on Saturday night and never returned.

Gibson’s vehicle was later found abandoned in an apartment complex, which SJSO said was “some distance away from the partner’s residence.”

SJSO investigators seized the vehicle and shortly thereafter, “family members of the boyfriend contacted the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and stated the subject wished to turn himself in regarding an outstanding and unrelated warrant,” the release detailed.

RELATED: Woman found dead on side of A1A in St. Johns County

Now deputies are sharing a developing timeline of events from Jan. 30 and into the morning of Jan. 31.

According to detectives, the couple left Brianna’s Middleburg home at 10 p.m., driving a white Hummer SUV, and were next seen at 10:20 p.m. at the Publix on Blanding Blvd. The couple was then seen again over two hours later at 10:40 p.m., at Shore Liquors, also along Blanding Blvd.

Currently, the last known location of the couple was at the Circle K on Old St. Augustine Road in Jacksonville at 12:52 a.m. -- before Brianna was discovered deceased by a passing motorist at 4:30 a.m., in Ponte Vedra.

Detectives believe the pair may have traveled to an eating or drinking establishment between the last sighting in Jacksonville and the Ponte Vedra location along A1A North.

Gibson’s sister, Taylor Gibson, spoke to Action News Jax about the life the 24-year-old leaves behind.

“As an older sister you always think your younger sister is going to be coming to you for guidance. There were plenty of times, plenty of times, I had to go to her,” said Taylor. “…She was my baby. She’ll be greatly missed.”

Taylor discussed her sister Brianna’s relationship with her boyfriend.

“He loved her to death, and she adored him. He motivated her,” said Taylor. “… We don’t feel like he would cause her intentional harm.”

Detectives are continuing to seek any information regarding the whereabouts of Gibson and her vehicle from 10 p.m. Saturday evening until early Sunday morning.

If you may have seen Brianna and/or her boyfriend at ANY location after 12:52 a.m. Sunday morning, please contact Detective Aaron Holland at (904) 209-3538 or by email at aholland@sjso.org. You can also call SJSO Major Crimes Unit at 904-824-8304.

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