The search for Bonefish Grill waitress, Savannah Gold, ended Saturday evening after police said prime suspect, Lee Rodarte, confessed to killing the young woman and disposing of the her body in a Westside pond.
Investigators said that they believe Gold walked over to Rodarte’s car in the Bonefish Grill parking lot and a fight ensued Wednesday evening.
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Family and friends began searching for Gold on Wednesday after she did not show up for work at the Bonefish Grill at 10950 San Jose Boulevard. Texts from Gold’s phone were sent to her father and brother, but family became suspicious when they spoke of a boyfriend they hadn’t heard of and were written in an unfamiliar fashion. While family and friends searched for Gold, police revealed during a Sunday news conference that they were busy looking through surveillance video in Mandarin and narrowed in on fellow Bonefish Grill employee Lee Rodarte after a contradiction developed with his alibi. Rodarte eventually exited his car and reportedly took an object from Gold’s vehicle and punctured one of her tires. source
As of today, the Bonefish Grill remained closed.
Police said that surveillance video shows that Gold did not exit the suspect’s vehicle after the fight and, during a later interview, the suspect confessed to killing the 21-year-old inside the car.
Rodarte told police on Saturday evening that he dumped the victim’s body in a pond off of Duclay Road on the Westside.
Rodarte has been charged with murder and tampering with evidence.
At last check, he was being held without bond in the Duval County Jail awaiting his next court appearance.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends at this difficult time.