YBOR CITY, Florida - Witnesses frantically call 911 for help after watching a young black female pushed off a bridge Sunday afternoon into the Peace River below. The incident happened Sunday afternoon just north of Arcadia in DeSoto County.
Witnesses tell investigators they don't believe the woman could swim and that two men she was with at first tried saving her but were unsuccessful.
"With the water up right now and the undercurrent is so strong, I don't care how good of a swimmer you are, you get a cramp or something you're going down," said a witness who asked not to be identified.
By the time emergency crews arrived, investigators say the woman's two male companions gathered up her belongings and took off.
Dive teams along with a helicopter from Sarasota County, a boat equipped with side scanning sonar and cadaver dogs have been searching along a five mile stretch of this winding river ever since.
Detectives say both men involved, Andrew Skevington of Naples and 28-year-old Mark Huntley from Tampa are now under arrest. Huntley, who is on probation, was picked up trying to hitch-hike back to Tampa according to deputies, but has since refused to cooperate with investigators. His last known address was at the Salvation Army in Tampa according to Desoto deputies.
"Yeah, Yeah, I've seen him walking in and out of here, a couple times," said Salvation Army resident Johnny Gaspera.
"They're drifters, they could be doing anything, wherever they lead themselves," said Gaspera. He and other residents are shocked to hear about what happened.
Detectives are still unsure of the relationship between Huntley and the unidentified woman but believe the two may have recently met on the streets of Ybor City. She is described by witnesses as a black female, around 19-years-old, 5 foot 3 inches tall. She may go by the name Keisha.
Anyone with information on a missing woman matching that description is asked to contact the DeSoto County Sheriff's Office.
Beau Zimmer, 10 News