An unusual investigation is underway in south St. Petersburg.
What started as a traffic accident turned into a possible homicide case when officers discovered a body near the crash site.
Sunday afternoon, two boys, 12 and 14 years old, took their sister's car out for a joyride and crashed it into a pole. According to a report, they then fled from the scene.
A short time later, 20-year-old Jeremy Davon Mayers was found unconscious in front of a home on Sea Robin Dr. SE. Mayers was taken to Bayfront Medical Center where he later died.
Police say the two incidents are unrelated, but homicide detectives are now looking into Mayers’ death.
A preliminary exam did not uncover any trauma to the man's body that might have been caused by being hit by the car, which came to rest in Brenda Washington’s front yard.
“The police woke me up about 5:30 a.m. Sunday morning and asked me did I happen to know whose car that was in my yard,” she said, “and I was like what car. I didn’t know there was a car out there in my yard.”
Police say the two cases are unrelated, but the whole situation has residents on edge.
“There’s crime everywhere, but when something like that is close to home like that it can hit you a certain way,” said Keith Dorsey, St. Petersburg resident. "It was definitely surprising.”
Mayers’ cause of death is still under investigation and is being considered suspicious.
If anyone believes they have information regarding Mayers' death is asked to call the St. Petersburg Police at 727-893-7780 or callers may also utilize the TIP line at 727-892-5000.