GIFFORD — Deputies were interviewing a person of interest in connection with a fatal stabbing that happened overnight Tuesday behind a funeral home. Deputies said the man who was killed was homeless and possibly seeking shelter behind the closed business.
“We are encouraging anyone who may have seen something to work with our deputies to help find closure in this case,” Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers said.
The stabbing is the first homicide of 2024 for Indian River County, sheriff’s spokesperson Sgt. Kevin Jaworski said. An arrest still had not been made as of early Wednesday afternoon.
Indian River County sheriff’s deputies responded to the incident about 12:24 a.m. in the 3900 block of Old Dixie Highway in Gifford, behind Stone Brothers Funeral Chapel. Deputies found a person with a small blanket covering their upper body, a sheriff’s report shows.
Deputies removed the blanket and found the man with injuries consistent to being stabbed, sheriff’s officials said.
“Our detectives and crime scene processed the area early (Tuesday) morning and have since cleared the scene,” Jaworski said. “At this time, the name of the victim and person of interest are not being released.”
Sheriff’s officials are asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has information to come forward. Anyone with information in the case should call Jaworski at 772-475-8552.
“While we will wait for the final manner of death from the medical examiner’s office, it does appear that the male died from being stabbed,” Jaworski said.
