Wilfred Jocelyn

Wilfred Jocelyn was a 35-year-old Black man traveling from the Naples area to Miami on the evening of December 2, 1994. He was one of nine people riding together in a large red and white passenger van, making their way across the state of Florida. The trip would be violently interrupted by what appeared to be a planned and coordinated roadside ambush.

While the van was traveling along State Road 29 in Collier County, its driver stopped to pick up four men who were standing on the side of the roadway. The men boarded the van, joining Mr. Jocelyn and the other passengers, and the journey toward Miami resumed.

The ruse began a short time later. Just north of Interstate 75, one of the four new passengers suddenly pretended to be sick. The driver, acting out of concern, pulled the van over to the side of the road to assist the man. It was then that the true, violent intentions of the four men were revealed.

As soon as the van came to a stop, the men pulled out guns. They proceeded to rob the original nine occupants of their money and other valuables. During the robbery, shots were fired. The van's driver, another passenger, and Wilfred Jocelyn were all struck by gunfire. Mr. Jocelyn later succumbed to his injuries.

The four gunmen had an escape plan in place. A fifth accomplice had been following the passenger van in a separate vehicle. After the robbery and shooting, the assailants fled the scene in this getaway car. Investigators believe the vehicle then headed west, back in the direction of Naples.

No arrests have ever been made in the robbery and murder of Wilfred Jocelyn. The case remains open and unsolved, as of May 2022. Anyone with information about the five men involved is asked to call Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS. A cash reward of up to $5,000 may be available for a tip that leads to an arrest. Tipsters will remain anonymous, and tips can also be submitted online or through the P3Tips mobile app.