Active Investigation Of Nearly 50 Year Old Florida Cold Case

A nearly 50 year old cold case remains active. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is looking into new leads in the 1974 homicide of 24-year-old James Norris, believed to be one of the oldest active homicide cases in Florida and Dixie County’s oldest case.

Norris flew into Miami from San Francisco in October of 1974, for a drug deal , and investigators believe someone in here may have information that could help solve this case. On April 16, 1976, a bulldozer operator cutting through the woods off of U.S. Highway 19 in northern Dixie County near the Taylor County line came upon skeletal remains. After years of going unidentified, technological advances helped detectives make a genetic identification of that to be Norris.

James Norris

Photo: FDLE

The investigation shows that Norris traveled to Citrus County, Florida to purchase Colombian-grade marijuana from an organization operating in that county. The investigation has uncovered the names of members of that organization. 

The Norris family has established a Facebook page and a website sharing information about the search for their loved one.


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