On May 7, 1986, 22-year-old Ronette Peterson was found in a pit located near Combee Road in Lakeland. She drowned after being struck in the head. Peterson remained a "Jane Doe" for 19 years before her body was identified via fingerprints as a missing person from Iowa. Detectives learned that she had traveled through Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, South Carolina, and Florida (possibly the Clearwater area) during the time period leading up to her death.

Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit at (863) 298-6379, or send an email to coldcase@polksheriff.org.