Authorities investigating the disappearance of a Florida philanthropist who never showed up for her morning walk say they found her car burned down, and have since arrested a man in the case.
Jesse Kirk, 72, went missing on the morning of Tuesday, March 4, from Titusville, Fla., in what authorities say is a “highly suspicious” case, FOX 35, Spectrum News 13 and WESH reported.
Her friend reported her missing around 9 a.m. that morning when she did not show up for their routine walk, the outlets reported.
A few hours later, authorities say they found her car, burned, in nearby Orange County, per the outlets.
Later that same day, a former deputy was arrested for allegedly loitering and prowling near Kirk’s home, according to online court records reviewed .
David Armstrong Barber, 35, a former deputy with Brevard County, was also charged on Wednesday with grand theft of a motor vehicle, per the court records.
Investigators said in an arrest affidavit that Barber is a former boyfriend of Kirk’s niece.
Barber also matched descriptions of a man seen walking away from Kirk’s burning vehicle holding his right arm, per the affidavit. Investigators noted that Barber had sustained first and second degree burns on his right arm after allegedly setting the vehicle on fire.
David Armstrong Barber.
Chief of Police, City of Rockledge
Kirk is the wife of prominent Titusville real estate businessman Bob Kirk and the couple are known for their contribution to their community, per Space Coast Daily, which honored the couple in 2014 as “Central Florida Humanitarians.”
Jesse had built a “successful travel career in several countries,” the Space Coast Daily wrote in their 2014 tribute for the awardee couple.
Barber has not been charged in connection with Kirk’s disappearance. He is currently facing a charge of grand theft, along with a charge of loitering and prowling, per his online case docket. Court information did not indicate any pleas.
