JACKSONVILLE, FL — The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office announced the resolution of a cold case dating back to 1985, involving the murder of Annie Mae Ernest, 38. Authorities identified Robert Richard Van Pelt as the perpetrator, who had previously used the alias “Robert Vance” and later died by suicide.
Ernest’s body was discovered in an open area on Market Street on September 9, 1985. Early in the investigation, detectives identified a person of interest known as Robert Vance, who was one of the last people to communicate with Ernest before her death. Vance admitted to socializing with Ernest but denied any involvement in her murder. He had agreed to a polygraph examination but failed to appear as scheduled, leading investigators to his abandoned apartment.
For years, the case remained unsolved as efforts to locate Vance proved unsuccessful. It was later revealed that “Robert Vance” was actually Robert Richard Van Pelt. Despite identifying Van Pelt as the suspect, authorities were unable to apprehend him, as he had taken his own life.
The case was revisited by cold case detectives in 2008, leading to the confirmation of Van Pelt’s involvement in Ernest’s murder. This breakthrough has brought closure to a case that had remained a mystery for over two decades.