Family confirms remains found by a search team are that of a missing man from Ireland

John McNamee was a father of two daughters

John McNamee had a flight booked that left Jacksonville on May 30, but he wasn’t on it. (WJXT)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The remains of a man missing since May have been found, according to a family friend.

John McNamee, originally from Ireland, was last seen at the Love’s Travel Stop on Pecan Park Road May 25. His pickup truck was found behind the Quality Inn on Airport Road the next morning.

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McNamee’s family flew to Jacksonville from Ireland to search for him for weeks. Dozens of volunteers helped them, combing through woods, K9s sniffed for clues and a boat searched bodies of water.

Volunteer searchers scour the woods for any sign of John McNamee, who has been missing since May. (WJXT)

The family friend said the cause of death is listed as “unexplained” and foul play is not suspected.

McNamee’s family released a statement Wednesday that reads:

On Saturday July 9, members of Withlacoochee Regional Search and Rescue Team (Ocala, Marion County) along with Chief Samuel J. Matychak took Independent HRD (Human Remains Detection) Dogs Handlers Stephanie and David Hollingsworth (Live Oak), First Response Search Team HRD Dog Handlers Tjasa Landes and Juli Wilkison (Tallahassee), Florida Search & Rescue (volunteers around in Florida) and volunteers of Set Free Church Jacksonville on a private search of the area where John’s pick up truck was found back on May 26. During this search the remains of our beloved John were located.

We are truly grateful to those who all helped in finding John and enabling us to bring him home.

Thank you to Jacksonville Sheriff office for all their help and assistance during these difficult weeks.

Thank you to the everyone who assisted us by sharing information, posting flyers and helped in any way.

We will never have enough words to describe how grateful we are.

As a family we are truly devastated on the passing of our beloved John and we ask for privacy and space at this time to allow us to grieve.


About the Authors:

Marilyn has been Digital Director since October 2021. She supervises News4JAX.com, News4JAX+, along with other News4JAX platforms and channels.