When the body of a young woman was discovered Sunday evening beneath a deserted bridge on Blanding Boulevard, the news sent ripples through the Jacksonville community. What made the tragedy even more staggering: the woman, identified by several sources as Tiffany Felton, is now being named by local celebrity chef and violence-prevention advocate Derrius Hall as the mother of his teenage son.
Hall, known for his outspoken work supporting survivors of gun violence in the region, stepped forward publicly in the wake of the discovery—linking the slain woman to his personal circle and raising haunting questions about her life and death. According to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO), officers responded shortly after 6:30 p.m. to a call from a fisherman who flagged down patrols after spotting the body under the bridge.
Investigators said the woman appeared to be in her 20s, but no further personal details—such as the name, a cause of death or clear signs of foul play—were shared publicly at the time of the initial report. The case is being treated as a homicide while forensic teams and detectives from the sheriff’s office continue their work.
Hall’s revelation that the victim is his son’s mother lends a painful human dimension to the story. While public records and police updates have not yet confirmed the relationship, Hall’s public commentary frames Felton not just as a tragic statistic but as an integral part of his own life story—one of love, hope and now heartbreak. The chef thanked community members for their support and asked for help in determining what happened.
Close friends and community advocates tell a different side of the story: Felton was a mother, known for her warm presence, carrying hope for her child and striving for a fresh start. Hall’s own mission—championing victims of gun violence and offering his kitchen and his platform as safe spaces—now takes on a personal note, forcing even his supporters to confront the fragility of the work he’s dedicated his life to.
Witnesses near the scene said the bridge sits along a quieter stretch of Blanding Boulevard, flanked by scrub and dim street lighting. One local reported walking by earlier in the day and seeing nothing unusual—later returning to find a flurry of law-enforcement activity and the tape separating the area from onlookers. As police have yet to release details about potential suspects or motive, the community has been left with more questions than answers.
Meanwhile Hall has urged anyone with information to come forward, stressing that this isn’t just about investigating Felton’s death—but about honoring a mother, a son, and the promise of a life cut short. “She mattered,” Hall said in a brief social-media post, “for her child, for our family, for our city.” The advocacy he’s built his name on now feels deeply personal—not just professional.
In the days ahead, the sheriff’s office has asked the public to reach out with any tips, no matter how small, related to the incident. As the investigation unfolds, the community grapples not just with the loss of one person, but with the loss of potential—the hopes of a child, the plans of a mother, and the mission of a man who stood for change now shadowed by personal tragedy.
