Missing St. Pete woman found safe after reported kidnapping at apartment complex

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - St. Petersburg police say a missing woman has been found safe after a man reportedly forced her into her own car, then drove off, during a confrontation at an apartment complex early Monday.

SPPD said early Tuesday that no further details are being released about where, or how, 26-year-old Jayanna Clark was located.

The backstory:

According to the St. Petersburg Police Department, Clark was involved in an altercation with the man around 7:15 a.m. on Monday at the Crescent Lane Apartments, located at 2000 Gandy Blvd.

Pictured: Jayanna Clark. Courtesy: St. Petersburg Police Dept.

Police said Monday that the man forced Clark into her own vehicle, then drove away and hit two parked vehicles before heading north on U.S. 19.

Pictured: Clark's Nissan Altima that was found by SPPD. Courtesy: St. Petersburg Police Dept.

Investigators said they were concerned for Clark's safety because the man who drove off with her could be a former boyfriend.

SPPD later said they found Clark's Nissan Altima at 6500 Ulmerton Road, and believed she and the man were in a different dark sedan.

Pictured: Dark colored sedan that Clark and the man may have been traveling in. Courtesy: St. Pete Police Dept. 

Dig deeper:

SPPD officials did confirm that Clark is the same woman reported missing by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office back in July 2024. She was found after more than 18 hours of searching with the assistance of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. 

Detectives then said she was found unharmed and with Jahvontae Bell, 26. He was arrested on multiple charges, including armed kidnapping, according to HCSO.

St. Pete police couldn't say if the man involved in this case was the same suspect from Clark's previous missing person case.

What they're saying:

Justin Crombie, a neighbor, saw the whole thing unfold and said he tried to step in. 

"I heard ‘get off me,’ then witnessed a guy shoving a girl in the car, slam into a couple of other cars and took off down Gandy," Crombie said. "It all happened so fast."

He described Jayanna Clark as a mother and good neighbor. 

Pictured: Jayanna Clark. Courtesy: St. Pete Police Dept. 

"She’s a good neighbor, nice and sweet," Crombie said. "She’s also a very loving mother and driven." 

He said he was able to get the license plate on the car that took off, but he wishes he could have done more. 

"I wish I was there sooner, and I could have prevented this," Crombie added. "I’m going to beat myself up over this."

What's next:

Police confirmed shortly before 2 a.m. Tuesday that Clark was found and is safe.