JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A mother’s determination to solve her son’s murder has led to a prominent billboard installation near EverBank Stadium, bringing new attention to a five-year-old cold case.
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Crystal Anlage, whose son Jacquez was killed just before his 21st birthday in 2020, secured funding from Season of Justice, a nonprofit dedicated to cold cases, to erect the billboard along the heavily trafficked route to the Mathews Bridge and Arlington Expressway.
“Heart-stopping. Something about seeing that giant billboard up in such a prominent place that really stirred something in me,” Anlage said, describing her reaction to first seeing her son’s face on the massive display.
The billboard is near the EverBank stadium on Union Street, facing traffic headed toward the Mathews Bridge and Arlington Expressway.
The billboard, which includes details about the October 17, 2020 murder and information for submitting tips, represents the latest effort to generate leads in the unsolved case. Anlage has channeled her grief into action, serving as the executive director of the Jacksonville Survivors Foundation, where she supports other families affected by homicide.
“Because that’s my child,” Anlage said, explaining her unwavering determination after five years without answers. “He would have never given up on us. I’m not giving up on him.”
The case highlights a larger issue in Duval County, which faces approximately 1,700 unsolved murders, according to Ryan Backmann, founder and executive director of Project Cold Case. Backmann, whose own father’s 2009 murder remains unsolved, works alongside Anlage at the organization.
“Recently we had an arrest in a local case that was the Tina Heins case,” Backmann said. “But then we have just dozens of families, hundreds of families that are here locally that are still waiting for those answers. And so our role is to really kind of help them start to heal.”
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The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation and anyone with information is asked to call First Coast Crime Stoppers at (866) 845-TIPS to submit an anonymous tip.
“Visibility helps prevent cases from going silent,” a representative from Season of Justice said. “Billboards like this often spark new leads and community engagement.”