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April 13, 2026 | By: Aidan Shea, Jack TV, Brooke Maher, Ciena Perone, Donovan Marchio and Dylan Quigley
This story is part of a collaborative project between Project: Cold Case and Flagler College.
Julia Vegas was born in Chicago, Illinois and was the first daughter born to her father. She was named after her grandmother, which continued a meaningful family tradition. Julia and her family were very proud of their Puerto Rican heritage and culture. Julia was determined to teach the children about their heritage and sometimes did it through her cooking. The family loved to gather around the table for one of their favorite meals, rice and beans.
Even when times were difficult, Julia never gave up being the best mother she could be to her three children. Julia was the mother of two daughters and a son. Described as a mother with a heart of gold, Julia was the kind of woman who could make friends at a bus stop. Julia was friendly, talkative, and engaging. She often extended her hospitality to those around her.
One of Julia’s daughters, Vernice, was 18 years old when Julia and her children moved from Chicago to Jacksonville, Florida for a fresh start and employment opportunities. Chicago had become too hard to navigate, and Julia wanted her children to have a better life.
They spent time together on weekends watching a variety of television shows. Who’s the Boss was a favorite, especially since Julia had a crush on one of the show’s main characters, Tony Danza.
Vernice fondly remembers, “One night, my mother and I ran into each other in the living room. It was so dark we couldn’t see each other. We burst out laughing and just laughed and laughed until it felt like we were both crying. It’s a great memory.”
Unfortunately, Julia was taken from the world too soon on November 26, 1999.
Julia was murdered and found in a shed in Jacksonville, Florida. She was 39 years old at the time of her murder. Even though the case remains unsolved, the family still hopes that someone will come forward with a tip or information, so the Vegas family can understand what happened to her. Julia’s life was taken from her for no reason. Nothing can fix that pain; that hollow sense of never seeing their mother again. Knowing what happened to Julia will never give the family peace, it will only give them a resolution to know that whoever committed such a heinous crime would be brought to justice.
At the time of her death, Julia was living away from her extended family, most of whom were based in Chicago and Puerto Rico. Her family continues to carry the weight of her loss. Julia’s death cut short the opportunity to see her children grow, to become a grandmother, and to continue building memories with her family and friends. Two decades have passed since Julia’s life was taken, but her memory is still very much alive in her family’s hearts, and she will always be remembered for her wonderful qualities.
If you have any information about her passing, please reach out to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office at (904) 630-0500. To remain anonymous and possibly be eligible for a reward, please call First Coast Crime Stoppers at (866) 845-8477. Any new information can help bring justice to Julia Vegas and the Vegas family.
Please consider using the buttons below to share this case in hopes that someone, somewhere, will come forward and give this victim and family the answers they need and the justice they deserve.
If you have a loved one who is the victim of an unsolved homicide, please submit their case here for consideration in a future Cold Case Spotlight post.
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