Police Seek Witnesses to Phoebe Jonchuck's Last Day

St. Petersburg Police detectives are trying to unravel the mystery surrounding the last few hours of Phoebe Jonchuck’s life and they’d like to speak with anyone who saw the child, her father or his car during the hours prior to her death.

Phoebe Jonchuck, 5, died Thursday morning after she was pulled from chilly waters below the southbound approach to the Skyway Bridge. Her father, John Jonchuck, 25, has been charged in her death, accused of throwing the child over the bridge.

“Investigators believe that John Jonchuck may have spoken to members of the clergy/church in the Tampa Bay area in the days before the murder of his daughter on January 8th,” wrote department spokeswoman Yolanda Fernandez in an email to media. “Detectives are interested in speaking to any clergy member or individual who spoke directly to the suspect.”

See Also:

• ‘He’s Out of His Mind,’ Says Attorney for Dad Accused of Throwing Child from Bridge
• Officer Tried to Stop Man Accused of Throwing Child Over Skyway
• Dad Accused of Throwing Daughter From Bridge Had Lengthy Criminal History

Detectives, Fernandez wrote, would also like to hear from anyone who saw Jonchuck, Phoebe or the white PT Cruiser the pair were in on Wednesday afternoon or evening. “This would assist us in establishing a timeline leading up to Phoebe’s death,” Fernandez explained.

Phoebe’s final hours began to unfold just after midnight Thursday when off-duty St. Petersburg Police Officer William Vickers was passed by a car doing 100 mph. Vickers gave chase, but car, which officers say was driven by John Jonchuck had quite a lead on him.

As the man neared the top of the Dick Misener Bridge, on the approach to the Skyway, Vickers watched as the car stopped, John Jonchuck got out and threw Phoebe into the water below, Fernandez wrote.

Jonchuck then got back into his Chrysler PT Cruiser and took off into Manatee County where authorities there stopped him near the University Parkway exit.

A search for the child was launched with U.S. Coast Guard assistance, Fernandez wrote. Phoebe was located and attempts were made to resuscitate her. She later died at a local hospital.

John Jonchuck has since been booked into the Pinellas County Jail.

Anyone with information about the Jonchucks’ whereabouts on Wednesday are asked to call Det. Kenneth Miller at 727-892-5916, or text “SPPD” and the information to TIP411.

Photo Credit: John Jonchuck/Pinellas County Jail