FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. _ "This is my daughter Jenna Jacobsen," Chris Jacobsen of East Islip, New York posted on May 18 along with a series of pictures of his daughter.
"She has been missing for 23 days as of today. She was last seen in Lake Worth, Florida," the posting said.
Jenna Jacobsen, 20, had traveled to South Florida to go to a substance treatment facility, her father told WPTV-Ch. 5, but she never made it there.
In a missing person bulletin, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said Jenna Jacobsen was last seen alive on April 25 on the 700 block of South H Street in Lake Worth Beach. Details of that sighting were not disclosed, but investigators at the time said she was considered to be "possibly endangered."
On May 22, Chris Jacobsen was in Lake Worth Beach handing out missing person fliers in the hopes that someone could help find her.
"This has just been a devastating experience and we are all heartbroken and I am hoping to find her as soon as we can," Chris Jacobsen told WPTV.
Then, last week _ on Thursday _ deputies were sent to a scrub area on the 1200 block of Southwinds Drive in Lantana following the discovery of what appeared to be human bones. That area is east of Interstate 95 and north of W. Lantana Road.
Sunday, the sheriff's office said investigators with the Palm Beach County Medical Examiner's Office determined that the remains were those of Jenna Jacobsen.
"The medical examiner has advised that Jenna died of undetermined means, however, detectives are investigating her death as a homicide," sheriff's office spokeswoman Teri Barbera said by email.
News of his daughter's death prompted an outpouring of condolences on her father's Facebook page.
A woman identified as Heidi Stewart wrote, "I really liked Jenna she was a sweet girl I will never forget her beautiful smile this is the saddest day ever!!!"
Investigators who are trying to learn what happened to Jenna Jacobsen ask anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers of Palm Beach County at 800-458-8477.
