Denise Andrea Thornburg was found next to a canal on the west side of County Road 471 on September 22, 1990.  She was nude from the waist down. The autopsy revealed that she died as a result of strangulation. She had been drinking prior to her death and frequented the area near Talbot House.

Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit at (863) 298-6379, or send an email to coldcase@polksheriff.org.