57-year-old Harry Paul “Steve” Jernigan was found in an orange grove off Old Bartow/Lake Wales Rd in Lake Wales on January 10, 1982. He was shot while traveling east on SR 60 towards Lake Wales, and his body was dumped in an orange grove. Jernigan’s car, a 1977 Buick Estate station wagon with Alabama tags was found burned in Hillsborough County. He was in possession of several thousand dollars when he was found.

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.