Hamilton County murder update

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An FDLE mobile crime scene unit at the scene of a homicide in Jasper Monday morning. - Photo: Joyce Marie Taylor

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January 23, 2013

Hamilton County murder update

Georgia woman found dead on road believed to have been shot by father, who was later found dead in apparent suicide

Joyce Marie Taylor Suwannee Democrat The Suwannee Democrat Wed Jan 23, 2013, 10:09 AM EST

Jasper — A woman found shot to death in southwest Hamilton County Monday morning is believed to have been killed by her 79-year-old father, whose body was found Tuesday morning in his vehicle in Marion County in what officials are calling an apparent suicide.

According to Hamilton County Sheriff Harrell Reid, a power crew from Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative had turned onto SW 44th Street, a dirt road off SR 6, in Jasper and found the body of Pamela Provenzano, 61, lying near the edge of the roadway about 100 feet from the intersection of SW 44th Street and SR 6, about a mile from the I-75 exit. Reid stated he believes the body was placed at the scene sometime between 10:30 p.m. Sunday night and 6:30 a.m. Monday morning.

During an investigation, Reid said it was learned that Provenzano, who is from Hahira, Ga., had possibly come to visit her father, Daniel Ovaert, 79, who lived in Lowndes County. At some point, it is believed that Ovaert dropped his daughter’s body on the roadway in Hamilton County. Ovaert’s body was found Tuesday morning in his vehicle at a gas station in Marion County, shot to death, in what appears to be an apparent suicide, according to officials. Reid said that “notes” were found at Ovaert’s place of business in Lowndes County and at the scene in Marion County. Reid would not divulge the content of the notes.

Numerous law enforcement officials from the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, Lowndes County (Ga.) Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, along with Third Circuit State Attorney Jeff Seigmeister, were at the scene on SW 44th Street and SR 6 in Jasper for a good part of the day Monday gathering evidence that included a purse, assumed to belong to the deceased.

If you have any information regarding this investigation please contact the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office at 386-792-1001 or the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office at 229-671-2985.

“The quick resolution of this case can be attributed to the total cooperation of all the agencies involved,” said Reid.

The investigation continues.