The search for Joanna Clark, a 26-year-old woman, has escalated as law enforcement officials suspect she may have been abducted by her ex-boyfriend, Gervonta Bell. This would mark the third time Bell has been implicated in Clark’s disappearance. Clark was last seen in the early hours of the morning at the Crescent Lane apartments on Gany Boulevard. Eyewitnesses reported seeing her being coerced into her own vehicle.
Clark’s car was later discovered in the evening on the 6500 block of Alberton Road, near Highway 19. However, both Clark and Bell were nowhere to be found. Investigators are now working on the theory that the pair may have switched to a different dark-colored sedan.
Residents of the apartment complex identified Bell as the individual involved in the alleged kidnapping. One witness, Justin Crombie, reported hearing Clark yell, “Get off me,” as she was forced into a Nissan sedan by Bell. Bell then reportedly fled the scene, hitting several parked cars in the process.
Court records indicate that this is not the first time Bell has been accused of kidnapping Clark. He was previously implicated in two similar incidents, one in Clearwater and another in Hillsboro County. In one case, Bell and an unidentified accomplice, both masked and armed, allegedly abducted Clark. They were located 18 hours later at Bell’s mother’s residence in Largo, but the charges were subsequently dropped.
Crombie, who has known Clark for two years, described her as a dedicated mother and a certified nursing assistant. He said, “She’s always been really sweet and on the right path.” Despite the traumatic event, Crombie was able to note down the license plate of the car, providing crucial information for the ongoing investigation.
Law enforcement officials are now appealing to the public for any information that could help locate Clark. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone with relevant information to come forward.