Missing dad’s remains found a year after he disappeared while taking his daughter to college

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (TCD) -- Police have reportedly located the remains of a missing 52-year-old man who went missing when he dropped one of his children off at Florida State University.

Jason Winoker was reported missing Aug. 18, 2021, to the Tallahassee Police Department. His wife told WCTV-TV at the time of his disappearance that Winoker woke up at 1 a.m. and left a hotel room with his keys and wallet but not his cellphone. His wife reported him missing when he did not return to the hotel room that night.

On Oct. 17, the Tallahassee Police Department said a group of people walking in a heavily wooded area on the 2600 block of Apalachee Parkway discovered human remains. Police said preliminary findings indicate the remains are those of Winoker, and the investigation remains active.

WCTV reports Winoker and his family were in Tallahassee as they prepared to drop one their children off at college for the fall semester.

In a Facebook post, Winoker’s wife said he was found wearing the same polo shirt and tan shorts that he wore at the hotel the day he was last seen alive. His cause of death reportedly is undetermined due to the decomposition levels, but he likely died "within a very short time of him going missing."

She added, "Early on, people online questioned why I didn’t stop Jason from leaving our hotel room that night. Probably no one could question that more than I have, and I will spend a lifetime wishing I had."

MORE:

• Missing Adult, 8/18/2021 - Tallahassee Police Department
• Incident Alert - Tallahassee Police Department
• Tallahassee Police, family asking for help in search for Tampa man last seen in capital city, 9/9/2021 - WCTV
• UPDATE: Skeletal remains found off Apalachee are that of missing FSU dad - WCTV
• Missing Jason Facebook