I-95 Hijacking: Trucker's Disappearance Unravels Multistate Homicide Investigation
FBI investigates the homicide of a truck driver after his disappearance & suspected hijacking on I-95 led to a multistate search.
Alejandro Jacomino Gonzalez, a truck driver, vanished while hauling fancy cars from Georgia to Miami. He was last seen at a Florida rest stop, and later, his truck was found abandoned in Georgia without him or some of the cars. Soon after, his body was found in coastal Georgia, turning the case into a murder investigation. The FBI believes this was part of a bigger car theft plot along the busy I-95 highway, and they are asking anyone with clues to help solve the case.
What happened in the I-95 truck hijacking and homicide involving Alejandro Jacomino Gonzalez?
Alejandro Jacomino Gonzalez, a trucker transporting luxury vehicles from Georgia to Miami, disappeared on April 17, 2026, after stopping at a Grant-Valkaria, Florida rest area. His abandoned truck and missing cargo were found in Georgia, and his body was later discovered, prompting a multistate FBI homicide and hijacking investigation.
A 41-year-old commercial truck driver has become the center of a multistate FBI investigation after his disappearance on Interstate 95 triggered a suspected hijacking probe that ended in tragedy. Alejandro Jacomino Gonzalez was last seen alive in the early morning hours of April 17, 2026, at a rest stop in Brevard County, Florida, while transporting luxury vehicles from Georgia to Miami. His body was later discovered in coastal Georgia, transforming what began as a missing person case into a homicide investigation that spans multiple jurisdictions.
The Last Known Movements
Gonzalez picked up his cargo - multiple vehicles - from the Port of Brunswick, Georgia, on April 16, 2026, beginning what should have been a routine delivery run to Miami. The following day, at approximately 1:21 a.m., he arrived at the Grant-Valkaria rest area on I-95 South in Brevard County, Florida. Surveillance data shows he remained at the rest stop for several hours before departing at 7:49 a.m.
What happened next raised immediate red flags for investigators. GPS tracking revealed the truck briefly continued south for one exit before abruptly reversing course and heading north toward Jacksonville. Shortly after this unusual maneuver, Gonzalez became unreachable, and all communication ceased. By the end of April 17, his truck was located nearly 300 miles north in Port Wentworth, Georgia - close to Savannah - but the driver was nowhere to be found.
Missing Cargo and Recovery Efforts
The abandoned truck told only part of the story. Several vehicles from the hauler's cargo were missing when authorities located the rig. Three of these vehicles have since been recovered in Florida, but others remain unaccounted for, fueling suspicions of an organized hijacking operation. The FBI immediately launched an appeal to the public, requesting surveillance footage, photographs, or witness accounts from anyone present at the Grant-Valkaria rest area between 1 a.m. and 8 a.m. on April 17.
| Timeline Element | Date/Time | Location | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo pickup | April 16, 2026 | Port of Brunswick, GA | Last confirmed normal activity |
| Rest stop arrival | April 17, 1:21 a.m. | Grant-Valkaria, FL | Final verified sighting alive |
| Departure | April 17, 7:49 a.m. | Grant-Valkaria, FL | GPS shows unusual route change |
| Contact lost | April 17, morning | En route | Communication ceased |
| Truck located | April 17, later | Port Wentworth, GA | Found 300 miles north, driver missing |
| Body confirmed | April 29, 2026 | Coastal Georgia | Identity verified by FBI |
Investigators described Gonzalez as 5'11" tall, weighing approximately 200 pounds, bald with a brown beard and mustache, and brown eyes. He had distinctive tattoos including a full sleeve on his left arm, markings on his lower right arm, and the name "Elisia" on his right forearm - details that helped identify him and may assist in reconstructing his final movements.
The FBI's Tampa and Atlanta field offices are jointly leading the investigation into Gonzalez's death, treating the case as both a suspected hijacking and a homicide probe.
The Discovery in Georgia
On April 29, 2026, the FBI confirmed that a body discovered in a coastal area of Georgia was that of the missing truck driver. The announcement came from both the Tampa and Atlanta field offices, which are coordinating the investigation across state lines. Critical details remain undisclosed to protect the integrity of the ongoing probe, including the exact location where Gonzalez's body was found, the cause of death, and whether investigators have identified any suspects or persons of interest.
The geographic distance between where the truck was abandoned in Port Wentworth and where Gonzalez's body was ultimately located adds another layer of complexity to the case. Port Wentworth sits near Savannah, while the body was found in a coastal area of Georgia, suggesting the perpetrators may have transported the victim after the initial hijacking.
Patterns in Interstate Vehicle Theft
This incident aligns with known patterns of vehicle theft rings operating along the I-95 corridor, one of the nation's busiest commercial trucking routes. The interstate stretches from Maine to Florida, passing through 15 states and serving as a critical artery for legitimate commerce. This same accessibility makes it attractive to organized criminal operations targeting high-value cargo.
Luxury vehicle transport presents particularly tempting targets for hijackers. These loads can be worth hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars, and the vehicles themselves can be quickly moved across state lines, stripped for parts, or sold through illicit channels before law enforcement can respond effectively.
The recovery of three vehicles in Florida while others remain missing suggests a coordinated operation with multiple participants and predetermined destinations for the stolen cargo.
Ongoing Investigation and Public Appeal
As of late April 2026, the investigation remains active with no public announcements of arrests or named suspects. The FBI continues to seek information from the public, particularly from anyone who may have been at or near the Brevard County rest area during the critical timeframe. Investigators are especially interested in the southern portion of the rest area, near the I-95 ramp, where Gonzalez was last seen.
The case demonstrates the vulnerabilities faced by commercial truck drivers, who often travel alone through isolated areas and rest stops during overnight hours. The Grant-Valkaria rest area, located near mile marker 168 on I-95, is a common stopping point for drivers making the long haul between Georgia and South Florida.
Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit tips online at tips.fbi.gov. Even seemingly minor details - a vehicle seen in the area, unusual activity at the rest stop, or dashcam footage from the timeframe - could prove crucial to solving this case and bringing those responsible to justice.
The investigation spans multiple jurisdictions and involves coordination between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. While the FBI leads the probe, the multistate nature of the crime requires cooperation across organizational boundaries, from the initial disappearance in Florida to the truck's discovery in Port Wentworth and the ultimate recovery of Gonzalez's body elsewhere in coastal Georgia.