FDLE continues to seek leads in 1974 murder of James Norris - aka Richard Gunning - in Central FL
Dixie County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO)
Cross City (Dixie County), Florida - Dixie County Florida’s oldest, unsolved homicide and one of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s oldest, unsolved homicides occurred 49 years ago on October 4, 1974. The 1974 murder of 24 year-old James Norris, of San Francisco, California, whose body was found in Dixie County, still remains an active case, with investigators continuing to pursue leads.
“Someone has the information we need to solve this murder, and it’s never too late to come forward,” said Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Tallahassee Special Agent in Charge Mark Perez. “I urge anyone with information to contact FDLE Tallahassee or the Dixie County Sheriff’s Office.”
“Even after decades, we are actively working this case. We have a great deal of information, and we won’t stop until this case is solved,” said Dixie County Sheriff Dewey H. Hatcher, Sr. “Just a little information could crack this case.”
Background
On the morning of October 4, 1974, San Francisco resident James Norris arrived by commercial flight in Miami, Florida, traveling under the alias Richard Gunning. The investigation shows that Norris traveled to Citrus County, Florida to purchase marijuana from an organization operating in Citrus County. The investigation has uncovered the names of the members of that organization.
Norris was carrying a large amount of cash, with the intention of purchasing Columbian-grade marijuana that was not available, at that time, in California.
On the afternoon of October 4, 1974, Norris mailed a postcard to his family from Inglis, Florida, which was the last contact his family had with him.
On April 16, 1976, a bulldozer operator cutting through a wooded area off U.S. Highway 19 in northern Dixie County, near the Taylor County line, came upon skeletal remains. The body remained unidentified until 2011, when advances in DNA allowed these remains to be positively identified as James Norris.
If you have information about the murder of James Norris, please contact the Dixie County Sheriff’s Office at (352) 498-1245 or FDLE Tallahassee at (800) 342-0820.
The Norris family has established a website, www.WhoKilledJamesNorris.com, which describes the family’s long search for their loved one.