The body of the boxer and co-owner of a gym in Fort Lauderdale, Jonathan Scibica, 35 years old, was found dead inside his truck submerged in a canal, authorities in Broward County, Florida reported this Monday.
According to a statement released on the social media platform X by the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO), detectives from the Missing Persons Unit confirmed that Scibica was found deceased inside his vehicle, which was located in a body of water near the 900 block of NW 63rd Court. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death remains active.
According to Telemundo, Scibica had been reported missing on Saturday after he was last seen leaving Cheers Bar, located at 941 E Cypress Creek Road, around 4:00 AM on Friday, as reported by friends and family. It was believed that he was driving a gray Honda Ridgeline.
During the search conducted on Sunday, agents located the truck in a canal near a quiet residential community, mostly inhabited by elderly residents, whose neighbors expressed concern over the incident, although they preferred not to make statements in front of cameras.
Upon extracting the vehicle from the water, rescuers confirmed that Scibica’s body was inside. The scene was secured while a yellow tarp covered the windshield of the vehicle during the recovery efforts.
A local resident, James Adelizzi, reported that on Friday morning he noticed unusual lights near the lagoon.
“I saw some headlights shining through the water. The next day I realized that the gate was off its hinges and had ended up in the canal,” he explained to Local 10 News.
Two days later, divers from the Broward Sheriff’s Office recovered the truck. The body was transported by the County Medical Examiner’s Office, while authorities refrained from providing preliminary details on whether it was an accident or if other factors were involved.
The news has had a profound impact on the local sports community, especially at Level Up Boxing and Fitness, where Scibica was a co-owner and worked as a trainer. Friends, family, and gym members gathered on Sunday in a prayer circle near the canal, as search efforts continued.
Those who knew him state that Scibica did not live in the area where the vehicle was found, which has raised numerous questions about how he arrived at the location and what happened after he left the bar.
Authorities reiterated that the investigation is ongoing and requested patience as the facts are clarified.