Daughter's Underwater Quest to Recover Murdered Mother's Remains in Florida
No child anticipates burying a parent prematurely. For Hope Yates-MacDonald, this painful reality has propelled her into the murky waters of Florida on a determined mission to recover her murdered mother's missing remains. The 32-year-old Kentucky resident has invested over $15,000 and taught herself scuba diving in a heartbreaking pursuit to bring her mother fully home.
A Tragic Discovery and Unfinished Recovery
Jamie Lin Donovan MacDonald, a 62-year-old beloved foster carer, was found deceased in a drainage ditch near her Homosassa, Florida home on June 14, 2024. This discovery came six weeks after she was reported missing to the Hernando County Sheriff's Office on May 12. Not all of her body was recovered, leaving her daughter with an incomplete closure.
"The last year and a half of my life has revolved around recovering my mom," said Hope, a radiology student from Elizabethtown, Kentucky. "I've learned underwater recovery, worked with forensic experts—everything. Right now, I'm still looking for her. Once I find the rest of her, I think I'll be able to accept that she's gone."
Background and Vulnerabilities
Jamie had struggled with prescription drug dependency following a severe back injury from a car accident six years prior. Her daughter believes this vulnerability led her into dangerous associations. "She hurt her back real bad, so the doctor prescribed her an unnecessary amount of pain medicine," Hope explained. "It kind of just spiraled for her and led her to mixing up with the wrong people."
Suspects and Charges
Two individuals—Luequita Sclesky, 32, and her husband, 38-year-old Duane David Sclesky—have been charged with Jamie's murder and the killing of 68-year-old Kenneth Zickendrath. Detectives allege the couple used stolen personal information to access the victims' bank accounts. Charges include:
- Two counts of first-degree murder
- 75 counts of misuse of personal identification of a deceased person for Luequita
- Fraudulent use of a credit card and unlawful use of a two-way communication device
- Trafficking in fentanyl and possession of paraphernalia/various narcotics for Duane
Both suspects are awaiting trial, with no date yet set. Hope expressed mixed emotions upon their arrest: "It was a relief that she wasn't missing anymore, but then I learned how violently she had been killed. They thought my mom wouldn't have anyone looking for her. They didn't realize we would never stop."
The Search Intensifies
Hope's quest began when she visited the site where her mother's body was found to leave flowers. "I saw bones at the bottom, in the middle of the water. I accidentally discovered the first missing bone of my mother's—we didn't even know she was missing them," she recounted. Medical teams confirmed the bones were Jamie's, but decomposition from the wrists down and moving water had caused some remains to be lost.
When authorities could not allocate further resources, Hope took matters into her own hands. She taught herself scuba diving and underwater recovery techniques for low-visibility conditions. "When you step into that creek, you lose vision immediately. I've used stretchers, floats—I've even searched with my hands," she said.
Innovative Methods and Progress
Hope has employed diverse resources in her search:
- Working with dogs trained to detect human remains
- Enlisting a rescue otter named Splash, trained to find bones underwater
- Consulting forensic anthropologists worldwide, including in the UK, to identify missing bones
Since June, she has recovered 15 bones, with 10 to 12 still missing, including finger bones (phalanges), wrist bones (carpals), and a metacarpal. Recent finds in October were aided by non-profit organizations.
Personal Sacrifices and Emotional Toll
The search has exacted a heavy price. Hope has sold her home, moved into an apartment, and spent $10,000 to $15,000, with costs expected to rise. She created a GoFundMe page but has not widely promoted it. Additionally, she has begun specialized trauma therapy to cope with her grief. "The grief hits at different speeds. It's crippling and overwhelming," she shared. "My birthday was recently and there was only one person I wanted to speak to. My mom. I can't leave her abandoned."
A Daughter's Resolve
Hope believes recovering every bone will allow her to fully grieve and is preparing to face the accused in court. "I want them to know who she was. She was the sun, and that's what they took," she said. "She was gentle and kind. When I think of my mom, I think of empathy. She cared for everything—people, animals, even bugs."
Her message to the suspects is clear: "You took something that is not replaceable. What you did will not go unnoticed, and I will not stop until I bring my mom home."
