Bradenton man accused of setting woman's body on fire after murder

BRADENTON (FOX 13) - A Bradenton man was arrested after a woman’s body was found dumped in a homeless camp and set on fire, deputies said.

Now, 23-year-old Dakota Jibson sits behind bars at the Manatee County jail, but questions remain.

"We may never know the true motive as to why he did this, other than he just got angry," said Dave Bristow with the Manatee County Sheriff's Office. 

Deputies say Jibson is responsible for the death of 50-year-old Veronica Polite. Her body was found in a wooded area. 

She had been killed and had been set on fire. 

"It was a very, very brutal homicide," Bristow said. "Blunt force trauma to the head and, of course, setting the victim on fire after that." 

Jibson and Polite connected Sunday night at the Bradenton City Walk Apartments. Deputies said Jibson went to pick up two friends, but started talking to Polite and ended up giving her a ride. 

"They were out. Witnesses describe them as flirting with each other. They apparently did some narcotics and they were out, by all accounts, having a good time," said Bristow. 

At some point, Jibson dropped off his friends and continued on with Polite. Deputies said something went terribly wrong and it ended with murder. 

Polite's husband of 31 years told FOX 13 she rarely left her home because she was legally blind. 

"I can't believe that anybody would do that to her or anybody," Polite's neighbor, Amanda Capen said.

Capen remembers seeing Polite for the last time. Polite asked Capen for a ride to the store, but Capen couldn't help. 

"I have some regrets. I wish I would have, you know, just told my sister-in-law to hold off and give her a ride," said Capen. 

A judge ordered Jibson to be held on no bond. Polite's friends and family now work to process what happened. 

"It's unbelievably shocking to me. I can't wrap my mind around it," said Capen.