Woman just released from prison charged with carjacking that led to I-75 off-ramp closure

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jessica Maria Hord, 42, who was released from prison on February 1, was arrested yesterday after allegedly stealing a car, fleeing at high speed from an attempted traffic stop, and eventually crashing into a semi, which led to the closure of an I-75 off-ramp; she is also facing a sworn complaint for drug possession that resulted from an encounter with a police officer that morning.

At about 9:20 a.m. on February 4, a Gainesville Police Department (GPD) officer patrolling in the 400 block of S. Main Street saw a woman walk into a heavily shaded area and anxiously glance over both shoulders. The officer used binoculars to watch the woman, and he reported that she took a clear pipe out of her backpack and lit it. The woman, later identified as Hord, began walking south on Main Street, and the officer made contact with her.

The officer reported that she spontaneously stated that she was smoking crack. While searching for her driver’s license, Hord reportedly said she also had a small baggie of marijuana. The officer collected the evidence and told Hord that a sworn complaint for possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana would be filed.

At about 1:34 p.m., Hord allegedly approached a man from behind as he was fixing his driver’s side door in the 500 block of S. Main Street. She allegedly wrapped her arms around the man, aggressively threw him to the ground, jumped into his car, and drove away at high speed.

An Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy saw the car driving erratically southbound on Main Street and then westbound on Williston Road and pursued the car without knowing about the carjacking; the deputy told the arresting GPD officer that the car cut through traffic, driving at about 80 mph, and nearly hit several cars while ignoring his lights and sirens. The car lost control and crashed into a semi on the northbound off-ramp of I-75 at Williston Road.

Hord, whose address is listed as St. Francis House, was charged with unarmed carjacking and cited for careless driving, along with the charges for possession of drug paraphernalia and marijuana. She has nine felony convictions (none violent) and 13 misdemeanor convictions (one violent) and has served six state prison sentences, with her most recent release on February 1, 2025. Judge Meshon Rawls ordered her held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s office to hold her without bail until trial; Judge Rawls set bail at $2,000 each on the two misdemeanor drug charges.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.