By Tiffany Williams –
NEW HAVEN, Conn. — A body dumped in a public park. A months-long investigation. And now, an arrest.
The New Haven Police Department made an arrest on Feb. 18 in connection with the deceased body of Jasmine Wilkes that was found in Edgewood Park in New Haven on May 30, 2025.
Police identified the suspect as 33-year-old Kevin Wilson of New Haven. Investigators say he was not alone. Police said that there were several others involved as well.
Start with what we know.
Jasmine Wilkes’ body was discovered in Edgewood Park. A public space. A place families walk, children play, neighbors gather. Instead, it became a crime scene.
Investigators began pulling at threads. During the investigation, officials located the vehicle that transported Wilkes’ body to the park and were able to connect it to Wilson.
That vehicle connection is critical. Bodies do not move themselves. Someone made a decision. Someone put her in that vehicle. Someone drove to that park.
Police say that Wilkes died in a New Haven motel that Wilson was staying in, and her body was transported after her death.
A motel room. A body. A transport. A park.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled that the cause and manner of Wilkes’ death was undetermined but noted that she had symptoms of acute intoxication due to the combined effects of fentanyl, cocaine and diphenhydramine.
Undetermined. That word leaves space for questions. But the toxicology detail is stark. Fentanyl. Cocaine. Diphenhydramine. A dangerous combination. A volatile mix.
The charge filed against Wilson is Disposal of Bodies. His court-set bond stands at $250,000.
That charge focuses on what happened after death. It speaks to movement. Concealment. A body left in a park instead of reported to authorities.
Police are not closing the book.
They have made clear that investigators believe others were involved. That means more interviews. More evidence review. More scrutiny.
Authorities are urging the public to step forward. Police ask that anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has information to contact detectives at 203-946-6304 or through the anonymous tip-line at 8666-888-TIPS (8477).
Cases like this rattle communities because they unfold in layers. A death in a motel. A body transported. A park turned into a dumping ground. Months between discovery and arrest.
For nearly nine months, this investigation moved through forensic analysis, vehicle tracking, and connection-building. The location of the vehicle that transported Wilkes’ body became a pivotal piece.
Now, a suspect is in custody. A bond has been set. But the case is not finished.
The cause and manner of death remain officially undetermined. The toxicology findings raise serious questions about the events inside that motel room. And investigators have made clear that more than one person may have played a role.
Edgewood Park is no longer just a green space in this story. It is the place where a life ended up after death — and where a criminal investigation began.
As this case moves through the courts, the focus will turn to evidence, timelines and accountability.
For now, one man is charged. Others may face scrutiny. And police are still asking for answers.