WEST PARK, Fla. – New details have emerged after detectives with the Broward Sheriff’s Office said a teacher was found dead after falling off a moving car on the Florida Turnpike.
Detectives have been investigating the death of Shakira “Kira” Mozie, the 34-year-old mother of a 10-year-old girl who worked at the Discovery Elementary School in Sunrise, since Christmas.
Mozie, who was also a tutor and a cheerleading coach, left a Christmas Eve party in West Park, but she never made it back home to Tamarac, and her family wants to know why.
Mozie’s father, Sheldon Mozie, said the only one who knows what happened is her boyfriend, Duane Hawkins, who was driving her white Lexus sports utility vehicle.
BSO detectives say Hawkins was the only other person believed to be in the car with Mozie just moments before she was found dead.
The grieving father said that Lexus and Hawkins made it back home safely without his daughter, and he wants answers.
“You can’t think of any reason why she would jump out of a moving car?” asked Local 10′s Christian De La Rosa.
“No, that’s impossible,” Mozie replied. “Why would she? Why would she jump out of her car?”
Deputies said Hawkins was not at the scene when first responders arrived.
They say he was questioned by detectives about the crash this week after being arrested on Monday for driving with a suspended license.
Detectives say at this time, they’ve found no probable cause to arrest Hawkins in connection to Mozie’s death.
On Wednesday, Hawkins was arrested in Palm Beach County on charges unrelated to Mozie’s death.
Local 10 News reporter Layron Livingston went to Hawkins’ home where no one answered the door but was approached by a woman who wanted to “clear Duane’s name,” but refused to speak in front of cameras.
Detectives were asking anyone with information about the case to call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477.
Family members created a GoFundMe for future expenses for Mozie’s daughter, and it can be found by clicking here.