Christian Peterson
reporter.riverbendnews@gmail.com
Jason Futch was born in Gainesville in 1991 to two loving parents. He spent most of his early life in Live Oak, attending Suwannee High School. However, eventually, Futch made his way to Jackson County, where he got his GED in 2009. He continued his educational career at Lake City Community College (later renamed Florida Gateway College), where he majored in criminal justice with a minor in music. After leaving the collegiate scene, Futch began flirting with different career options. A career in media tempted him, and podcasts especially piqued his interest. That, along with his background in crime, started him off on his career path.
Futch helped solve a cold case in Columbia County, and that sparked something inside of him. He began working with families affected by an unsolved case and founded the well-known cold case victim’s advocacy group Suwannee Valley Unsolved. There, he works closely with law enforcement and the public to bring light to and sometimes even help solve cold cases. Futch saw a new opportunity when he heard Riverbend News was hiring, and before he knew it, he was settling into his new role as a reporter.
“It's an opportunity to reconnect with the community,” Futch said when asked why he took the job. He is also excited to dig even deeper, especially to go beyond the arrest reports and see how he can help others throughout the community. Futch also expressed his excitement to take a break from crime and write feel-good stories.
Futch now lives in Lake City with his fiance, Heidi. Together, they have a 1-year-old son and an 8-year-old daughter. Futch’s favorite book is “A Land Remembered” by Patrick Smith. His favorite movie is “Step Brothers,” and he remains the most excited to educate the public on crime in Riverbend's coverage area.