JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville woman is charged with killing her boyfriend, who had been reported missing by his wife back in May.
Ronald Trotter Jr., 48, was last seen May 25. His decomposed body was found about three weeks later. Detectives say the autopsy revealed Trotter had been shot in the chest.
It was affair that ended in murder, according to the Jacksonville police officers between Trotter, and his 41-year-old girlfriend, Tammy Connor. Police say Conner tried to conceal Trotter’s decomposing body, on the front porch of her home. However after three weeks, neighbors noticed an awful smell, and called animal control officers.
“It’s crazy we had no clue at all, our kids play in the front yard, and we had no clue at all,” said an unnamed neighbor of Connor’s.
Police arrested Connor in June on an unrelated battery charge, but continued to build their case. Months later, Connor’s friends came forward confessing Conner had admitted to the murder, and even offered to pay them to remove the body, while she was in jail.
Trotter was reported missing after not being seen since he got into an argument with his wife while attending a Memorial Day barbecue. She reported him missing and told police that he might be with his girlfriend.
Trotter’s decomposing body was found June 10 by animal control officers who were called to investigate what was believed to be a dead animal at a home on Janette Street in Northwest Jacksonville.
The house where Trotter's body was found was found went up in flames on June 16.
Conner was arrested June 1 for possession of drug paraphernalia and again on July 14, on an unrelated aggravated battery charge. After her second arrest, homicide detectives questioned her about Trotter's death, and she denied knowing that his body was in her house.
“As detectives worked the case, they located witnesses who said Ms. Conner asked them for assistance moving the body and she admitted to them killing him,” JSO Lt. Steve Gallaher said. “Based on those statements, cellphone records and forensic evidence, yesterday detectives charged Tammy Wright-Conner with the murder of Ronald Trotter.”
Police do not have a motive for the murder.
Conner is being held without bond in the Duval County jail.