911 Call From Car Trunk Led Deputies to Woman's Body

ORLANDO, FL – A 25-year-old woman’s valiant attempt to save her own life early Thursday morning failed, but her 911 call ultimately led Orange County deputies to her body and put them on the trail of her suspected killer.

Jasmine Samuel placed a 911 call at 12:34 a.m., telling authorities she was in the area of 1852 Central Florida Parkway and had been forced into the trunk of her car, the sheriff’s office wrote in a media release.

That 911 call kicked off an extensive search for the victim and her Nissan Maxima. The search ended at 2:06 a.m. when Samuel’s vehicle was located. The mother of two’s body was found inside.

Deputies have identified David Payne, 62, as the primary suspect in the woman’s death. Payne is Samuel’s ex-boyfriend, the sheriff’s office said. He remained at-large Friday morning and is being described as “armed and dangerous” by the sheriff’s office.

Samuel managed to keep a connection open with an Orange County 911 operator for about 15 minutes, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

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Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said operators could hear sirens in the background, but couldn’t immediately locate the vehicle. Once the connection to Samuel’s cellphone broke, operators couldn’t get her back.

“He (Payne) knew that the police were nearby,” the Sentinel quoted Demings as saying. “It was just very difficult to locate the precise location of the vehicle. Clearly he was moving at different times, sometimes at a high rate of speed.”

The vehicle and the woman’s body were found about 4 miles from the abduction site.

Anyone who spots Payne is asked to avoid contact and call 911. He is originally from the Apopka area, but it is unclear where he may have fled.

Payne faces first degree murder and kidnapping charges, the sheriff’s office said.

Photos of Jasmine Samuel and David Payne courtesy of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office