Police Arrest Suspect in Killing of Elderly Woman

Image: Jonathan Kendrick (Tampa Police Department)

A 24-year-old man has confessed to robbing and killing an elderly Tampa woman on Saturday night at her home, the city police announced Tuesday.

Jonathan Kendrick has been charged with first degree murder, armed burglary with battery, armed robbery and dealing in stolen property, according to the Tampa Police Department. The charges stem from a break-in at the home of Loretta Jackson, 78.

The suspect told police that he took $20 in cash from Jackson, as well as her driver’s license, cell phone and EBT (electronic benefit transfer) card, used to access welfare benefits.

When her son went to check on Jackson on Saturday night at her house at 1808 East Osborne Ave., he found the house had been broken into and ransacked, according to a police statement. He saw his mother lying on the floor, bleeding from her head, and she was cold and unresponsive.

Tampa police arrived at the house, and a medical examiner pronounced Jackson dead at the scene. She had “sustained a deep laceration to her forehead area and ... suffered multiple abrasions to her face and back area,” the police said in the statement.

Forensic evidence linked Kendrick to the scene, and a warrant was issued for his arrest Monday in a separate case, the police said. He was arrested Tuesday near 17th and Nebraska Avenue.

As officers took him into custody, Kendrick broke free and ran, the police said. One officer used a stun gun on him, and Kendrick fell and hit his head. He was taken to a hospital for stitches and then transported to booking.

Account of Confession

In their statement, the Tampa police gave a detailed account of Kendrick’s confession. Kendrick told them that he targeted Jackson’s home because he thought it was an “easy lick,” street jargon for an easy burglary, the police said.

Kendrick said he kicked the back door in and saw Jackson come from somewhere inside the house. She asked him, “Why are you in my house?”

Kendrick said he asked her, “Where the money at?” Jackson started to scream. Kendrick said he then began to punch her with his fist
until she fell to the floor. She attempted to stand up, and he picked up a vacuum cleaner and struck her multiple times with it, the police said.

During the struggle with Jackson, Kendrick told police that he placed a pillow over her head to stop her from screaming. He then checked to see if she had a pulse, and found that she did not, the police said.

After the attack, Kendrick took Jackson’s EBT card, $20 in cash, and her driver’s license and cell phone. He then left the house, but returned hours later to retrieve a bag he had left inside, the police said.

The suspect said he left the victim’s house and went to Aliana’s Meat Market at 4016 N. 22nd St. Video surveillance cameras show Kendrick taking the victim’s EBT card out and making a phone call. “The video also clearly shows the victim’s driver’s license inside his wallet,” the police said.

They said that Kendrick identified himself in photos taken from the surveillance cameras at the meat market. The video also shows Kendrick selling the murder victim’s EBT card to an unidentified black man who was standing in line, the police said. Kendrick said he sold the card for about $10.