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Man Charged With Jogger's Slaying Now In Local Jail

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By MIKE WELLS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 3, 2007

TAMPA The man who investigators say abducted and killed a Seffner woman and left her body in a burning stolen van has been brought back to Hillsborough County from a holding cell in the Panhandle.

Kenneth Ray Jackson

Kenneth Ray Jackson, 25, arrived from Franklin County and was booked in the Orient Road Jail on charges of first-degree murder and arson. No bail was set. He is charged with first-degree murder and second-degree arson in the slaying of Cuc Thu Tran, 50.

Shortly before 7 a.m. Sept. 13, firefighters found Tran 15 miles from her home. Her body was in a stolen 1993 Dodge minivan that had been burning in a vacant lot on Bullfrog Court east of Eastbay Road in Gibsonton.

The mother of three had left home 2 1/2 hours earlier to jog. She was stabbed to death and left in the burning van, authorities said.

Tips from witnesses led detectives to Jackson on Sept. 21 in Carrabelle in Franklin County. He submitted a DNA sample that they say links him to evidence found on the victim, sheriff's officials said. On Sept. 27, he was charged and arrested.

Jackson was released from prison July 26 after serving four years on grand theft charges from Franklin County.

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