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Roommate Gets 3 Life Sentences In Slaying Of Ruskin Man

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By THOMAS W. KRAUSE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 17, 2008

TAMPA - A former carnival worker pleaded guilty Monday and received three life sentences on charges of murder, armed robbery and burglary with battery.

If convicted at trial, Jarvis Sylvester Tabron, 36, could have been sentenced to death.

Hillsborough County sheriff's investigators said Tabron got out of prison last year and moved in to the Ruskin home of acquaintance Luis Escobar, 54. Escobar was found stabbed to death a week after Tabron moved in.

Sheriff's detectives said they found bloody fingerprints belonging to Tabron.

Initially, Tabron could not be found.

Then, on Sept. 15, Tampa police arrested Tabron two hours after they said he forced his way into a home, tied up a couple and stole their car.

According to a report, Tabron knocked on the door of the couple's North 29th Street home. When the 71-year-old man answered, Tabron shoved him to the floor and grabbed his 67-year-old wife. Tabron tied them with a vacuum cleaner cord and stole a small amount of cash and their 2000 Buick LeSabre.

When the man and woman untied themselves, they called 911. Within two hours, police found Tabron in the Buick, blocked him with patrol cruisers and arrested him.

Tabron was sentenced Monday to life in prison for murder and armed robbery charges related to his roommate's death. He was also sentenced to life for the burglary with assault and pleaded guilty to other charges including grand theft auto and false imprisonment.

Tabron pleaded guilty in a third case for failing to register as a sex offender.

Tabron had been released from prison on July 1 after serving time for a probation violation related to a 2004 strong-arm robbery conviction.

Reporter Thomas W. Krause can be reached at (813) 259-7698 or tkrause@tampatrib.com.

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