Convicted sex offender arrested in Naomi Jones murder

Kevin Robinson , Emma Kennedy | Pensacola News Journal

Show Caption Hide Caption Crowd at Naomi Jones' vigil sings 'Amazing Grace' The crowd at a remembrance event for Naomi Jones sings "Amazing Grace" on Thursday, June 8, 2017, at Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola.

A convicted sex offender released from prison less than four years ago has been arrested and charged with the murder of 12-year-old Naomi Jones.

Robert Letroy Howard, 38, was booked into Escambia County Jail just before 4:30 a.m. Thursday. He was arrested on charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping and failing to register as a sex offender. He is being held without bond.

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"We have caught our monster," Escambia County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Chip Simmons said during Thursday's press conference to announce the arrest. "We have caught the killer that took Naomi's life — a 12-year old girl who had her whole life in front of her."

Investigators first identified Howard during a neighborhood canvas, where they learned he was in the area during the time Naomi went missing. Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan said Howard provided false information about his whereabouts during that time, saying he was at his home in Alabama.

More: Naomi Jones likely died within first 24-36 hours

Howard's girlfriend lived in the same Aspen Village Apartments where Naomi lived, and Howard was a frequent visitor to the complex. Investigators believe Naomi and Howard were known to each other. Though the sheriff did not say so explicitly, he also hinted there may have been some social media interaction between the two.

Balloons released at Naomi Jones remembrance event The family of Naomi Jones participated in a balloon release on Thursday, June 8, 2017, at Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola.

Though investigators are currently keeping the breadth of their evidence close to their chests, they said the totality of the evidence they collected made them confident Howard was their suspect.

Howard is a convicted felon and served 15 years in prison for two counts of sexual assault and rape. According to Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Community Information Center, Howard was arrested Dec. 8, 1998, and convicted in Sept. 1, 1999, in Escambia County, Alabama. Howard's address in Brewton, Alabama, was last verified the day after Naomi's murder.

Morgan said Howard's vehicle was seen on surveillance footage by the creek where Naomi's body was found, and he was placed under surveillance Wednesday. The ECSO took him into custody soon after, Morgan said, and arrested him following an interview.

"I will tell you over the past week, we haven't had many good days," Simmons said. "Today is a good day. Today we arrested the killer of a child ... . We do hope that this arrest can provide some level of comfort to the family and to the community."

At this time, investigators believe Howard acted alone.

Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille said Howard's first court appearance will be Friday, during which his office will ask that Howard not be granted bond. He said a grand jury will review the facts of the case to determine whether to indict Howard on first-degree murder and related charges. If the grand jury indicts Howard, then prosecutors will determine whether to seek the death penalty.

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Naomi went missing from her home on May 31. The last known contact she had with anyone was through Facebook with a friend at 12:21 p.m., according to Morgan.

"Knowing the psychology of Naomi, that she was somewhat of a private person, but, again, she was not a wilting flower. She would stand up for herself. She could be combative if confronted," Morgan said. "So we knew that she would not readily get in a vehicle with someone. And so our investigators very early on said, 'This is probably someone that at least she knows, that she's comfortable being around.'"

Morgan said he won't comment on the possible sexual nature of the attack.

Naomi's preliminary autopsy showed she likely died within 24 and 36 hours of going missing, Morgan said, and her cause of death was asphyxiation. Morgan said in a press conference Wednesday that investigators believed it was possible Naomi had been targeted by a sexual predator she knew through social media.

Investigators have reason to believe Naomi was transported from her neighborhood soon after she went missing, based on the fact that no witnesses in the area saw anything questionable.

Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille says it needs review, but it's likely the state will seek death in Jones case. https://t.co/eLSdzOkxX1 — Emma Kennedy (@Em_Ken_) June 8, 2017

The investigation, which has now spanned more than a week, has encompassed the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the FBI, ECSO and the State Attorney's Office.

Hundreds of community members helped in the search effort for the missing girl between May 31 and June 5 when Naomi's body was found in Eight Mile Creek by two fishermen.