Man charged with murder in case of missing pregnant teen
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Four years after a pregnant Florida teenager went missing, police have made an arrest.
On Monday, Chief Tony Holloway told reporters that 28-year-old Jacobee Flowers faces a first-degree murder charge in the slaying of 17-year-old Morgan Martin on July 25, 2012.
The arrest was made after a 13-month cold case investigation, with investigators from Washington, South Carolina and Alabama working to gather the evidence needed for the grand jury indictment, according to CBS affiliate WTSP.
The teen's mother says she left home that night, wearing pajamas and fuzzy slippers. Leah Martin says her daughter planned to share news of her pregnancy with Flowers, who she says was the baby's father.
Martin told the station that she always suspected Flowers' involvement in her daughter's disappearance, adding that she "could have guessed all day long."
"She was mine. She wasn't his to take," said Leah Martin.
Holloway said Flowers planned the killing, then "duped" the teen into meeting him. He says Flowers knew she was pregnant.
Investigators have not found her body. Flowers is being held in prison on unrelated charges.
"After they told him what he was going to be charged with he didn't say anything; he didn't deny it he just didn't say a word," said Holloway.
Flowers will reportedly be transferred to St. Petersburg to face charges in July. It is not clear whether he has a lawyer.
Investigators say there could be more evidence that could lead to more charges and are urging anyone with information to contact the St. Petersburg Police Department.