Police seek help in out-of-state murder involving Fort Worth man wearing Yoda T-shirt
Officials with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation asked for help on Thursday in the investigation of a homicide involving a North Texas woman whose body was found in a plastic container floating in Kentucky Lake.
The body of Traci L. Jones of Granbury was discovered Saturday in Kentucky Lake.
Earlier this week, Jeffrey Rogers, 60, of Fort Worth, was arrested and accused of being involved in her death. Rogers was arrested by Texas Rangers on Monday in Fort Worth, and he faces charges of abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence.
Initially, authorities had listed Rogers’ hometown as Arlington, but Tarrant County criminal court records showed that he lived in Fort Worth.
He remained in the Tarrant County Jail in Fort Worth on Thursday awaiting extradition to Tennessee.
Authorities said Rogers drove through Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky on June 17 in a 2017 white Dodge Ram pickup truck with Texas license plate LFJ-7985 and a camper top over the truck bed.
He drove Interstate 30 through Texas into Arkansas and then took Interstate 40 into Tennessee before driving into Kentucky. A woman, who was not the victim, was riding with him, Tennessee investigators said.
Rogers was wearing a green T-shirt with the Star Wars character Yoda on the front and shorts. He also had a longer piece of hair in the back, commonly called a rat tail, authorities said.
Tennessee authorities are asking if anyone saw him at a gas station, convenience store or any stop between Texas and Kentucky on June 17 to call 1-800-824-3463.
The body of Traci Jones, 41, was located Saturday night in Kentucky Lake, according to WSMV-TV in Nashville.
Her death was ruled a homicide, according to KFVS-TV.
Authorities developed information in the investigation that led to Rogers.
Investigators said Rogers used a boat rented in Paris, Tennessee, to dispose of the body in Kentucky Lake, according to WATN-TV.
Investigators have not provided any other details or a motive.
Officials with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife responded to the scene after receiving a report about 7:30 p.m. Saturday of a body in a plastic container floating on the lake.
A few minutes later, Jones’ body was pulled from the lake.
Kentucky State Trooper Adam Jones said a medical examiner identified Jones following an autopsy in Madisonville, Kentucky, according to WFAA-TV.
Officials with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Texas Rangers, Kentucky State Police and Arkansas State Police are investigating the case.
