ORLANDO, Fla. – Orange County deputies continue to search for a suspect wanted for murder after they say a woman called authorities reporting that she had been abducted and forced into the trunk of her car.
Deputies said on Thursday they are searching for David Payne, 62, on charges of first-degree murder and armed kidnapping. His ex-girlfriend, 25-year-old Jasmine Samuel, was found dead Thursday morning.
The Orange County Sheriff's Office said it received a call just after 12:30 a.m. from Samuel stating that she was forced into the trunk of her vehicle by Payne.
Samuel gave a general area where she said she was abducted and deputies began an extensive search for her black 2014 Nissan Maxima, according to officials.
Deputies said Samuel was on a break while working at Sonoco Consumer Products just after midnight when she was forced into her trunk by Payne, who is also her co-worker and ex-boyfriend.
Deputies found Samuel's body inside the vehicle's trunk just after 2 a.m. in the 9000 block of 11th Avenue. Payne was nowhere to be found, according to deputies, who added a firearm was used in the homicide.
Payne is considered armed and dangerous, according to deputies.
Payne was convicted for kidnapping in 1991, serving five and half years in prison. Neighbors said in that case, Payne also physically assaulted a woman and locked her in a trunk. Neighbors said the woman survived because Payne left the car at a hospital.
"Our heart felt condolences go out to the family of Jasmine Samuel and with the help of people here on Orange County, we should be able to bring some sense of justice to this family," said Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings.
Samuel was the mother of two girls, ages 4 and 7. Demings also said Samuel had expressed to her family that she feared for her life because of threats from Payne.
Friends of the family said that Samuel's two daughters are now staying with their grandmother.
Anyone with information about the death is asked to call Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS.