Person of interest in custody after woman found dead

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The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said Sunday that Scott Nelson has been taken into custody.

He has been named the person of interest in the death of missing woman Jennifer Fulford, 56.

Fulford's body was found in a wooded area near Apopka Vineland Road in Orange County on Saturday.

“Jennifer was deceased, and her cause of death hasn't been determined,” said Winter Park Chief of Police Michael Deal, “however, based on evidence found at the scene, we are now working this as a homicide investigation.”

Police say Nelson, 53, is a homeless ex-convict who's been in and out of jail for years.

Deputies in Jacksonville say he was apprehended in a motel.

 

 

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said in a statement Sunday: "Wanted person Scott Nelson... has been located by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Criminal Apprehension Unit at Sunshine Inn located at 5830 New Kings Road a short time ago."

Investigators say he was caught on camera using Fulford's ATM card after she went missing Wednesday morning.

Fulford, 56, was last seen in surveillance video walking out of a Winter Park dentist’s office Wednesday morning.

Fulford’s family said she was working as a personal assistant for a family in Winter Park.

In a Facebook post, Fulford’s husband said her purse was found at the Winter Park house Wednesday, and her boss called police when she didn't pick up his son. 

Fulford family friend Laci Taylor has set up a GoFundMe page for the family.

“When we did find out the news [Saturday] that she'd been murdered, it was horrible,” Taylor said, “we love her, that we're here - whatever we can do.”

Winter Park police are not releasing how Fulford died, or if a tip led them to her body.