Authorities: Woman, teen killed in Orange

Central Florida authorities on Monday were investigating two homicides — a retiree found dead in her home with a burglar inside and a 19-year-old fatally shot just steps from his house.

The first slaying happened about 3:45 a.m. Police discovered the body of Linda Jones, 67, inside her duplex on Orange Peel Court in east Orlando. A 40-year-old man was arrested at the scene.

The body was found shortly after Orlando police and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office began tracking a burglary suspect near Bumby Avenue north of Curry Ford Road.

Orlando Police Chief John Mina said dispatchers received at least two phone calls about a home burglary with reports of a woman screaming on Orange Peel Court, about a half mile away.

Officers took Jason Rohrer into custody. His hometown was not provided, but public records show he has lived in the Deltona and Apopka areas.

“There was a fight, a struggle,” Mina said. “They were ultimately able to arrest him and as they did a check ... they found a woman dead in the house.”

Neighbors described Jones as a devout Christian who taught Sunday school and became a grief counselor at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. She was close with her sister, who also lives in Orlando, and the two went to a church musical together the night before Linda Jones was killed, said Marilyn Howser, who knew Jones for the 15 years she lived on the block.

“She was a just a wonderful, wonderful person,” Howser said.

Jones and her sister retired early to take care of their parents. Their mother died a few months ago, and their father died about 18 months ago, Howser said. Jones was raised in Orlando and was a member of First Baptist Church of Orlando, Howser said.

Jones never married and had no children.

No information about how Jones was killed was released.

Mina said the suspect faces charges associated with the burglaries. Charges in the homicide could result as part of the investigation, he said.

Mina added that police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the burglaries or the slaying.

About five hours later, deputies were called to a shooting on Bywood Road in the Lockhart neighborhood of northwest Orange. Dispatchers received a call at 8:23 a.m. about a shooting near Bywood and Orwood roads.

When deputies arrived three minutes later, they found 19- yearold Kristian McCauley in the road, said Jane Watrel, spokeswoman for the Sheriff ’s Office.

Two deputies performed CPR on McCauley until firefighters arrived and took him to Florida Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Watrel said McCauley was in a car with two people he knew when some sort of dispute prompted the shooting.

McCauley got out of the vehicle and began staggering toward his home when he collapsed two doors away, Watrel said. His family and neighbors called 911.

Investigators are looking for a four-door sedan, possibly a newer model and light in color.