BREAKING NEWS UPDATE: The live-in boyfriend of a murder victim found wrapped in plastic has confessed to killing her, according to Orange County Sheriff Jimmy Lane Mooney, who tells KFDM/Fox 4 the suspect is jailed in Liberty County.
Russell Kinney, 38, with ties to Port Arthur, is in the Liberty County Jail, charged with murder in the killing of Jenny Baxter 45, at her home of FM 1131 in Orange County. This is a book-in photo of Kinney taken at the jail.
Sheriff Mooney says his office sent out an Attempt to Locate bulletin Wednesday for Kinney as a person of interest in the death.
A Liberty County interdiction officer spotted Kinney Wednesday afternoon on Highway 90 and took him into custody for a traffic violation.
The sheriff says due to the investigative work of an Orange County detective and a Texas Ranger, including an interview with the suspect, who confessed, a murder warrant was issued for his arrest.
Detective Colton Havard tells KFDM/Fox 4 that Kinney and Baxter had dated for several months and Kinney lived with her.
He says the killing stemmed from an argument.
Detective Havard also tells KFDM that Kinney killed Baxter several weeks ago, but continued using her cell phone to call her family to make it appear she was okay.
The preliminary autopsy report obtained by KFDM/Fox 4 News from Justice of the Peace Joy Simonton indicates no fatal trauma was identified, and the cause and manner of death are pending toxicology and investigative information.
Baxter was the daughter of the late Gordon Baxter, a legendary radio personality, author, and pilot. One of his many books is Jenny n’ Dad: The Love Story of a Very Young Daughter and a Very Old Dad. She wrote a book entitled Gordon Baxter: Flying Lessons and Pilot Talk.
Capt. Joey Jacobs told KFDM/Fox 4 News that the investigation began at about 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 14 when deputies responded to a welfare check at Denbow Mobile Home Park off FM 1131, north of Vidor.
According to a probable cause affidavit for Kinney's arrest, a neighbor was concerned after not seeing Baxter or Kinney at her mobile home since Christmas.
Deputies searched Tuesday and couldn't locate anyone. They filed a missing person's report.
Family members of Baxter called the Sheriff's Office a short time later, saying they found what they believed was a body wrapped in plastic, under the bed, after returning to check on Baxter's pets.
Other neighbors say they'd seen Kinney only three days before the body was discovered.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division was called in to further investigate the scene with the assistance of the Texas Rangers and Jefferson County Crime Lab. A search warrant was obtained, and after an autopsy, the body was identified as that of Jenny Baxter.