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Sex offender arrested in case of missing Florida girl who was found dead

Deputies arrested a convicted sex offender in the death of a 12-year-old Escambia County girl.

Naomi Jones, 12, was missing for five days before her body was found Monday in a stream about four miles from her Pensacola home.

Deputies announced an arrest in the case Thursday morning.

Robert Letroy Howard, 38, is charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping and failure to register as a sex offender, deputies said.

Deputies said they first made contact with Howard during a neighborhood canvas of where Naomi lived shortly after she went missing.

Deputies learned he was a sex offender from Alabama who was visiting his girlfriend's house near where Naomi lived.

Howard could not give an alibi of where he was when Naomi went missing, deputies said.

He told investigators he was not in Florida at the time.

Investigators determined after Naomi's body was found that Howard was in the area when she went missing.

Video surveillance showed Howard’s vehicle in the area where Naomi’s body was found Monday.

Deputies said Howard kidnapped and killed Naomi then dumped her body.

Deputies believe he acted alone.

Howard is a former convict from Alabama. He served 15 years in prison after he was convicted for two counts of sexual assault and rape in 1999.

Deputies said additional warrants are pending.

Naomi Jones press conference - Sheriff David Morgan announces the arrest of Robert Letroy Howard (DOB: 3/19/79)

Posted by Escambia County Sheriff's Office on Thursday, June 8, 2017