A Portland, Oregon judge has ordered Thomas Elliot Stafford back to Mississippi to face the judge on charges of capital murder. While Stafford was arrested in Portland, he will not face any more charges there.
Stafford is charged with capital murder in the death of his roommate, Jerry Kirkendall.
Stafford waived the extradition hearing on Monday in Portland, Oregon.
Stafford is in custody in Oregon. Sheriff Mike Ezell says U.S. Marshals arrested 40-year old Stafford around noon Saturday outside a residence in Portland, without incident. No one else was arrested with him. Stafford is being held in the Multnomah County Detention Center. He will be in court in Portland Monday, March 27, for an extradition hearing.
Stafford is charged in the murder of 65-year old Jerry Floyd Kirkendall earlier this month. His body was found Monday, March 20, in the freezer at the home he was renting in Latimer.
March 30, Stafford will be back in Oregon to face probation violation charges.
Autopsy results show that Jerry Floyd Kirkendall, found dead in a disconnected freezer, was killed by strangulation.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department confirmed the results Thursday.
The suspect, Thomas Elliot Stafford, was Kirkendall’s roommate.
Jackson County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that a car that had been stolen from Kirkendall was found in Mt. Vernon, Alabama.
A family member of Stafford claimed that Stafford sold him the stolen 2001 gold Cadillac. No charges were filed against the relative, and Stafford is still on the run. The relative said cash and a 9mm handgun was given for the car.
A landlord discovered the body, after stopping by the home and noticing a smell. The freezer was not on when the body was found.
The landlord said he had not seen the tenant since March 3. Local convenience store surveillance footage confirms that on that day, the man was wearing the same clothes he was found in Monday.
