A man believed to be responsible for killing a woman in Lakeland, then dumping her body on Amtrak train property was arrested Thursday.
Lakeland detectives found the body of 34-year-old Shawn Hazel Turk on April 15, 2009, near 600 East Main Street in Lakeland. It was determined that Turk had died of asphyxia.
Police say, Shawn had traveled to Lakeland from South Carolina with her boyfriend, a long distance truck driver, but the two had an altercation and she was put out of his truck, and he left town.
Shawn, who was stranded, attempted to contact relatives for assistance, but in the interim met Reginald Riggins, 34, whom she did not know.
Investigators say, Shawn made her last phone call around 11:00 p.m. on April 9, at the Greyhound Bus Station on north Massachusetts Avenue, next door to the Lakeland Police Department. They believe that Riggins was with her at the bus station and that he offered her crack cocaine in exchange for sex.
Police believe that Shawn and Riggins’ meeting was a random one and neither knew each other before this time. The two walked to Lake Mirror and smoked crack cocaine, then walked over to the train station. Police say, Shawn refused to have sex with Riggins who became enraged, attacked and killed her.
Shawn did not contact the police for help because she had an outstanding warrant and a substance abuse problem, investigators say.
A tip in July 2011, led police to Riggins, who is a suspect in another homicide in Fort Myers, Florida.
Lakeland police traveled to St. Petersburg, where, working with other agencies they were able to apprehend Riggins.
Yesterday, a Grand Jury indicted Reginal Riggins for the murder of Shawn Turk.
Riggins will stand trial for the two homicides, police said.
