Justice for Ashley Fowler

Still Seeking Answers regarding Keeshae Jacobs

Jacksonville, FL- Otis Lee Tucker was finally sentenced September 15,2023 after pleading guilty back in May. The convicted killer recounted the moments leading up to his brutal attack on 34-year-old, Ashley Fowler. Tucker exclaimed the two had become friends over a period of a couple of months. After being turned down for a job opportunity he had gone on drug binge that day. While hanging out the evening of November 01, 2022, with the Florida mother of three, Tucker claims he became enraged when Fowler tried to steal from the apartment. He grabbed a hammer and began to swing, hitting her repeatedly. Prosecutors say that Tucker beat Fowler to death as she fought for her life and minutes later, he strangled her with an electrical cord. Documents show the victim's teeth, fingernails and blood were scatter around the apartment, starting at the door. 

Tucker said after he realized what he had done he left and hid in the woods as police searched for him. 

When detectives questioned Tucker, he asked for a coke. The 36-year-old convicted felon used the soda in an attempt to remove DNA evidence from his fingernails. 

Fowler's mother has not attended any of the court hearings, including the sentencing because listening to the gruesome details literally makes her sick to her stomach. The hurt and heartbreak for the family is unimaginable. 

There are questions as to how Tucker was approved by the Virginia Department of Corrections to move out of state to Florida while on probation for previous crimes. 

Otis Tucker has a long history of violence dating back to his early teenage years growing up in Chesapeake, Virginia and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

He is the suspect in the 2016 disappearance of a Richmond woman, Keeshae Jacobs. Jacobs was last seen at the house Tucker was living on Broad street. Police have confirmed Jacob's blood was found at that house. However, he has never been charged in connection to the case. In the 2022 Crime Insider Reopen the Case documentary featuring Keeshae Jacobs' story, Detective Anthony Coates said, "we do believe he is a predator."

Six days before Jacobs went missing, another woman was brutally attacked by Tucker but she was able to escape. He was later convicted and served five years in prison for the assault. He was released in 2022. The victim in that case told RTCF producers that she was drugged, tied to a bed, sexually assaulted, and used his fist to beat her. 

Otis Tucker's father Marvin appeared in court via zoom during the sentencing and shared with the Judge why he believes his son is mentally disturbed. Claiming his son was abandoned by his Caucasian mother at the age of two and she wanted nothing to do with him because of his biracial mix of African American.

After hearing all the testimony, Judge Mark Borello was not convinced Tucker had a 'moment' of rage and sentenced him to life in prison. 

Reopen the Case Foundation continues to partner with Richmond Police in an effort to bring Keeshae Jacobs home to her family. 

Sources tell RTCF there are other victims and fear Tucker is a serial killer.

If you know anything, please send info to tips@reopenthecase.org or call 833-RTCFNVA. 

You can see previous stories by visiting www.reopenthecase.org.