Scott Nelson

Scott Edward Nelson was born in approximately 1963 and had an extensive criminal history before the murder of Jennifer Fulford.

Nelson had previously served federal prison time and was on federal probation when Fulford was killed. His criminal history included a 1994 robbery involving his father, Larry Nelson. According to investigators, Nelson assaulted and restrained his father and forced him to withdraw money from an ATM at gunpoint.

Nelson's background and previous criminal conduct became significant during the investigation into Fulford's murder because prosecutors presented evidence suggesting similarities between the earlier robbery and the circumstances surrounding Fulford's abduction.

Before the murder trial, Nelson's mental competency was also examined by the court. Both prosecution and defense experts testified during a competency hearing, and the judge ultimately ruled that Nelson was competent to stand trial.

Scott Nelson murdered one known victim, Jennifer Lynn Fulford.

On September 27, 2017, Fulford was working at the Winter Park home of Reid Berman, where she served as a personal assistant, caregiver and house manager.

Nelson forced his way into the residence while armed with a knife. Fulford was restrained with zip ties and taken from the property in her employer's vehicle.

Her disappearance was discovered when she failed to collect Berman's son from school. Her purse was found inside the home, while her cellphone, wallet and other belongings were missing.

Nelson used Fulford's vehicle after the abduction and investigators later documented surveillance footage showing him using her bank card at an ATM.

Fulford's body was found three days later in a wooded area off Apopka-Vineland Road in Orange County. Her arms had been bound behind her back, and the medical examiner determined that she had suffered multiple stab wounds and asphyxiation.

At his 2019 trial, Nelson acknowledged that he had killed Fulford. He testified that he had not originally intended to kill her and claimed that she became involved because she witnessed him breaking into the home.

Nelson's crime involved forced entry, abduction, restraint, robbery and murder.

He targeted Fulford while she was working alone inside a private residence. After forcing his way into the home, he restrained her and removed her from the property in a vehicle.

Investigators and prosecutors presented evidence that Nelson subsequently used Fulford's bank card and vehicle before taking her to a remote area where she was killed.

The circumstances demonstrated a progression from burglary and robbery to kidnapping and homicide. Nelson was ultimately convicted of first-degree murder as well as kidnapping, carjacking and robbery.

Nelson was initially a person of interest in Fulford's disappearance and was later arrested in Jacksonville on October 1, 2017, four days after she disappeared.

At the time, he was already in federal custody proceedings and had been placed on federal probation following an earlier conviction.

Investigators continued building the murder case while Nelson remained in custody. He later underwent a court-ordered competency evaluation after questions were raised about his mental state.

In 2019, a judge ruled that Nelson was competent to stand trial.

Nelson's trial began in June 2019 in Orange County, Florida.

Prosecutors presented evidence connecting him to the abduction and murder, including surveillance footage, financial transactions and evidence from the crime scene. The prosecution sought the death penalty if Nelson was convicted.

Nelson took the witness stand and admitted killing Fulford, but attempted to shift responsibility by claiming that his probation officer, Julio Dominguez, was responsible for the circumstances that led to her death. Nelson said Fulford would still be alive if not for Dominguez.

The jury rejected his defense.

On June 28, 2019, Nelson was found guilty of first-degree murder, kidnapping, carjacking and robbery.

During the penalty phase, Nelson told the jury that he wanted to receive the death penalty and described himself as a "homicidal maniac." Prosecutors sought death, but the jury recommended life imprisonment.

Nelson was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for Fulford's murder.