JSO says local mom's death was not a suicide, her boyfriend is now in jail

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man on suspicion of murder after they say he killed his girlfriend and tried to make it look like a suicide.

Investigators say Tynikkia Tanner’s death back on Oct. 6 was not a suicide at all.

Instead, police say evidence suggests the 21-year-old was murdered by her boyfriend, 24-year-old Dontonieo Sapp-Denson.

Tanner’s mom, Altovise Tanner, said she suspected Sapp-Denson all along.

“I just knew how he treated her, he wasn’t good to her, he treated her wrong,” said Altovise Tanner.

The couple lived at the Cleveland Arms apartments and shared a 10-month-old son.

Altovise Tanner said the suspect called her shortly after the killing.

“Told me, that my daughter had killed herself,” said Altovise Tanner. “I told him, 'You killed my daughter.'”

Sapp-Denson is now facing second-degree murder and evidence tampering charges.

Tanner had three kids, including the one she shared with Sapp-Denson.

“She meant everything to her kids, it’s hard, it’s very, very hard,” said Altovise Tanner.

Sapp-Denson has a criminal past including a previous arrest for domestic battery in 2013 in which charges were dropped and a 2015 arrest for theft of a firearm.

Duval County public records show that earlier this year, a 72-year-old woman filed an injunction for protection against him.

Original: Boyfriend who claimed girlfriend committed suicide was arrested for her murder in Jacksonville

Cox Media Group