Winter Haven, FL: Bodies of man, 57, and 21-year-old girlfriend found in grove

Kevin P. Connolly

Sentinel Staff Writer

3:48 PM EDT, August 26, 2009

Authorities today found the bodies of a Winter Haven man and his 21-year-old live-in girlfriend in an orange grove in what officials described as an apparent murder-suicide.

The discovery comes after the Polk County Sheriff's Office asked the public to help it locate John "Jack" M. Nicholson, 57, who was accused of shooting Kristy Lisenby at around 5:29 a.m. Tuesday in front of Jarrett Gordon Ford, 3015 Lake Alfred Road, Winter Haven.

After the agency issued the alert, their bodies were found in an orange grove on the corner of Pearce Road and Lakeview Court in Winter Haven.

An autopsy will determine how they died.

Their bodies were found at around 10 a.m. near Nicholson's gray 1991 Ford Explorer 2-door Sport, which was parked near trees on the north edge of the grove, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said in a statement.

Authorities were looking for the couple since Tuesday's shooting in front of Jarrett Gordon Ford.

Witnesses told authorities a man driving an SUV and thought to be Nicholson pulled alongside a woman, who was later identified as Lisenby.

"Lisenby was then observed to walk to the vehicle, lean into the passenger window and at the same time, witnesses say they observed the driver, a male, raise an unknown type of gun at the victim. Witnesses reported hearing a gunshot,'' according to news release.

"Witnesses reported they then saw Lisenby fall to the ground. The driver then exited the SUV, walked around picked up the victim, and placed her in the passenger seat. The suspect then drove away from the scene. "

Before the shooting, at about 4:30 p.m., a witness told detectives that Nicholson had pointed a firearm at another female who was an acquaintance of Lisenby's and demanded to know the whereabouts of his girlfriend.

An arrest warrant was issued for Nicholson on charges of aggravated battery with a firearm and aggravated assault with a firearm.

The Polk County Sheriff's Office said Nicholson's prior criminal arrest history includes charges of simple assault, robbery, trespass, two counts of theft, shoplifting and an unspecified weapons offense out of New Jersey during the early 1980s.