Share and Follow
Zebulon Perkins pleaded guilty to 2019 Christmas murders of Leah Kline and Vivian James between Dec. 25-26.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A man accused of killing two Jacksonville women December 2019 in two separate incidents pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder and after a negotiated plea, Perkins will be sentenced to 70 years in state prison.
On Dec. 25, 2019, Zebulon Perkins was at a Westside Jacksonville motel with Leah Kline when they got into an argument. Police said Perkins strangled Kline and threw her body in the dumpster.
The next day, Perkins went to the home of Vivian James in Cedar Hills — Perkins’ former teacher — looking for advice. When James told Perkins to turn himself in to the police, Perkins beat and strangled her with a cord, police said.
On Dec. 28, 2019, a friend stopped by James’ home and found her body, calling 911 and informed the police her friend’s car was missing. Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office investigators found Perkins with James’ car at the Westside motel where he had been staying and he was arrested.
Inside James’ car, police recovered Perkins’ bag containing a pair of sweatpants with James’ DNA on them, James’ camera, and her three laptops. Officers found two of James’ televisions and her computer monitor inside Perkins’ mother’s home. During the investigation, Perkins’ DNA was found under James’ fingernails.
James was fondly remembered at Atlantic Coast High two weeks after her death as the community mourned the beloved teacher. Hundreds showed up for the service, most dressed in purple in honor of James. Many spoke of the devotion she had not only for the classroom, but especially for the students in it.
“She’s the only teacher that believed in me my whole school,” said former student Ako Williams.”All my school, all those years, she’s the only teacher that believed in me.”
Perkins was a talented football player on the First Coast, interviewed by First Coast Sports in 2011.
The case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Katelyn Johnston.
The sentencing is April 26.
