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Deceased Texas Woman Found In Kentucky Lake Produced Pornography With Alleged Killer And Wife

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation

A Texas woman found in Kentucky Lake last month died by strangulation, allegedly at the hands of the man paying her to produce pornography and perform sexual acts. 

Traci Leigh Jones, 41, was found floating near the Kentucky/Tennessee border on June 22. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Joseph Hudgins and Kentucky State Police Detective Cory Hamby partnered with Texas authorities on the death investigation. They said the body was found in a 50-gallon Craftsman tote box. Hudgins reported multiple holes were drilled in the lid, and the container was zip tied shut. 

Jones’ body was examined by the Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office in Madisonville. State officials ruled her death a homicide. 

Based on an affidavit obtained from Stephenville Attorney Heath Allen (who had an attorney-client relationship with Jones), investigators learned Jones was involved in a dispute with Jeffrey Kenneth Rogers, 60, and his wife Tammy, a principal in the Arlington, Texas Independent School District. Allen said the couple and Jones produced pornography together. He said Jones grew fearful of the Rogers couple, and she made contact with a local media outlet and the Arlington ISD. Allen said he believed Jeffrey and Tammy Rogers were potentially motivated to harm Jones to prevent the release of information about their relationship.

Jones’s housemate told law enforcement Jones and the Rogers couple were involved in creating pornography through the production company Circle V Entertainment (owned by Jeffrey Rogers). Jones received compensation for the sexual acts through Venmo and shared a Wells Fargo account with Jeffrey Rogers. 

One day after the discovery of Jones’ corpse, KSP Detective Hamby learned Rogers purchased a tote on June 15 in Burleson, Texas appearing to match the one in which Jones was found. Surveillance footage from the local Lowe’s confirms Rogers left the store with the container.

Officers on June 23 executed two arrest warrants at the Rogers’ home. Tammy Rogers acknowledged to officers the agreement between Jones and the couple to produce the pornographic content. She said since a threesome between herself, her husband and Jones fell through, only Jeffrey Rogers performed sexual acts with Jones. Jones previously lived with the Rogerses in their Arlington, Texas home. 

Tammy Rogers said she lost her job with Arlington ISD after Jones issued a complaint over the porn production scheme. Jeffrey Rogers continued to have sex with Jones, paying her more money as the arrangement progressed. 

On June 17, the Rogers couple left Texas to visit family members in Kentucky. Surveillance footage taken just before the departure in Stephenville, Texas shows Jeffrey Rogers together with Jones. Texas officials said the clothes worn by Jones in the footage appear to be the same clothes found on her body in the tote box. 

The following day, the TBI said Jeffrey Rogers rented a pontoon boat at the Paris Landing Pontoon Rentals in Tennessee. Rogers loaded a container covered with a blanket onto the boat at 9:33 a.m. 

Texas Rangers interviewed Rogers on July 1 at the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office. Rogers admitted causing the death of Jones after leaving Stephenville, Texas. Rogers said he performed “dishonorable” actions in regards to how he discarded the corpse in Tennessee. Rogers claimed sole responsibility for the death of Jones.

“I own it, and Tammy had nothing to do with it,” Rogers reportedly told the Texas Rangers who interviewed him. 

Rogers is charged with causing Jones’ death by strangulation, a first degree felony under Texas law. 

The criminal complaint against Rogers was provided to WKMS by the Stephenville Empire-Tribune. You may view the full document below:

Complaint -- Jeffrey Kenneth Rogers--July 3 2020 (1) by Dalton York on Scribd

Dalton York is a Morning Edition host and reporter for WKYU in Bowling Green. He is a graduate of Murray State University, where he majored in History with a minor in Nonprofit Leadership Studies. While attending Murray State, he worked as a student reporter at WKMS. A native of Marshall County, he is a proud product of his tight-knit community.
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