Suspect held in murder of corrections officer in SW Philadelphia home

SOUTHWEST PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Philadelphia police have had a suspect in custody in connection to the murder of a prison guard in the city's Kingsessing section last week.

51-year-old Lottie Denny was found stabbed to death at her home on the 2500 block of South 63rd Street Friday morning.

Denny's brother found her body in the living room.

Police say the suspect, identified as Ronald Jones, is the victim's boyfriend and just finished serving a 16 year prison sentence.

He was pulled over driving her car without a license and taken into custody.

Denny, a veteran city corrections officer who lived in the house alone, was assigned to the alternative and special detention unit in University City.

Her brother grew suspicious when co-workers told him she did not show up for work Friday. They say she hadn't been seen or heard from her since she left work on Tuesday afternoon.

Investigators say it appears that the victim had a struggle with her killer.

According to police, Jones is a violent offender who is on parole until 2035. Police are holding him on a parole violation until they can get DNA evidence back.

He is not yet charged with the murder.

Police say he is not cooperating with investigators.