Police charge suspect in Durham woman's slaying

Durham police served John Franklin Alexander, 34, arrest warrants Thursday morning on charges of murder, possession of a stolen vehicle and possession of stolen property in the death of Ella Davis.

Davis, 58, was found dead inside her home at Greens of Pine Glen apartments on Glen Hollow Lane.

Police said Thursday that she was stabbed and that the crime was not a random act.

At the time of his arrest in the case, Alexander, of 4402 Ruby Road, Fayetteville, was already in jail in Harnett County following a wreck he had there Monday morning in Davis's car.

He faces at least 15 unrelated charges in Harnett County, including possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, carrying a concealed firearm, trafficking controlled substances and assault on a law enforcement officer.

According to court records, Alexander pleaded guilty in 1998 in Cumberland County to assault on a child under 12 years old.

In 2001, he also pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 13 to 16 years in prison for the June 21, 1998, stabbing death of 29-year-old Kerry Mortenson.

As in Davis's case, authorities said the crime was not random and that Alexander stabbed Mortenson at his home and stole his car.

Alexander was released from prison last March and was on parole until December.