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UNC Charlotte Professor Is City's Latest Homicide Victim

Updated at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 5 - CMPD arrested Donny Lewis Franklin on Monday and charged him with murder in the death of Jeannine Skinner.

The UNC Charlotte community is mourning the death of a faculty member. Police said Jeannine Skinner, 35, was found dead Friday in an apartment in southwest Charlotte. She was an assistant professor of gerontology/psychology.  

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police said in a press release that Skinner had suffered "obvious trauma" inside the apartment.  She was pronounced dead at the scene. Police are investigating the killing as an apparent case of domestic violence.

CMPD is searching for a suspect in Skinner's murder. He's identified as Donny Lewis Franklin, 45, and CMPD says he should be considered armed and dangerous.  Police say Franklin was last seen driving a Burgundy Jeep, with registration plate number 0512KN. 

"Dr. Skinner joined our faculty two years ago and was known as a well-regarded and dedicated teacher and mentor who fostered an inclusive and open classroom learning environment," said UNC Charlotte Chancellor Philip Dubois in a statement posted Saturday on the university's website. 

Skinner's death is the 62nd homicide this year in Charlotte. There were 37 homicides at this time last year. 

Mark Rumsey grew up in Kansas and got his first radio job at age 17 in the town of Abilene, where he announced easy-listening music played from vinyl record albums.