Sex offender charged with child's murder three weeks after prison release

A registered sex offender has been charged with murder after the death of a Florida girl abducted while shopping with her mother.

Mike Williams of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said Donald James Smith befriended eight-year-old Charish Perriwinkle and her mother on Friday night at a dollar store and offered to buy them clothes at Wal-Mart.

Mr Williams said Smith took them to Wal-Mart, then told the mother he would buy them a snack at the front of the store. Instead, authorities say Smith walked out with Charish.

A tip led investigators to a wooded area where they found Charish’s body this morning.

Mr Williams said Smith was released from jail on May 31 and met with police on Friday morning when officers visited to check his address, as required by state law.