VH1 reality star Ryan Alexander Jenkins has been charged with the murder of his ex-wife, an Orange County Distract Attorney spokesperson confirms to Usmagazine.com.
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At a press conference held by the Buena Park Police Department, Chief of Police Tom Monson promised a "vigorous pursuit of justice" of Jenkins, 32, who appeared on VH1 reality shows Megan Wants a Millionaire and I Love Money. He said Jenkins — who is considered "armed and dangerous" — may have escaped to his native Canada on foot after the nude body of his ex-wife, Jasmine Fiore, 28, was found stuffed into a suitcase in a Buena Park, Calif., trash bin over the weekend. It was also revealed that her teeth and fingers had been removed. "Ryan Jenkins is an animal," said Robert Hasman, a former boyfriend of Fiore's, who attended the conference with other relatives. "What he has done to Jasmine is unspeakable."
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A warrant has been issued for his arrest, and $10 million bail has been set. It is still unclear if Jenkins — who was named a "person of interest" earlier — is charged with first-degree or second-degree murder, spokesperson Farrah Emami told Us Thursday. A U.S. Marshall said his agency is cooperating with Canadian law enforcement to find Jenkins. They are still investigating for motive. In June, Jenkins was charged with a misdemeanor count of "battery constituting domestic violence" for hitting Fiore in the arm. He's due in court in December.
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Jenkins — who earned the nickname "Smooth Operator" on Megan Wants a Millionaire — has a criminal history in his Calgary hometown, according to the Associated Press. He was sentenced to 15 months of probation in January 2007 for assault, according to the Alberta, Canada Ministry of Justice.
