The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office has charged a Hillsborough County man with murder after connecting him to the suspicious death of his girlfriend. 

  • Sarasota Sheriff's Office charge Hillsborough man in girlfriend's death
  • Michael Clark accused of killing girlfriend, setting van on fire
  • Kristen Kelley died from blunt force trauma; found in burning van

Michael Clark, 34, has been charged with murder, arson, tampering with evidence, and possession of cocaine. 

Clark's girlfriend, Kristen Kelley, 34, was found dead inside a burning van on Oct. 25. 

Deputies were called out to a vehicle fire on I-75 in Osprey where they found Clark, the burning vehicle, and Kelley deceased. Officials said Clark told deputies he didn't know how the fire began, how the female died, or how he got to Sarasota. 

Investigators determined the vehicle was intentionally set on fire after a gas can was recovered inside the van and a lighter was found nearby. 

The medical examiner's office determined the victim's cause of death was homicide caused by blunt force trauma. Detectives said Clark beat the victim to death before placing her in the back of the van, driving southbound along I-75, and eventually setting the van on fire. 

Officials also said a small amount of cocaine was found on Clark. 

Clark was arrested and booked into the Orient Road Jail in Tampa without bond. 

Officials also said Clark and Kelley had three kids between them.