A Florida ex-convict has been arrested and charged with murder and arson in the death of a retired university professor , who had given the suspect and his wife close to $ 40,000 in financial aid . Dr Thomas Oakland , 75 , was initially believed to have died in a house fire , but an autopsy on the retired University of Florida professor found that he 'd been bludgeoned and was already dead when fire consumed his Gainesville home Wednesday . Police opened a homicide investigation and began searching for a couple who knew the professor . Late Thursday , the US Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force apprehended 37-year-old Stephen Underwood Jr. in Jacksonville . Underwood had been released from prison December 22 after convictions for fraud and trafficking in stolen property , according to state records . Arrest : Stephen Underwood Jr ( left ) , 37 , has been charged of murder , arson , burglary and grand theft in the death of Dr Thomas Oakland ( right ) , 75 , whose body was recovered inside his fire-ravaged home . Inferno : Oakland 's body was found by firefighters responding to a call about flames coming from his home in Gainesville , Florida . Underwood , a day laborer who is currently unemployed , is now being held on charges of murder , arson , burglary and grand theft . The suspect and his wife of two years , Sherry Sidell Underwood , 48 , had a relationship with Oakland that was ‘ financial , ’ Gainesville Police spokesman Officer Ben Tobias said . Gainesville Fire Rescue got the call at 1.07pm Wednesday about flames coming from Oakland 's home at 1921 SW 8th Drive in the Kirkwood subdivision , reported the Gainesville Sun . The man 's body was discovered in one of the home 's three bedrooms . For years before his death , Oakland had been a ‘ Good Samaritan ’ who was trying to help Underwood out , police said . Over the year before Underwood went to prison , investigators believe Oakland gave him more than $ 37,000 in cash . ‘ Apparently , Underwood knew Oakland kept cash in the house , ’ Tobias said . When Underwood got out of prison , the relationship became a problem for Oakland , police said . The professor contacted police last month to file reports that he 'd been defrauded by Underwood . Oakland told officers at the time that he knew Underwood had taken advantage of him , but wanted to help . Beneficiaries : For years before his death , Oakland had been a ‘ Good Samaritan ’ who was trying to help Underwood ( left ) and his disabled wife , Sherry Sidell Underwood ( right ) , 48 . Oakland said he ‘ just wanted to be a good Christian and help a poor man get back on his feet , ’ according to police documents . It was n't immediately clear how Oakland said he had been defrauded . Police said Underwood 's wife , who is disabled , told police that her husband had a large bag of cash she believed he had taken from Oakland . Scholar : Oakland was a prominent professor of education until his retirement in 2010 , and a former Fulbright Scholar . ‘ She knew he was unemployed and had no funds of his own , and all of a sudden he had a bag of cash , ’ Tobias said , adding that the woman is not being charged . Oakland , a former Fulbright Scholar , was a prominent professor of education until his retirement in 2010 , and president of the International Foundation for Children 's Education , according to the university . He 'd also authored or edited 12 book and hundreds of articles . ‘ Dr . Oakland was an exemplary world-class scholar in the field of school psychology , and a dedicated teacher , researcher and mentor to his students during his 15 years as a College of Education faculty member , ’ said Glenn Good , dean of the school 's College of Education . ‘ We will continue to be inspired by his extraordinary commitment to the college and his profession , his caring and love for his family , compassion for his students and graduates , and his grace and humor. ’ Court records show Underwood Jr. has a long rap sheet dating back to at least 2007 . In 2014 , he was convicted of swindling , fraud and dealing stolen property . He 's also been convicted on drug charges , forgery and grand theft . Jean Crockett , director of the school 's College of Education , told the Gainesville Sun that the 75-year-old educator was especially known for working with disabled children and adults both in the US and abroad .
Stephen Oakland Jr , 37 , charged of murder , arson , burglary and grand theft in the death of Dr Thomas Underwood . Retired University of Florida professor was initially believed to have died in a house fire , but autopsy showed he had been bludgeoned . Oakland , an unemployed day laborer , has a long criminal history and was released from prison December 22 after convictions for fraud . Underwood gave Oakland and his disabled wife more than $ 37,000 in cash in the year before he went to prison .