Paul Rowles murdered Tiffany Sessions 25 years ago? Convicted serial killer/sex offender linked to missing University of Florida student through prison notebooks after death

Authorities believe that convicted serial killer and sex offender Paul Rowles may be involved in the 1989 disappearance of University of Florida student, Tiffany Sessions. The 20-year-old finance major was kidnapped and allegedly murdered about 25 years ago - and now officials think they have uncovered the tragic mystery.

Here's Tiffany Sessions - she vanished on February 9, 1989 after leaving her apartment in Gainsville, FL. She was never seen again. Officials believe she was abducted while taking a walk:

(CBS News)

The case gained national attention after Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino (friends with Sessions' father) made a plea to the public to help find her.

Now, Alachua County detectives are expected to announce that Paul Rowles is the prime suspect in the case (via Orlando Sentinel). He died in prison last February at the age of 64.

(CBS News)

Alachua County Sheriff Sadie Darnell said that following Rowles' death, police collected evidence from his prison cell. A timeline of his whereabouts at the time of Sessions' disappearance in 1989 makes it "highly, highly probable" that he kidnapped and killed her. One major piece of evidence includes a prison notebook. Rowles does not mention Sessions by name in the notebook, but according to Darnell, he did write "2-9-89" next to "#2" (via Jacksonville.com).

Rowles was ultimately sentenced to life in prison for strangling and stabbing former Miss North Miami Linda Fida to death in 1976 (his first victim). He was released nine years later. Rowles is also suspected of murdering 21-year-old Elizabeth Foster, but he was never charged in the crime. Her body was found in a shallow grave. Sessions' family and friends are hoping they'll be able to uncover her remains in a similar fashion.

And in 1994, Rowles was sentenced to 19 years in prison for kidnapping and raping a 15-year-old girl. Thankfully she escaped, or it's likely Rowles would have killed her too.

According to Sessions' father Pat Sessions, this is the first time Rowels' possible involvement has been made official (although he's been named a suspect for awhile now).

"This guy is scum of the earth," Mr. Sessions said. "He destroyed three, four families and their daughters with no remorse."

His wife Hilary Sessions just hopes her daughter may finally rest in peace - "This is my only baby... It would be nice to be able to put her to rest after all these years."

RIP, Tiffany Sessions.