Published Quarterly by Lifeloom.com	"Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive." Sir Walter Scott	Spring 2004 Volume I issue 4
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             At eleven o'clock Sunday morning on Memorial Day weekend in 2002 a paperboy makes a grisly discovery in a wooded area behind a motel in West Deptford, New Jersey. When police arrive they find the body of a beautiful young blond woman, viciously stabbed to death. It is a crime that will shock the community, sadden friends and family and ignite a spark of determination that will not be put out until the murder has been solved.

             Jennifer Whipkey was a 22 year old divorced mother that was trying to raise her four-year-old daughter on the money she made delivering pizzas. It was an impossible task and she made plans to better her situation by studying for a degree in Criminal Justice. To get money for her college education she had begun the process of joining the Air Force reserves and was genuinely excited about the way her plans were progressing. No one could have foreseen how tragically those plans would be cut short.

             In the early morning hours of May 25th, Jennifer and a date arrived at a popular nightspot in Deptford called Adelphia.. It was a popular place for the young singles in the community to dance and have fun. But, according to patrons the couple began to argue soon after they arrived. The argument became heated and Jennifer's friend left, leaving her with no way home.

             But there was still time before closing, there were people she knew in the Adelphia, and there was no reason to end the evening on a sour note. Jennifer stayed, danced, and chatted with her friends and others in the bar. She also made repeated phone calls to find a ride home. At 3:00 o'clock, when the Adelphia closed, she refused rides from acquaintances in the bar saying that a "friend" was coming to get her. She never said who the friend was. At 3:15 the bouncer saw her in the parking lot, talking with a group of about half a dozen men. That was the last she was seen alive.

             Jennifer's body was found more than twenty-four hours later behind a motel approximately 10 miles from the Adelphia. She had been stabbed repeatedly in a vicious attack that police believe occurred shortly after she was last seen. Investigators believe the murderer or murderers kept the body for almost a day before leaving it to be discovered. There was no evidence that the crime occurred near the motel and a careful check by police produced no evidence that she had been in the motel the day before.

             Although police are not saying if Jennifer was sexually molested, it's interesting to note that when she was found her shoes were on the wrong feet. She was still wearing the shirt and jeans she had on in the nightclub.

             There are several theories as to what happened that night. Evidently Jennifer was not allowed to wait inside for her ride, if she had found one. So, perhaps, it was someone who had spotted her inside the nightclub and took advantage of the fact she had been stranded by her date. Perhaps it was a drifter that came upon her by chance in the parking lot. Some speculate that Jennifer might have fallen prey to a serial killer. Even more disturbing is the theory that it might have been someone she knew and trusted.

             Police naturally checked on the ex-husband, her date, and the people in the club; they attempted to locate the men she had been seen with in the parking lot and the friend that Jennifer said she was waiting on. They also checked for similarities with other unsolved murders of young women throughout the United States. DNA evidence was sent to the state laboratory. The local prosecutor called it a case of "high priority" and extra detectives were assigned to the case to carefully check the dozens of leads and tips that were being called in. But after six months and hundreds of hours of police work the investigation stalled. Nearly two years later the crime remains unsolved.

             Police and family have not given up hope for a solution. The investigation continues and police have not ruled out any suspects. According to the detective in charge, it's the kind of case that can be cracked by just one piece of information, one tip from someone who saw or heard something at the bar the morning she was killed or around the motel where her body was left.

           Jennifer was well liked and popular. Friends and family have described her as personable, funny, and caring. Fifteen thousand dollars in reward money was raised for anyone who could provide information that will lead the police to the killer or killers. But to one person who loved Jennifer, raising reward money was not enough.

             Jennifer's mother had a friend who was determined to do all she could to make sure that neither Jennifer nor the investigation of her death would ever be forgotten. She wasn't trained in law enforcement so she couldn't help with the actual investigation. But after careful thought she decided that she could present Jennifer's case to the public and keep it there with the help of Internet technology.

             She wasn't a computer expert but was able to set up a simple web page as a memorial to Jennifer as victim and a link for any tips the public might have for law enforcement. It was a resounding success and brought her into contact with many others that were grieving over the violent and unsolved deaths of family members or friends. Why, she asked herself, couldn't the Internet be used to help these people also?

            So then a message group was started that reviewed newspaper articles of unsolved crimes throughout the county. Its main focus, however, was the publication of a dozen or so unsolved crimes with pictures, details, and links to law enforcement agencies so that the public could give any information it had on the cases. Soon, the requests for case exposure required more space than the bare bones message board provided.

            The next step was a website designed to present information on any open case of violent crime and, in July of 2003 Ronnie D, whose life had been changed by the Whipkey murder, dedicated Unsolved-Crimes International as a free resource for the families of victims of unsolved crimes.

            It will not bring Jennifer back, but it will ensure that she is never forgotten.

            If you have information on the Jennifer Whipkey murder you can contact The Citizens Crime Commission (215)546-8577

            We invite you to visit us online at http://www.unsolved-crimes.com. If you have a case you would like publicized contact us at submissions@unsolved-crimes.com.

Copyright 2004 by Unsolved-Crimes International

Published Quarterly by Lifeloom.com	"Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive." Sir Walter Scott	Spring 2004 Volume II issue 1
W M M New Issue		W M M Archives