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| Unsolved-Crimes International is an offshoot of the Unsolved-Crimes discussion group on Yahoo started by Ronnie D. in January, after her life was touched by the brutal and senseless unsolved murder of Jennifer Whipkey.
Media Director David Webb wrote the article. If you have a case you would like publicized, contact Unsolved-Crimes International at submissions@unsolved-crimes.com. |
Jennifer Lynn Olson, 1979-2002
She was a small town girl making good, an attractive, petite blond from Montana who had found a position as a television reporter in Abilene, Texas. With her smarts, her drive, and her talent, everyone from her professors to her coworkers knew she was going far. But on September 16, 2002, person or persons unknown would put a brutal end to a good person and a promising career.
Twenty-two year old Jennifer Olson had been in Abilene only two months after landing a job as general assignment reporter for NBC affiliate KRBC, channel 9. She put in her 40 hour week in four days, Thursday through Sunday, so it was no surprise that she wasn't answering her coworkers' calls on Monday. Even a bubbly 22 year old is going to be pretty well worn out after four consecutive ten-hour days. But on Wednesday, when she still wasn't answering calls, her coworkers were worried. Friends at the station called her apartment house and asked the manager to check on her, then headed to her apartment themselves.
The apartment manager found Jennifer lying on the bathroom floor, a trail of blood leading from the living room. Paramedics were called, but it was quickly determined that she had been dead for at least two days.
Jennifer had been hit in the head several times with a blunt object. The autopsy also concluded that there were signs of strangulation and a possible sexual assault. But there were no signs of forced entry and no signs that the victim had put up a struggle. Today, nearly two years after the body was discovered, police have still not named a suspect in the case.
What kind of person was Jennifer Lynn Olson? She has been variously described as sweet, bubbly, savvy, energetic, ambitious, and hard working. To help pay for her college tuition she joined the Army Reserves in 1997 and became a specialist in water purification in the 347th Quartermaster. In her first year of college, she got to use those skills in El Salvador after her unit was sent to help the populace in the wake of a particuarly powerful hurricane.
Also in her freshman year, despite having a full college study load, she took on a job at KPAX TV to get hands on experience in her chosen field. Later she interned at KECI TV and, in her senior year, anchored the 5 o'clock news on KUFM public radio.
Jennifer was very popular and was well liked wherever she worked. A major factor in her success was her ability to connect with people and relate to the people she interviewed, as one person put it, person to person instead of reporter to person.
Who, then, could commit such a brutal crime against such a well-liked young woman?
The first idea that comes to mind is that of a stalker. Women seen frequently on television often attract unwanted attention from unsavory characters. However, the stalker theory in Jennifer's case has some pretty serious flaws. First, she'd only been in Abilene two months which probably wouldn't be enough time to let a complete stranger develop feelings strong enough to commit such a crime. Then, as is often the case with media people, Jennifer didn't use her real last name when she was on the air, giving her reports as Jennifer "Servo." To further protect herself from unwanted attention, her mail was delivered to a post office box, not her home.
It is fairly certain that Jennifer knew her attacker. Not only were there no signs of forced entry, but, judging by the bed clothes she was wearing when found, the crime evidently occured very early in the morning, not a time when a women alone would let in a stranger. The details of the crime would seem to fit the pattern of a lover or ex-lover and even the victim's father believes that it was a crime of "domestic violence."
Police extensively questioned a former lover of Jennifer's, an ex-Army Ranger she had met in the Army Reserves. The ex-Ranger moved from Montana to Abilene to be with Jennifer but they broke up soon after. He has refused to take a lie detector test and has not been ruled out as a suspect.
CSI techniques have been of little or no help in solving the case. Ideally, the police would have to find DNA of someone who would have no reason to be in the apartment. Then, of course they'd have to find a match. Although the police have obtained DNA samples of several people, they have been of no help in pinpointing a killer.
There were several items taken from the apartment that could still lead to the perpetrator. They are Jennifer's cell phone, a distinctive purse, and some DVDs. Pictures of these items can be seen at the Unsolved-Crimes profile at http://www.unsolved-crimes.com/olsonservo.html or on the family's memorial site http://www.justiceforjennifer.org.
Whoever did this is carrying a terrible burden inside and might, just might, let something slip to friends or acquaintances in times of stress.
If you have information about this crime call Abilene Texas Crimestoppers, 800-868-8477. There is $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer. The Carole Sund/Carrington Foundation is offering an additional $5,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Jennifer's death.
Copyright 2004 by Unsolved-Crimes International
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web we weave, when first we practice to deceive." |
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