Judge Approves Use of Related Attack Evidence in Jennifer Odom...

In Hernando County, Florida, a judge has decided that evidence related to a similar assault on a Pasco County teenager can be introduced in the murder trial of Jeffrey Crum. This trial concerns the tragic case of 12-year-old Jennifer Odom, who was abducted and killed nearly three decades ago.

Crum faces charges for the 1993 kidnapping, rape, and murder of Odom, a case that puzzled investigators for years. He is currently serving a life sentence for the rape and attempted murder of a different student from Pasco County.

During a hearing on Monday, prosecutors emphasized the parallels between the two cases and argued for the inclusion of this evidence to the jury at trial.

Jennifer Odom vanished on February 19, 1993, shortly after disembarking from her school bus near her home in Pasco County. Her body was found six days later in neighboring Hernando County.

The case remained cold until 2023, when investigators announced they had identified Crum as a suspect.

One of the first witnesses called Monday was Michelle Sample, who testified she was Odom’s best friend and rode the bus home with her the day she disappeared.

Sample told the court she noticed a blue truck near the bus stop shortly before Odom vanished.

“I noticed a blue truck pull in behind her, which I did not recognize, which I didn’t notice any family members there to pick her up,” Sample testified.

Jurors also heard testimony from Dr. Barbara Wolf, the former chief medical examiner for Hernando County, who performed Odom’s autopsy.

Wolf testified Odom suffered multiple skull fractures, defensive wounds on her hands and evidence of sexual battery. She said the injuries indicated Odom fought back during the attack.

“The cause of death was blunt force trauma, manner of death… a homicide,” Wolf testified.

A major focus of the hearing involved evidence related to Carolyn Murphy, who was 17 years old when she was attacked after getting off a school bus in Pasco County just weeks before Odom’s murder.

Crum was convicted in that case in 2015 and is serving a life sentence.

Prosecutors argued both crimes involved young female victims, school bus stops, daytime attacks and locations in close proximity to one another.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the judge ruled the state met its burden and granted the motion, allowing prosecutors to present evidence from the Murphy case during Crum’s trial.

“Both of these victims were children, they were young females,” the judge said while explaining his ruling.

Crum has pleaded not guilty to the charges related to Odom’s death.

His trial is currently scheduled for the court’s August docket.

Welcome to Newsfinale Journal

Welcome to Newsfinale Journal

Welcome to Newsfinale Journal

Topics

Read more

Subscribe to Liberty Case

Forever

Recommended

1-Year

1-Month

Topics

Read more

Subscribe to Liberty Case

Forever

Recommended

1-Year

1-Month

Welcome to Newsfinale Journal

Judge Approves Use of Related Attack Evidence in Jennifer Odom Murder Trial

Subscribe for exclusive content