UPDATE 10/01/08 – Valentino Vasquez Miranda, 19, has been charged with first-degree felony murder in connection with the disappearance and death of Jennifer Lee Hampton. Hotel key card records showed that Miranda, a Days Inn employee, used his passkey to enter Jennifer’s room, where he then sexually assaulted and strangled her. Both Miranda and Rogelio Melchor, 38, are illegal immigrants who were arrested on forgery charges earlier in the investigation. Melchor has not been charged, but is considered a person of interest in Jennifer Hampton’s murder. Authorities say more charges for both men may be forthcoming. I’ll update as more details become available.
http://www.myspace.com/jenniferhamp
Knoxville, TN and Florence, AL – Jennifer Lee Hampton was only in town for a business trip. On Friday night, the 21-year-old woman disappeared from the Days Inn in Farragut, Tennessee, a suburb of Knoxville. Hampton was last seen at about 9:00 p.m. Friday closing the door to Room 146.  Now police say they have evidence of foul play. As I write, Jennifer Hampton has not been found.
Hampton and three other employees of Mama Blues Buffet were on a four-day trip to Farragut to train new employees of the restaurant. On Friday evening, Jennifer and another employee left the restaurant at about 8:30 p.m. and went by a McDonald’s. By about 9:00 to 9:15, Jennifer told her co-worker goodnight and closed the door to her hotel room. Saturday morning, Jennifer Hampton didn’t show up for breakfast and hasn’t been seen since.
The three other Mama Blues employees staying at the Days Inn told police that it wouldn’t be like Jennifer to leave the room to go out later that evening. That sentiment has been echoed by nearly everyone who has spoken to the press since Friday night. Jennifer is not known to drink, smoke, or stay out late. The Days Inn was heavily booked Friday night with football fans, but so far nobody has offered any tangible leads.
So what happened to Jennifer Lee Hampton?
Investigators aren’t saying much beyond the “we have reason to believe foul play is involved” statement issued today. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has agents on the case, processing evidence and working to locate Hampton. On Monday, about fifty officers and agents formed a grid search through some nearby wetlands and trails. Some possible evidence was flagged, but nothing so far has conclusively led to any information about Jennifer’s whereabouts.
Two Days Inn employees, Valentino Miranda and Rogelio Melchor, were arrested on unrelated forgery charges on Saturday. They are being held without bond on immigration holds pending verification of their identities.
Jennifer Lee Hampton is twenty-one years old, 5’3″ and slender at about 110 pounds. She has longer dark hair and brown eyes. If you have seen Hampton, or have any information on her condition and whereabouts, please call (865) 215-7014.
UPDATE 9/29/08 – Police have confirmed that a body found in Melton Hill Lake near Knoxville last weekend is that of Jennifer “Jenny” Hampton.  The cause of death is not being released at this time, but is being investigated as a homicide. A fisherman found Hampton’s nude body near shore at the lake on Saturday. Based on the description, the family believed then that the body was Jennifer’s, but the identification was confirmed on Monday. An autopsy is being done and funeral arrangements are pending.  Hampton told a boyfriend that two men were outside her room bothering her just before she went missing, and the hotel room showed signs of a struggle.
UPDATE 9/30/08 - Knoxville police have at least one suspect in custody in the murder of Jennifer Hampton. Two room cleaners for the Days Inn where Jennifer was staying have been in custody on immigration holds since the morning after Jennifer’s disappearance. Now that her body has been identified and forensic tests are being run, police have said that Valentino Miranda and Rogelio Melchor may both face charges in connection with Jennifer’s murder, but only one of the men is the actual murder suspect. At this time, police have not said which man is the possible perpetrator. I’ll update as more details become available.
Unamused Cat is sleuthing in our forums.
Tags: Knoxville, Missing Person, Murder, Tennessee
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