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.
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.
59 responses so far ↓
Pages: [1] 2 » Show All
1
April
Sep 22, 2008 at 11:06 pm -Wow. So scary. What are the chances that they will find her alive?
2
mousygirl
Sep 22, 2008 at 11:56 pm -oh god. i hope she just needed some alone time, but i doubt it. =(
3
Wonder
Sep 23, 2008 at 12:39 am -my grandpa always stops in knoxville on his way to Florida.
He once got a phone call straight to his motel room from a woman offering her services. He was 78 at the time. Someone is sharing the guest list - caution to those traveling solo - they don’t like it when you say “no, thank you”
This is very sad, Were the sheets bedspread missing… are they sharing why they think foul play is involved ? Don’t they match you with a roomate when you travel with co workers ?
yeah I was hoping she got fed up quit the job and went home! I will keep Jennifer in my prayers and I hope this turns out well. Much too young and sounds like she had good morals and respect for herself to die… Oh this poor girl and her family !!!
4
nadine
Sep 23, 2008 at 5:13 am -Oh my gosh, what a horrible scary story and i will pray for Jennifer’s safe return and i will pray for her family. My heart goes out to you all and PLEASE HELP FIND HER SAFELY….. very sad if anything tragic terrible happened to her and is this where this is leading ??? I sure hope that she is just lost somewhere and will be found, please do keep us updated on this story.
5
grandma
Sep 23, 2008 at 8:20 am -Oh, I hope they find her safely!!! Praying!!
6
mjmsepm
Sep 23, 2008 at 9:15 am -praying for her. If she was taken I hope she escapes before it is to late. why do bad things happen to what seem to be good people?!!
7
Peeperann
Sep 23, 2008 at 10:31 am -The chances don’t sound very good
Poor young woman. Seems like she was a good person and well liked. I do hope she didn’t open her door to someone in the middle of the night. You never do that anywhere!
I too will keep her and her family in prayers…….
8
Lynn
Sep 23, 2008 at 10:32 am -This site has some photos of the search.
http://www.knoxnews.com/photos.....e-hampton/
9
gm OF 10
Sep 23, 2008 at 11:06 am -OMG, I think all women traveling alone should carry pepper spray or a gun… As victims, women do not have much of a chance against a big man, their strengh is overwhelming… Me… I would scream my lungs out and go for the crotch,, ALWAYS, the crotch… That poor girl… I’ll pray for her safe return..
10
saltwatergirl
Sep 23, 2008 at 12:56 pm -blockquote>This site has some photos of the search.
No …it does appear they are not looking for an alive person…..very sad for her family and friends.
11
grannyof2
Sep 23, 2008 at 1:40 pm -GEEZ!! this is my part of town, and all that is there at those motels are out of state workers that live in them, one of the favorite bars there is cotton eyed joes, but there are many there, when you want a quick lay, thats where you go, some of these guys just dont care they are there to work the day shift and play all night and weekends too, the motels are beyond nasty and it seems very little protection for people like this young lady, i just wish they had went to a more decent place in knox. to get a place to stay.
12
auddie
Sep 23, 2008 at 2:03 pm -If the co-worker was male, my $$ is on him.
13
CassieMomma
Sep 23, 2008 at 3:44 pm -Recently I went on a overnight business trip by myself. It was my first time and I felt liberated, but a littled scared at the same time. Reading stories like this is I guess why. I really do hope they find her alive.
14
mommyto3luckyme
Sep 23, 2008 at 5:22 pm -http://abcnews.go.com/US/story.....amp;page=1
Towards to end of the story it says the sheets were ripped off one of the beds in her room & she expressed concern to her boyfriend she was talking to on the phone about two men outside her door.
15
April
Sep 23, 2008 at 5:45 pm -Oh, no. Poor girl. It’s too bas she didn’t call someone staying in the hotel with her or hotel security. I know if I was staying in a hotel room alone and someone outside of my room gave me the heebies - I’d be all over security to come check it out. You never can be to careful…
16
Abroad
Sep 24, 2008 at 3:09 pm -Just returned from a business trip myself……
This is fortunately so very rare; but one is always a bit less comfortable away from one’s usual surroundings, and it certainly is a good idea to pay attention what is going on. Hope the young woman turns up safe and sound. It is too, too harsh for her life to have ended so suddenly and for no good reason at all.
17
nadine
Sep 25, 2008 at 6:11 am -I think about this poor girl every day, I PRAY they find her alive and PLEASE KEEP US all updated onthis one, this is too disturbing to me unlike some ot the other ones, PLEASE UPDATE US
18
Unamused Cat
Sep 27, 2008 at 4:04 pm -Update: Knoxville police said Saturday they found the body of a white female in the Clinch River near where an Alabama woman vanished last weekend.
Police Department spokesman Darrell DeBusk said a fisherman discovered the body Saturday morning, within five miles of the motel where 21-year-old Jennifer Lee Hampton was last seen the night of Sept. 19.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,429230,00.html
19
April
Sep 27, 2008 at 4:12 pm -Oh, dear. I guess we knew it was coming. I just hope they find the fucker(s) that did this to her.
20
Le Poo
Sep 27, 2008 at 5:39 pm -OMG that is awful! I am only 2 hrs away from there. That is scary to think u can’t even open ur door anymore. What’s really bad is whomever did this to her may not even b in the state. Considering it happened at a hotel they could be from anywhere. We were playing the FLA Gators that weekend. But they could been from anywhere….or not even a guest at the hotel. But it is susupicious the 2 guys outside her room. I hope they find them…and her so her family at least knows where she is. It’s so sad.
21
April
Sep 29, 2008 at 11:21 pm -Here’s more on Jennifer - She also had a twin sister. So sad…
http://www.jacksonsun.com/apps.....1/80929042
http://www.timesdaily.com/arti.....ng_woman_s
22
nadine
Sep 30, 2008 at 5:08 am -My prayers to the WHOLE ENTIRE Family, Do not know them but would like to send my prayers to them, very sorry for your loss
23
Peeperann
Sep 30, 2008 at 9:05 am -My prayers are with the family. I am so sorry for your loss. This is just so tragic and stupid. A beautiful young woman is gone from this earth and her family because of evil in this world.
I hope they find the pigs who did this to her.
God bless Jennifer and her family………
24
mpratt
Sep 30, 2008 at 9:08 am -Rest in Peace.
25
CassieMomma
Sep 30, 2008 at 9:11 am -At least they are able to bring her home where her family can pay their respects to her anytime they like. RIP Jennifer and to the family stay strong and know that others are thinking of you during this terrible tragedy.
26
RockRGrl
Sep 30, 2008 at 9:48 am -Rest In Peace Jennifer. To the family, I am so sorry to hear of your loss.
27
porcelain
Sep 30, 2008 at 11:19 am -Well if this isn’t an unhappy ending I don’t know what is!
After reading this story last week I was hoping maybe she decided to go party or something like that.She’d turn up in a week or two after having some fun.
I hardly expected they would find her dead.
Goes to show what a depraved,vile world we live in.
She seemed like a sweet girl and surely not one who deserved to die.
Why can’t random murderers pick the people who abuse their kids or hurt other people?
Why do they always take the innocent,good people?
It’s a shittin’ shame.
28
MAjustaMom
Sep 30, 2008 at 11:34 am -No kidding.
This is so sad, I’m so sorry for the loss of this bright, young girl. Rest in peace Jennifer.
29
IrishSparkle
Sep 30, 2008 at 11:53 am -This is horrible, this beautiful young girl with her whole life ahead of her is taken from this world.
My thoughts and prayers are with her family and especially her twin as they share a bond no other would understand.
30
lakewriter51340
Sep 30, 2008 at 1:09 pm -If only they had a site or listgroup or other place they all meet (besides myspace and World of Warcraft)
We could lead them to Dreamin Demon — while I don’t think killing people to prove to society that killing people is wrong is the way to go, there are some POS’s I’d like to direct these serial killers toward. I mean if they’re going to kill until they’re caught, why don’t they leave people’s beloved mothers, daughters, sisters, etc. alone and save the nation’s taxpayers the cost of trial, imprisonment and, in death penalty cases, years of appeals with six figure price tags for legal fees.
Serial killer: meet the child molesters and murderers of Dreamin Demon. Imp and Morbid have done the research on their lifestyle and locations, if they’re out on bail, all you have to do is strike.
`
31
saltwatergirl
Sep 30, 2008 at 1:42 pm -sad ….it always seems to be the sweet and innocent ones..
32
Rhoni
Sep 30, 2008 at 11:27 pm -Thank you for the update Imp ..You put a lot of heart into this site and I want you to know people appreciate it I know I do.
33
Wonder
Oct 1, 2008 at 1:32 am -aww i was hoping it wasn’t going to end this way…
how sad the twin sister bit… and the b/f probably feels really bad he didn’t insist she contact the front desk and lock all the locks on the door and don’t open it for nobody. I too pray for the co-workers and the fisherman that found and reported the body. That is a miracle in its self for the family to be able to recover Jenny… still way too much mystery for any closure…
I agree those that feel like killing someone should choose the low lifes … I too think we could use them for executions like lakewriter states…
R I P Jenny !
34
capirro
Oct 1, 2008 at 2:26 am -sad and tragic.
As a guy I can tell you that on some places I’ve stayed on business I did not feel entirely safe. Not that there were people knocking my door so to speak but that you get that weird feeling in your gut. Not a good feeling.
35
mpratt
Oct 1, 2008 at 8:12 am -So is this another illegal person that we will have to pay for the rest of his life in jail… Fabulous……………
RIP Jennifer… It seemed like you had so much ahead of you… Why always the good ones????????
36
Morbid
Oct 1, 2008 at 8:43 am -Well, I am REAL curious if we will see a lawsuit filed against Days Inn. If I were the family of Jennifer, I would be suing their asses off. They truly put Jennifer in harms way, IMO. If it is shown that no effort was made to determine if the two accused were illegals, or if it was KNOWN they were illegals…they should be punished.
Tennessee has the death penalty, and we do give death penalties to illegal immigrants. Hell, Texas recently executed an illegal immigrant in August.
37
WryBread
Oct 1, 2008 at 5:36 pm -http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2....._headlines
“Miranda … lived and worked at the motel. Knoxville Police Department Investigator Steve Still arrested Miranda and another man the day the investigation began when Still said they showed him bogus Social Security cards.”
So Miranda is another illegal alien who has killed. According to the article he used a master key card to get into the poor young woman’s room. He was living right on the premises with his wife. I wonder if Days Inn used E-Verify to see if the killer/employee was legal to work? It would be interesting to know.
This article has a photo of Miranda and he is a very scary looking gent.
38
mjmsepm
Oct 1, 2008 at 5:56 pm -He fuckin worked at the motel? you cant friggin stay anywhere with out a gun anymore! why the hell did she have to die and he had a wife where did she think he was???This pisses me off to no end.
39
Ruby
Oct 1, 2008 at 8:25 pm -His wife turned him in! Good for her. She found bloodied clothes and gave them to the police. The blood was Jennifer’s.
There are no words for the horrific, random nature of this crime, and the utter stupidity of the man who carried it out. I’m nauseated.
40
silvahalo
Oct 1, 2008 at 8:48 pm -There is no real justice to be had for losing a child in such a sick and depraved way…I say castrate the penche cabron…may his remaining days be of torment and his afterlife a home in Hades…swim if you can mutha*F*…you piece of vile-shit!
My deepest sympathies to the family…rest in peace beautiful Jennifer.
41
ScarvesNBoots
Oct 1, 2008 at 11:13 pm -Another victim to add to this site:
http://www.victimsofillegalaliens.com/
42
April
Oct 1, 2008 at 11:16 pm -Oh, my. I hoped that her last moments weren’t spent being sexually assaulted. I guess I knew in the back of my mind… Wishful thinking and all.
To Jennifer’s family and friends - I am so sorry that you lost this beautiful person. I’m also sorry that it was so senseless and preventable. I really am.
43
April
Oct 1, 2008 at 11:19 pm -OMG - There are so many!!! SHIT! Thank you for linking the site. I din’t know it existed.
44
Morbid
Oct 1, 2008 at 11:34 pm -Someone emailed us this. It was a comment left on another site, possibly one of the news sites. Obviously we cannot verify it is true, but I hope it is, and I am sure it will be verified, or not, soon enough:
45
ScarvesNBoots
Oct 1, 2008 at 11:39 pm -She’s already listed at this memorial site:
http://www.ojjpac.org/memorial.asp
The family members of these victims need to sue the govt. There is a woman whose husband and 2 sons were shot and killed by an illegal from San Francisco. Last I read, she is going after the city of SF, because they brag they are a sanctuary city and the illegal was from there.
The father of a teen killed, along with her friend, in a car accident caused by a drunk illegal, is also going after govt. He’s in Virginia Beach, also a known sanctuary city.
April, that site I linked doesn’t appear to be updated that much. It looks like it is people murdered by illegals that should’ve been deported for previous crimes. Or they had been deported and snuck back over the border.
46
April
Oct 1, 2008 at 11:50 pm -I hope she put a whoopin’ to this / these fucker(s). They didn’t deserve to spend a moment with that beautiful girl. It’s unfortunate that her whoopin didn’t lead to a castration.
Here I go again - I live in Cali. Surely the land of illegals. The border here is to cushy. It’s a wonder there isn’t more crimes by illegals on this page that take place in Cali.
BTW - my stepdad was illegal (from New Zealand) for YEARS. He did not marry my mothe r for citizenship. He has a greencard but does not want citizenship because he waould have to give up his NZ citizenship and dreams of retiring there. He obeys laws, pays taxes, does not rape, molest, murder or steal.
47
ScarvesNBoots
Oct 2, 2008 at 12:06 am -April, my mother’s 2nd husband was an illegal, I think. This was back in the 70’s. We all went down to Mexico to visit his family. On the way back into the US,/San Diego, he got popped and sent to jail in Phoenix. I was a little girl when this happened. I don’t know the exact circumstances but he got out after a few months and continued living here. Maybe there was an issue with his green card. I think he thought he could get away with it because his skin was white, light brown hair and green eyes.
He and my mother opened up a tortilla factory in Riverside County, that delivered to other stores and restaurants. Yum, fresh tortillas.
I just found out a few months ago, he was running guns and ammo from US to Mexico. They were packed under our station wagon’s seat, the one I slept on. Ugh. No wonder we took so many trips. I ran the streets of Guadalajara with my cousins, good times, good food.
48
April
Oct 2, 2008 at 12:18 am -ScarvesNBoots - That is some made for TV shit. Daaaayum. My step day has managed to stay out of trouble. I might mention that New Zealand is not a country the has a lot of violent crimes (gun control baby!). But still - I didn’t want anyone thinking I was M.F.ing illegals as a whole. Some are illegal for a moment - but really want to be here so they behave and go through the process of becoming legal.
49
ScarvesNBoots
Oct 2, 2008 at 12:38 am -LOL, my mom has had an interesting life. I recently googled her name and OMG. No, she isn’t a criminal. She’s was involved in a big case back in the late 80′-early 90’s. Now it’s taught in some school’s classes. I told her about it and she freaked! She doesn’t use a computer and didn’t have any idea. Plus online, some attorney is using her case as advertisement and she wants to contact him to tell him to tell the the whole story about what is involved in bringing a case like hers to trial. The people that do what she did should know the impact on their lives and it’s not about the money she got.
50
ScarvesNBoots
Oct 2, 2008 at 12:50 am -I hear you about the illegal immigration situation. I know if US and Mexico situation was reversed, my man would be hopping the border to work to take care of us. Then again, when you hear about how Mexico guards their southern border, it’s hypocritical for them to scream about us wanting to guard ours. Plus how the Mexican govt prints handbooks to give to their citizens that tell them how to cross and where to go to get handouts, etc.
I heard on the radio awhile back, advertisements for illegals to go to this class and learn how to fill out paperwork to get food stamps, welfare, healthcare etc. It’ s maddening. We have our own to take care of. And we wonder why our cities, schools and hospitals are suffering.
Our govt. is derelict in it’s duty to protect us. The border situation has been out of control for at least 2 decades. We need to know who is coming into our country. Plus all the diseases that we have irradicated are now showing up again.
Pages: [1] 2 » Show All
You must log in to post a comment.