Digest

This episode of Cold Case Files delves into the chilling murder of 15-year-old Penny Parker in Sacramento, California in 1977. The episode begins with Penny's disappearance after delivering newspapers, sparking a frantic search by her family and the police. The investigation takes a dark turn when Penny's body is found in the woods, revealing a brutal crime scene. Detective Peter Willover leads the investigation, focusing on Don Jennings, a volunteer searcher who found Penny's body and fit the description of a man seen with her. Despite Jennings' suspicious behavior and prior record for child molestation, insufficient evidence prevented his arrest, leaving the case cold for years. In 2001, the case is reopened by a cold case prosecution unit, leading to the discovery of missing evidence, including Penny's autopsy kit containing semen samples. DNA extracted from her underwear and autopsy slides reveals a match in the database, but without a name or address. The investigation intensifies, focusing once again on Don Jennings. Detectives obtain DNA samples from his ex-wife and daughter, allowing them to create a partial DNA profile that matches the semen from the crime scene. Despite Jennings' denial, his DNA is a perfect match, leading to a warrant for his arrest. However, Jennings tragically takes his own life before authorities can apprehend him. While the case is closed, the episode highlights the power of DNA evidence in solving cold cases and the lasting impact of such crimes on the victims' families.

Outlines

00:00:00

Penny Parker's Murder

This episode of Cold Case Files explores the murder of 15-year-old Penny Parker in Sacramento, California in 1977, detailing her disappearance, the discovery of her body, and the initial investigation.

00:03:40

Don Jennings Becomes a Suspect

The episode focuses on Don Jennings, a volunteer searcher who becomes a suspect due to his suspicious behavior and prior record for child molestation. Despite his connection to the case, insufficient evidence prevents his arrest, leaving the case cold for years.

00:05:53

The Case is Reopened and Solved

The episode details the reopening of the case in 2001, the discovery of missing evidence, and the use of DNA technology to identify Don Jennings as the killer. The episode concludes with Jennings' suicide before his arrest, bringing closure to the case but leaving unanswered questions.

Keywords

Q&A

• What happened to Penny Parker?

  Penny Parker, a 15-year-old girl, was raped and murdered in Sacramento, California in 1977. Her case remained unsolved for over two decades before being reopened and solved through DNA evidence.

• Who was Don Jennings?

  Don Jennings was a volunteer searcher who found Penny Parker's body. He became a suspect in the case due to his suspicious behavior and prior record for child molestation. He was later confirmed to be the killer through DNA evidence.

• How was the Penny Parker case solved?

  The Penny Parker case was solved through DNA evidence. A DNA profile was obtained from semen found at the crime scene and matched to Don Jennings' DNA.

• What happened to Don Jennings?

  Don Jennings committed suicide before he could be arrested for the murder of Penny Parker.

• What impact did the solving of the Penny Parker case have on the victim's family?

  The solving of the Penny Parker case brought closure to the victim's family, but it also left them with a sense of loss and sadness. They were finally able to know who killed their daughter, but they also had to come to terms with the fact that she was gone.

Show Notes