The Murder of Danielle Jennings
This case is from the fourth episode of the ID series, American Nightmare. The episode is titled ‘Watch Your Back.’ This is a very underreported case, and about 90% of my research is from the episode.
A 20 year old mother is murdered in her own home in 1999.
Background
Danielle Jennings
Danielle Jennings was described by her family as being very outgoing, popular and nurturing. They also said Danielle was a tomboy when she was younger, but then blossomed into a young woman and caught the attention of many boys.
One of these boys was a man named Carl Buford, and she and Carl had a son when Danielle was 17 years old. They named their baby boy Tristan. Unfortunately, Danielle and Carl broke up, but Danielle soon met another man named Luis that became a father figure that Tristan never had.
The Murder
On March 15, 1999, a call came into the Gwinnett County police from the Ashley Lakes Apartments. The police rushed over to the apartment where Danielle and Luis lived.
There was no obvious sign of forced entry or robbery. The police did find an answering machine on the table, mail addressed to Danielle and her purse on the floor. The police described that her purse was the only thing that appeared strange, and it looked it had been dumped on the floor.
They walked into the bedroom, and found Danielle dead on the bed. She was laying diagonally, with her head hanging over the side. The police immediately knew that the cause of death was strangulation, she had a Nylon stocking wrapped around her neck. In fact it was so tight, that Danielle was a blueish-purple color. It was also apparent that she had been attacked from behind because of where the stocking was tied.
The police had to notify Danielle’s family, and have them identify her. Her mom, Sherry, was interviewed and she said she remembers that she started slamming her fists on the table and shouting no over and over when her husband told her the news. This description broke my heart.
Investigation and Suspects
First, the police interviewed several of Danielle’s neighbors and nobody saw or heard anything that day.
The first suspect was Luis. He and Danielle were just months away from getting married. He told the police that he and Danielle were supposed to have lunch that day, but their plans changed because of his work. He said he was at work that whole day, and even called Danielle throughout the day because he didn’t get any answer from her.
Luis is the one who found Danielle, and he immediately started sobbing about how he found her and that she was blue. The interview is heard in this episode and you can tell he was very upset. His alibi checked out, and his messages to her were confirmed and he was cleared. However, he did say they should look into Carl Buford, Danielle’s ex.
Carl Buford was immediately ruled out, because he was in prison at the time. He was looked at though because he had apparently been upset that Danielle was moving on and he had very little contact with Tristan.
The next suspect was another of Danielle’s exes, named Frank McDonald. Danielle’s family said that Frank was very possessive, and Danielle had even filed a restraining order against him. Frank denied killing Danielle, and he said he was at work that day.
The episode didn’t specify what his job was, only that he was driver and that he would have extensive records from work. He was cleared.
The last suspect was also cleared right away, but Danielle had been sexually harassed at work by an older male co-worker. Danielle’s supervisors were interviewed, and they said while they were aware of the harassment, the co-worker was with another co-worker that whole day.
The police had cleared four suspects, and were back to the beginning of their investigation.
An Important Tip
One of Danielle’s neighbors came into the police station, and said she thought she knew who did this. She told them a story from a few months before the murder. She said she was home alone one day, and a maintenance worker had let himself in to her locked apartment. She said he had terrified her, and when she heard about Danielle’s murder, he was who she thought of.
The maintenance worker was a man named Calvin Oliver. He had been hired seven months before the murder. He had an extensive record, some of his charges included rape at knifepoint, armed robbery, larceny and robbery by force.
Calvin Oliver
Calvin Oliver was brought in. The police immediately said their theory is that Calvin went into Danielle’s apartment to rob it. She unexpectedly came home and he killed her. Calvin denied it, and asked for a lawyer.
The police were still able to obtain a search warrant to search Calvin’s home. The police found checks that he had stolen from other tenants, and he was arrested for the stolen checks. At this time, the police didn’t have any evidence to charge him with Danielle’s murder.
The Engagement Ring
Soon, another important call that would break this case came in. Luis, Danielle’s fiance, called the police and asked if he could have Danielle’s engagement ring back. The police were confused because Danielle didn’t have a ring on her finger when she was found.
Luis and Danielle’s family had also asked the coroner for Danielle’s property, and her engagement ring was not with her items.
The police then remembered that Calvin Oliver had a ring on his dresser when they searched his home. They showed it to Luis, and he confirmed that was the engagement ring.
Arrest and Conviction
The police now had evidence to charge Calvin Oliver with Danielle’s murder and robbery. He pleaded not guilty, so it went to trial.
The prosecution’s theory matched the police’s theory, that Calvin entered Danielle’s apartment to rob it, using his master key. Danielle had returned home that day around lunch time to find him there. He then killed her so she wouldn’t report him.
After a five day trial, the jury deliberated and found Calvin Oliver guilty. He was sentenced to life in prison, plus 10 years for robbery.
Other
Danielle’s family sued TGM Associates, they owned the Ashley Lakes apartments. The company had failed to run a background check on Calvin Oliver. Danielle’s family won a multi-million dollar settlement.
Danielle’s parents also received custody of Tristan, who is now 22 years old.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I just can’t even believe this apartment complex didn't check this man’s record. I also feel like anyone who knew him would know about his extensive record, so this source should also feel bad for getting him a job. He shouldn’t have even been out on the street. Danielle was 20 years old, and was killed over a robbery, it makes me sick. She had her whole life ahead of her, and she was killed because some monster entered her home and violated her.
Calvin Oliver deserves to rot in prison, even though he should have been rotting in prison a long time ago.
Sources
https://www.wistv.com/2019/01/29/daughters-murder-leaves-midlands-mother-decades-long-mission-2/
