The Murder of Trooper Calvin Jenks

This case was a recommendation sent in to me by Damien! I watched an episode of See No Evil. It’s season 9 episode 1, titled ‘The Tragedy on Tennessee 14.’

A young Highway Patrol trooper is killed during a traffic stop.

Background

Calvin Jenks was only 24-years-old when he was killed during what he thought would be a normal traffic stop. Calvin had been married to his wife, Sarah, for only 4 months, and they lived in Tipton County, Tennessee,

Calvin was described as a gentleman with a great smile and personality. Calvin was passionate about helping people, and had always wanted to go into law enforcement.

The 911 Call

On January 6, 2007, Calvin was getting ready to work a late shift. He always had his boots polished, and his pants creased.

Before the end of his shift, he contacted Sarah, and told her he just had some paperwork to finish before he came home.

A 911 call came into the police around 9:40pm from a raccoon hunter in the area. The hunter said he had seen a trooper’s patrol car, and that the trooper was lying in the roadway.

When the deputies arrived, they immediately recognized Calvin. He had been shot in the head, and killed almost instantly. He had also been run over by a car, he had tire tracks on his leg.

The Dash Cam Footage

Calvin’s gun was found still in his holster, but his hat and flashlight weren’t on or near him. The hat was found just a few yards from Calvin’s body. The police knew that Calvin had most likely done a traffic stop, as troopers don’t leave their vehicles without their hats.

Troopers had dash cams in their vehicles. The police knew that they were most likely going to see Calvin being killed, so they held their breath as the dash cam footage was booted up.

On the dash cam, Calvin can be seen talking to someone, who was standing near the back of the car. He had pulled over a lighter colored Sedan. Calvin does a pat down, and asks the man how old he was, and why he was in the area. The man responded that he was 19, and was from Brownsville.

Calvin tells the man not to move, as he walks to the driver’s side door. He can be seen taking his hat off, and placing it on top of the car. As Calvin is leaning into the car, he asks if they have any drugs in the car. The passenger then shoots him.

The driver runs to the car, and one of them says “get him out.” Without any remorse or surprise at what had happened, Calvin is thrown on the ground, and run over as the suspects drive away.

The dash cam footage was grainy. The driver was wearing an orange T-shirt, and was described as either a white or Hispanic male. The passenger was wearing an oversized white hoodie, but it was hard to tell what his ethnicity was. The license plate was described as “bent up,” so that the plate couldn't be read.

The Surveillance

A statewide BOLO (be on the lookout) was put out for the car description, as well as the descriptions of the suspects.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation was brought in to assist in the case. Several police agencies sat at major exits, hoping to catch the suspects, while others searched for surveillance footage along Highway 14.

The police went to the Midway Market, which was the closest store near the crime scene. About 5 minutes before Calvin was shot, the car, which was now described as a silver Toyota product, pulled into the lot. The driver in the orange shirt had entered the store to ask for directions to Brownsville.

After the descriptions of the suspects and their vehicle were released to the media, the Brownsville police received a tip. An employee at the Exxon gas station had seen the suspects.

The police arrived at the Exxon around 12:30am. The passenger of the vehicle could be seen on the surveillance footage. On his oversized hoodie, the letters ‘ATX’ could be seen. The police knew that the men had mentioned that they were from Texas. He had asked the clerk if they had any wipes to clean out a car. The clerk said no, but gave them directions to the closest Walmart.

A Change of Clothes

Next, the police went to Walmart around 1am. They said that the Walmart employees were very helpful in assisting them.

At 9:55pm, the man in the white hoodie walked into the store. He had walked to the automotive section, and purchased Armor All wipes.

After walking out, the driver and passenger met in the parking lot. The driver then walked in, and purchased a dark colored T-shirt with a Superman logo on the front. The passenger also changed his clothes, and had changed into a dark colored hoodie.

The police searched the Walmart trash compactors, and were shocked that the two men had discarded a lot of evidence. In the trash, they found the orange T-shirt, .25 caliber shell casings, and bloody wipes. Calvin’s flashlight was also found. He had dropped in the suspect’s car when he was shot. Calvin’s DNA was found on the orange t-shirt, and inside the vehicle, which was found at a nearby apartment complex.

The items were sent into the TBI lab for further testing.

A Drug Deal

In the early morning hours, a highway patrolman had pulled over two drug dealers. They had been arrested for marijuana, and were separated for questioning.

The two men revealed to Special Agent Joe Craig of the TBI, that they had an interaction with two Hispanic males who had been traveling to the area from Texas for a drug deal.

The suspects had ditched their car, and asked for a ride to a hotel in Nashville. They appeared to be nervous and anxious. When they arrived at the hotel, the men had gone into the room to get the money, but noticed a handgun on the nightstand. They left immediately, and believed the Hispanic males were more than drug dealers.

The two Hispanic males were arrested 12 hours after the murder. The other men had taken the TBI to their hotel room. The driver of the car was identified as Orlando Garcia, 19, and the passenger and shooter was identified as Alejandro Gauna, 17.

Inside the hotel room, the police found marijuana and cocaine. Gauna’s white hoodie with the letters ‘ATX,’ and a receipt from the Brownsville Walmart were found in the dumpster.

The police asked where the murder weapon was. Garcia revealed that they had thrown their weapons in the Wendy’s dumpster, about 5 miles away from the hotel. Inside that dumpster, the weapons were found wrapped in a towel.

The Convictions

Gauna and Garcia were both charged with first degree murder, and they went on trial in 2008.

At trial, the timeline and events of that night were revealed. Gauna and Garcia had traveled to the area for a drug deal. They stopped at the Midway Market to ask for directions, and were pulled over by Calvin about 5 minutes later.

Calvin had pulled them over for speeding, but smelled weed, and knew that there were drugs in the car. Garcia admitted that there were drugs in the center console, which explained why Calvin was leaning into the car. Gauna then shot Calvin, and they fled.

They stopped at Exxon and Walmart, and were picked up to go into Nashville.

Alejandro Gauna was convicted of first degree murder, and sentenced to life in prison. Orlando Garcia was found guilty on the lesser charge of facilitation of first degree murder. He was sentenced to 19 years.

Both Gauna and Garcia were federally charged on the same crime. For that, they were both sentenced to life in prison.

Other

Every year on January 6, law enforcement from west and middle Tennessee pay their respects in the area where Calvin was killed. It’s called the Sea of Blue Law Enforcement Memorial.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Three young lives were ruined that day. Gauna and Garcia didn’t want to go to jail on drug charges, so instead they shot and killed Calvin. Now, they will spend a lot longer in prison for a worse crime. Calvin was just doing his job, but crossed paths will some evil people that night.

Sources

https://thecinemaholic.com/calvin-jenks-murder-where-are-alejandro-gauna-and-orlando-garcia-now/

https://spikytv.com/calvin-jenks-murder/

https://www.actionnews5.com/story/5901930/update-suspects-charged-in-shooting-death-of-trooper/

https://www.tn.gov/news/2007/1/10/two-apprehended-in-connection-with-state-trooper-murder.html

https://www.wafb.com/story/5902606/tennessee-state-trooper-killed-in-shooting/