A Hernando County jury has concluded a long-awaited trial by finding Jeffrey Norman Crum Sr. guilty of kidnapping, sexual battery, and first-degree murder in the death of twelve-year-old Jennifer Odom. The verdict resolves a thirty-year mystery that had deeply affected the Tampa Bay community since Jennifer was abducted in 1993 after leaving her school bus near her home in rural Pasco County. Crum, now sixty-five years old, remained emotionless as the guilty verdict was read before deputies immediately handcuffed him in court. The packed courtroom fell silent with gasps from attendees while Jennifer’s grieving family embraced and wept in the gallery. This conviction marks a significant moment for law enforcement and the community that has lived with fear and loss for three decades.
Key Points:
- Jeffrey Norman Crum Sr. was found guilty of kidnapping, sexual battery and first-degree murder in the death of 12-year-old Jennifer Odom after a four-day trial.
- Jennifer Odom was abducted in 1993 after she stepped off a school bus near her home in rural Pasco County and her body was discovered six days later along a trail through an abandoned orange grove.
- Crum’s son, Jeffrey Crum Jr., testified that his father had confessed to killing Jennifer over the years, including telling him ‘I still love him’ at the end.
- The case involved multiple pieces of evidence including a blue 1978 Toyota pickup truck matching descriptions and Crum’s prior conviction for raping another teen girl in 1992.
- The guilty verdict now moves the case into a second phase where prosecutors will ask the jury to recommend the death penalty.
