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Original poster

True crime

50 replies

feelingsicknow · 27/11/2021 00:33

Anyone else like True Crime?

I have recently become a bit obsessed with revisiting the case of the murder of poor Billie-Jo Jenkins - does anyone else remember it? The foster father was tried three times and ultimately acquitted meaning it is 'technically' an open case or unsolved crime. Yet, there are almost no documentaries or programmes about it anymore, unlike eg Maddie McCann, Jill Dando etc (other high profile unsolved crimes)

Does anyone have any theories? I have my own but wondered if anyone else thinks about this case too?

OP posts:
Snoods · 27/11/2021 01:21

I am a bit obsessed with it. Love it when the murderers get caught. Obviously hate the murders but love to see the people who deserve to go away for life finally get what they deserve

DesperateHousewife2018 · 27/11/2021 02:13

I'm known amongst my friends and my OH as a true crime buff. I love any mystery/documentary I can get my hands on!

Jaguarana · 27/11/2021 02:19

Yes I'm interested in it too. I tend to watch US programmes about it as UK ones feel too close to home sometimes.

I remember the case in your OP @feelingsicknow. My theory is that the person who did it was someone quite close to the victim IYSWIM, but I doubt there'll ever be justice for that poor girl.

VladmirsPoutine · 27/11/2021 07:53

Off topic somewhat but if I ever meet a mysterious fatal end and the story gets turned into a True Crime drama I will haunt everyone involved!

MarmiteyCrumpets · 27/11/2021 10:29

Yes! I love a good true crime podcast to unwind to in the evening, especially if there's a black widow or Munchhausen by Proxy involved.

BleuJay · 27/11/2021 10:49

Op, have you joined Websleuths?

There are some excellent threads on true crimes.

www.websleuths.com/forums/

CaveMum · 27/11/2021 10:55

Highly recommend the podcast Real Crime Profile - I’m listening to the latest episode right now!

It’s been running for a few years so there are loads of episodes to work through, they cover some very high profile cases as well as a few I’ve nit come across (it’s predominantly US focussed, though they also cover cases we are familiar with like the murder of Meredith Kercher and the disappearance of Madeleine McCann).

It’s presented by people who know what they’re talking about - Jim Clemente is an ex-FBI profiler and Laura Richards is ex-Scotland Yard and a vocal campaigner on stalking and domestic abuse.

Laura Richards also has her own podcast - Crime Analyst. She “deep dives” cases with a strong focus on the victim rather than the perpetrator.

www.realcrimeprofile.com/

www.crime-analyst.com/

Original poster
feelingsicknow · 27/11/2021 14:05

Fantastic recommendations, thanks!

Yes - re Billie Jo, I think justice will sadly never be done.

I'm a massive fan of (ret) DCI Colin Sutton and have really enjoyed the Sky docu series covering some of his many cases. The Manhunter series were based on his books.

Also, Mindhunter on Netflix (?). About the formation of the FBI serial killer profiler unit in the 70s. So interesting.

OP posts:
Original poster
feelingsicknow · 27/11/2021 14:09

Eek, just checked out websleuths. I fear I might get nowt else done this weekend now!

OP posts:
CaveMum · 27/11/2021 14:23

@feelingsicknow. There are a couple of Real Crime Profile episodes about Mindhunter (starts at episode 199 of the podcast) and as an ex-FBI agent Jim Clemente has great insight into the setting up of the actual unit that inspired the show.

HadaVerde · 27/11/2021 14:32

Re Billie jo Jenkins, have you read the theory of the homeless man who slept rough nearby? Referred to as Mr B.

Postitmug · 27/11/2021 19:23

I recommend YouTuber Stephanie Harlowe. Her own channel as well as her joint podcast called Crime Weekly. Proper in depth a analysis of true crime cases.

WalkersAreNotTheOnlyCrisps · 27/11/2021 19:29

Funnily enough I was thinking about the Billie-Jo case the other day and read the website Sion Jenkins made upon his release.
Although the bag up the nose part of the case is an odd part of it, he does seem the most likely to have killed her.

Original poster
feelingsicknow · 27/11/2021 22:16

@WalkersAreNotTheOnlyCrisps

Funnily enough I was thinking about the Billie-Jo case the other day and read the website Sion Jenkins made upon his release. Although the bag up the nose part of the case is an odd part of it, he does seem the most likely to have killed her.
I cannot see past it being him. Which is why I wonder if that's the reason more isn't being made of it - because all coppers know that they had the right guy and he got off. Hence although technically being 'unsolved', they are hamstrung to do anything.
OP posts:
Original poster
feelingsicknow · 27/11/2021 22:19

@HadaVerde

Re Billie jo Jenkins, have you read the theory of the homeless man who slept rough nearby? Referred to as Mr B.
No I haven't read that? It's v hard to find much about the case, possibly because of the theory in my PP. I will look that up.

Funnily enough, the foster father used to sit very near my family at a football ground until recently and I couldn't concentrate on the matches knowing he was sitting behind me... The whole case is so sad, such a lack of closure and justice.

OP posts:
BleuJay · 27/11/2021 22:20

Around the time of the murder, a mentally ill man was seen in the street and area. He was taken into custody, but considered to be unable to be questioned. Jenkins said that he and his wife Lois were "so worried about prowlers and break-ins in the area where they lived that they had security lights and window locks fitted to their home"

I fhave not think it was Siôn Jenkins.

BleuJay · 27/11/2021 22:20

I don’t think ^

Goofbawl · 27/11/2021 22:25

I have found my people! I love a bit of true crime - the forensics documentaries on iplayer are BRILLIANT. I spend every episode telling DH I want to retrain as a fingerprint analyst.
Also got obsessed with Mindhunter and then Manhunt recently. Absolutely brilliant and so fascinating. Need some podcasts to listen to whilst doing housework/driving so will be catching up on these.

Redshoeblueshoe · 27/11/2021 22:30

I watched one the other day, it was an American one. A woman poisoned her husband and son. She was also planning on killing one or two of her daughter's. I was shocked because when I googled her the only reference was to the program I'd just watched.

imnotacelebritygetmeoutofhere · 27/11/2021 22:39

I remember the case very well, it was high profile at the time but I also live very near where the Jenkins family and Billie's family originally came from in London so it picked up a lot of local interest.
I don't think Sion Jenkins did it, I think he was a victim of trial by media. From what I remember the key evidence was that he had blood on his clothes (he said from when he found her and picked her up) and that he beat her because he was angry that she was playing the radio too loud (a big leap from angry to beating to death).
A lot was also made about their relationship being distant because she was a foster child, when in fact they had chosen to take her in, the two families knew each other well, she was a friend of one of their daughters who they had taken in at a young age because her mother couldn't raise her.
So, I feel sorry for him, his marriage broke up when he went to jail and his wife and kids moved to the other side of the world. Meanwhile, because he was convicted at first their was no further investigation into who really did it and any forensic evidence presumably decayed long before he was released on appeal. The house next door to them was derelict and known to be a hang-out for down and outs so it seems likely someone could have been hanging out waiting to attack a young girl left home alone.

WhenSepEnds · 27/11/2021 22:41

@Goofbawl

I have found my people! I love a bit of true crime - the forensics documentaries on iplayer are BRILLIANT. I spend every episode telling DH I want to retrain as a fingerprint analyst. Also got obsessed with Mindhunter and then Manhunt recently. Absolutely brilliant and so fascinating. Need some podcasts to listen to whilst doing housework/driving so will be catching up on these.
I LOVE the forensics docs too! So good!
BleuJay · 27/11/2021 23:48

@imnotacelebritygetmeoutofhere

I remember the case very well, it was high profile at the time but I also live very near where the Jenkins family and Billie's family originally came from in London so it picked up a lot of local interest. I don't think Sion Jenkins did it, I think he was a victim of trial by media. From what I remember the key evidence was that he had blood on his clothes (he said from when he found her and picked her up) and that he beat her because he was angry that she was playing the radio too loud (a big leap from angry to beating to death). A lot was also made about their relationship being distant because she was a foster child, when in fact they had chosen to take her in, the two families knew each other well, she was a friend of one of their daughters who they had taken in at a young age because her mother couldn't raise her. So, I feel sorry for him, his marriage broke up when he went to jail and his wife and kids moved to the other side of the world. Meanwhile, because he was convicted at first their was no further investigation into who really did it and any forensic evidence presumably decayed long before he was released on appeal. The house next door to them was derelict and known to be a hang-out for down and outs so it seems likely someone could have been hanging out waiting to attack a young girl left home alone.
The blood droplets on him were not visible to the naked eye and experts concluded that the microscopic spray pattern of blood was from the last exhalation of Billie Jo as Siôn leant over her when he discovered her.

If he had bludgeoned her there would be blood spatters of irregular size and visible to the eye.

It really was trial by media.

imnotacelebritygetmeoutofhere · 28/11/2021 00:06

@BleuJay Exactly, yes. We are so much more advanced with forensic science these days, it's hard to imagine a conviction taking place today if the same evidence was presented.

Goofbawl · 28/11/2021 08:35

If any of you haven’t yet come across the Serial podcast, that’s really good. Long and intricate but absolutely fascinating.

QueenofLouisiana · 28/11/2021 08:41

My podcast library is almost entirely true crime.While I started with Crime Junkie, I really like Casefile and The Walk AmongUs.

There are some fascinating cases in there.