Serial killer Jerome Dennis #truecrime

Jerome Dennis

Over just a few short months from 1991 to 1992, a vicious killer took the lives of at least 5 women in New Jersey. What makes the murders worse is that the monster was on parole for prior attacks on women after serving only 10 years of a 30 year sentence. It is frustrating how many of these guys slip through the cracks to kill again. This killer stabbed strangled and bludgeoned his victims and most were dumped along a toll road that runs the length of New Jersey.

Jerome Dennis, the Garden State Parkway Maniac

Jerome Dennis was born on December 14 1966 in the Christopher Columbus Public Housing Projext in Newark New Jersey as the 7th of 9 children. Raised by his mother, Jerome got into trouble early but avoided any serious punishment due to his young age. This would not last however.

Dennis dropped out of school in the 7th grade and his crimes escalated. On November 6 1981 at age 14, he and his brother attacked a woman in downtown Newark. What is strange is that he and his brother reported the attack to law enforcement from a pay phone and stayed on the line until police arrived to arrest them.

Once in custody, the brothers confessed to 2 other assaults in the preceding months. They were tried as adults and their father even testified against them. In December of 1981 they were convicted and sentenced to 30 years in prison.

While in prison, Jerome Dennis participated in various programs. He learned to bake and took part in Bible studies. Perhaps, authorities thought he had turned his life around and he was released in November 1991 after serving 10 years- the absolute minimum allowed by the court.

He moved into a home in East Orange and began working as a porter at the Pleasantdale Bakery. While he put up. Good front of being reformed, once he was free, Dennis could not stop himself from victimizing women.

On December 12 1991, he attacked a 26 year old named Zelda Bailey, but luckily she survived. After Bailey escaped alive, Dennis was eager to find his next victim. Only days later on December 16, he met 41 year old Robyn Carter. After assaulting her, Jerome strangled her to death. Her body was found later that same day.

There was a pause after the first murder, but on February 15 1992, he was once again on the hunt. 30 year old Elizabeth Clenor was on her way home after a job interview when she was abducted. After assaulting her, Dennis beat her to death and left her body in an abandoned house.

Less than a week later, Jerome Dennis was in search of a victim. On February 21 1992, He stabbed 30 year old Stephanie Alston to death then dumped her body near where he had left Clenors body along the Garden State Parkway. The killer had become addicted to murder as in many other cases and the very next day he was at it again.

His next victim, 16 year old Khydijah Harris, would survive his attack on February 22. On the night of April 10 1992, 16 year old Jamillah Jones was walking home from her friends house. Just blocks from her home, Jerome attacked her and stabbed her to death. Once she was dead, he dumped her body off an overpass.

The day of Jones murder, police would discover the series of murders. Over 2 days the bodies of Clenor, Jones, Alston, and a 14 year old named Shakia Hedgespeth were discovered along the Garden State Parkway. A panic fell over the area as news of an active serial killer spread.

Going through offenders records, Jerome’s history made him stand out as a suspect. His dna was on record and compared against that of the killer. The surviving victims were also called in to see if they could pick him out of a photo lineup which they did without hesitation.

Jerome Dennis was arrested on April 13 1992 and charged with nearly 3 dozen felonies. While his lawyers tried to convince the court that he was schizophrenic, this did not allow him to espcape prosecution. The game was up and on February 27 1993 he plead guilty to 5 murders, 2 counts of aggravated assault, one count of armed robbery, 2 counts of criminal restraint, and a parole violation. The other charges were dropped as part of the plea agreement.

Here’s where this case gets frustrating, as apparently the courts did not learn their lesson with this monster. He avoided the death penalty and was sentenced to multiple life sentences in prison. However, he is eligible for parole after 60 years when he is 85. But, who’s to say that this will not change? Others who were on death row have had their sentence commuted then were released. Why would he have any chance at parole? Jerome Dennis is currently housed at the New Jersey State Prison in Trenton.

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