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A fifteen-year-old cheerleader is murdered in a desolate cemetery.  Jessica Keen  Her body was found in a cemetery CASE DETAILS On March 16, 1991, a Madison County, Ohio, teenager was abducted and raped. Her clothes had been torn off. But somehow she escaped into a cemetery, only to end up hiding behind tombstones. She attempted to flee the graveyard, but in the pitch-black she smashed into a fence post. Once her assailants caught up with her, they struck her in the face with a blunt object and left her to die. Her name was Jessica Lyn Keen and she was only 15-years-old. Later, investigators were able to pinpoint Jessica’s final moments based on clues in and around the crime scene. There was mud on the fence, a sock that belonged to her, and an impression of her knee in the ground. But the police didn’t have a clue why anyone wanted to kill her.  Did Jessica go off with a stranger? The gruesome murder of Jessica Lyn Keen has baffled local and state detectives for years. Jessica had been a popular cheerleader, an honor student and a talented performer. According to her mother, Rebecca, Jessica had many goals and dreams:
In high school, Jessica’s life began to have its ups and downs. It had to do with being a teenager and with meeting her first love, 18-year-old Shawn Thompson. Jessica’s relationship with Shawn was new and exciting. But according to her mother, the romance began to distract Jessica from her schoolwork:
Arguments between Jessica and her mother escalated. They both knew they needed a cooling-off period. Mother and daughter mutually decided that Jessica should spend two weeks at a local live-in counseling center for teenagers. On March 15th, the day before she was to move back home, and just hours before she died, Jessica spoke to Shawn. According to Special Agent Gregg Costas of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Jessica became upset:
 This sock matched the one on Jessica’s foot After the call, Jessica told a friend that she was going to the mall. She was last seen at a bus stop near the counseling center at 6:00 PM. It was there that Special Agent Costas suspected that Jessica was abducted:
Jessica’s body was found 42 hours later, 20 miles from the bust stop. Investigators believed that after Jessica was abducted, she was held captive for at least six hours. Based on a semen sample, Special Agent Costas believed she was raped between two and four hours before her escape from the car:
According to Special Agent Costas, the sock that was found matched the one that remained on Jessica’s foot:
 Jessica hid behind a gravestone Sheriffs in Madison County turned their attention to Jessica’s boyfriend, but Shawn Thompson wasn’t in Columbus. He had left for Florida with some friends. According to Sheriff Stephen Saltsman, Shawn and his friends were eventually returned to Ohio:
DNA evidence from the semen sample did not match Shawn or the others. The group was cleared of any wrongdoing. But for investigators, an entire week had been lost. The trail of the actual killer or killers had grown cold. Still Jessica’s death never stopped haunting her mother:
UPDATE: Seventeen years to the day that Jessica Keen was murdered, authorities match DNA from her case to a convicted felon name Marvin Lee Smith, Jr. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Watch this case now on Amazon Prime in season ten with Robert Stack and in season three with Dennis Farina. Also available on YouTube with Dennis Farina. Various seasons available now on Hulu. |
Robert
saw the documentary, it seemed the most traumatizing possible, I cried because I have a sister a little older than her, I hope this angel of a girl is somewhere safe. All the best from Romania
michelle rucker
I was with her we ran away together from the Huckleberry House but because l was only 11 years old my mother would not allow me to be exposed to the media or talk to the police. I never knew what happened to her except my mom told me her mother picked her up. I would learn the truth 30 years later by watching a show on Netflix I believe l was in disbelief it couldn’t be her, but when they mentioned the missing ring l knew l had to contact her mother asap. Hours later l would find out this was the girl l ran away with and my mother protected me from knowing what happened to her. Today, I will upload a video on my YouTube Divine Pisces 444, to tell the truth about what happened to Jessica and how she ended up with Marvin.
Octavious
I watch her episode and I said what kind of animal do this to a 15 year old, A sick twisted sadistic one.
D Hartley
I cannot imagine having this happen to a child of mine. My heart goes out to her mom. Nobody deserves to have this done to them, and no mother should have to bury her child because of something like this. My eldest daughter was best friends with Catherine (Cat) Woods. We watched her family be totally devastated. Rebecca can live on, but will never be the same.
Elise
No, her mother dropped the ball. Girls don’t just drop their lives in high school for a guy unless there are problems at home. Her mother never should have declared war on her, and that’s exactly what she did. She couldn’t have led her daughter to this conclusion quicker with the way she handled it. The truth hurts I know.
Tarvia Clair
What???? She had an amazing mother! Her mom was trying to ensure her daughter was a productive member of society, like parents should.
Elise, I’m sure you don’t have any kids. Hopefully!
Lynnie
You must not have kids or have ever been one. Sanctimonious much?
Rebecca Smitley
I am Jessica’s mother..
Thank you all for your condolences..please remember..not all things you read or hear about Jessica her family or her friends etc. Is always true.
Some is exaggerated or not true facts. If anyone has any questions I am open to to answer the truth and any other thoughts you wish to know.
Thank you and God bless.
Tess
I saw Jessica’s story on the ID Channel twice. I cried, it was so intense. I couldn’t imagine being her and the fear she felt while running away from her killer. My heart just broke when it got to the part of the story where she ran into the fence post. It’s chilling to think what goes through someone’s mind when they are in such a situation: the fear, the desperation. My heart hurt for her and for you. Especially, when you had to look at crime scene photos of your own deceased child for identification purposes. I can truly understand your denial at that moment in time. That’s heart breaking and soul crushing all at once. I give my condolences to you for your loss of a child in such a violent and sadistic way. God Bless you too.
Amanda patterson
I’m watching her story now I hope y’all
Get the justice y’all deso
James Wyatt
I am so sorry for the loss of your daughter and I am very sorry for how cruel people can be with their comments here…I cannot imagine what you live with day to day but I know God has given you strength…. God bless you ma’am…you are in my thoughts and prayers
Sonja
Es ist unfassbar was mit der jungen Jessica passiert ist. Ein absolut sinnloser Mord. IHR wurde einfach die Chance auf ein weiteres Leben, wie Mutter zu sein, zu Heiraten, Ihren Traum Beruf als Zoologin zu Arbeiten, VERWEHRT. Es wurde Ihr EINFACH GENOMMEN … Ich hoffe, dass der Mörder in der HÖLLE VERROTTET..!!!!
Möge JESSICA KEEN in Frieden Ruhen …
R.I.P.
Krissy
I’m watching Dead Silent season 3 episode 4 titled “Get Out” now on ID. I’m so sorry that happened to such a young woman. She must have been TERRIFIED!!! I hope Marvin Lee Smith ROTS IN HELL FOR ETERNITY!!! I hope her family and friends find peace. May she Rest In Heaven!!!
Ashley Jason
I just saw something on TV about this. It touched me in such a deep way. I wish there was something I could do to change what happened to this incredibly talented and beautiful young lady. The world gained a beautiful angel. My love and prayers go out to her family, they will remain in my prayers.
Karen
Huckleberry House dropped the ball…
Kim
I concur, who let’s a non emancipated minor alone? Tragic. They should be sued and closed down, had she not been in their care she wouldn’t have suffered. God rest her soul. Huckleberry house was negligent.
Lori L Valderaz
I’m so glad they found Jessica’s killer esp. fitting they found him on the 17th year to the day she died.
Kimberley Dagon
A very sad, extremely unfair, tragic case!! She was a young lady, going through typical things at the time. Her sweet lovefor her boyfriend is what drew her out. She thought so innocently that she would be ok. A monster took her from her family, took her life! Glad he was caught!!!!Amen!!!
Jason
I hate this story. I can’t even fathom the fear this poor girl had. I saw this episode once and think about how terrified she must’ve been. Life in prison is too good for her killer. I hope her family has peace and support.
Anonymous
In February 2009, Marvin Lee Smith, Jr. (DOB: 11-11-56) and Madison County prosecutors reached a deal that would spare him the death penalty in exchange for his guilty plea. Smith pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated murder, with specifications of rape and kidnapping. The deal called for Smith to be sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole for 30 years.
Anonymous
Thank GOD for a fine police/Agent. He never gave up! GOD bless him for bring justice and peace to Jessica and hopefully her family. May she finally rest in peace!
Amber
I know Agent Costas personally. He worked tirelessly on this case from the time he re-opened it until the time he solved it (12 years). Thank God there are law enforcement officers such as him who have the passion and perseverance to never give up on such a horrific murder. My Jessica rest in peace, and may her family have some closure that they deserve.
kelly
The THOUGHT of what this poor girl went thru ALWAYS Haunted me since I heard this story on UM. May She Rest in Forver Peace & for what its worth, I HOPE her family found some sort of closure
ab
I remember watching this on UM. i was terrified just sitting there. So glad it was solved.
Jen
I’ve just (March 2016) learned of this case via On the Case with Paula Zahn. Does anyone have a copy of the Unsolved Mysteries segment? Terms to be worked out privately.
jennielucas@gmail.com
Jason
Idk about a copy, but it’s on Amazon Prime. Season 10, episode 9
Linda
i was just 10 years old when this happend she is my cousin from my moms side of the family i often think of her and pray that she gets justice and our family can get the peace
Johnny
I’m glad that Jessica’s case was solved. Beautiful young girl life extinguished too soon. That recreation of Jessica running through the cemetery was haunting. Running for her life. Such a senseless murder. I thought this case would be solved quick but lasted many years. Thanks to DNA technology some of these cold cases can be solved. Marvin Lee Smith Jr took something precious from Jessica’s family and deserves the ultimate punishment.
angie
This is the most horrific things I have heard. Jessica had to be so scared! I cried when I read what happened to her. I want to school with Jessica and knew her sister. My heart goes out to her family!
Miranda. shortt
I hope Jessica’ s family. Can. Be. Relieved. Now that her killer has been found