A sixteen-year-old girl is found dead during a visit with her father. ![]() Natasha Jennings ![]() 911 was called, but it was too late CASE DETAILS In the summer of 1997, Carson City, Nevada, resident Sandra Jennings received an urgent call from her brother, Clarence Jennings. He was trying to locate his 16-year-old daughter, Natasha, who was visiting from California:
Sandra told Clearance that she had found Natasha on the floor. She’s wasn’t breathing:
![]() Tammy searched for answers Natasha Jennings was already dead when the paramedics arrived. Ultimately, three theories about the cause of her death would emerge: drug abuse, sexual assault, and foul play. When Natasha Jennings was very young, her parents divorced. Natasha lived with her mother in southern California. By the time she was 16, Natasha wanted to reconnect with her father, Clarence. She hoped an extended visit to his home in Nevada would bridge the years of separation. At first, Natasha’s mother, Tammy Stelton, wasn’t keen on the idea:
![]() Traces of cocaine were discovered Sandra, Natasha’s aunt, was the last person to see her alive. They ate lunch together around 1:00. Later that afternoon, Clarence placed several calls to his daughter. He became more and more worried when he couldn’t reach her. When police arrived at the scene, they found Natasha slumped on the bedroom floor. Her hair was damp as if she had just taken a shower. An electric fan lay on top of her.
![]() The cause of death is still undetermined There were no signs of trauma. Still, investigators turned their attention to a young man Natasha had become close to, who we will call Chris. Allegations had been raised that Chris had sexually assaulted her just days before. The investigation revealed that Natasha and Chris went to a party together a few nights before she died. Those who had been drinking were invited to wait until morning to drive home. No one saw what Natasha and Chris did the rest of the night. According to Ingrid Cotar, a friend in California, a confused and traumatized Natasha called the following morning to tell her something had happened after the party:
Chris was interrogated, but according to Scott Burau, detectives concluded that whatever happened between him and Natasha could not be considered criminal:
As soon as Natasha’s mother, Tammy, learned about her daughter’s death, she rushed to Carson City:
Then, one day, a woman approached her at a shopping center with some new information:
The woman claimed that Natasha’s father, Clarence, was a drug informant for local law enforcement. She said his cover had been blown and the drug dealers killed Natasha in retaliation. Clarence Jennings denied the claim:
Natasha’s mother said she and other relatives confronted one of the Carson City detectives assigned to Natasha’s case:
Scott Burau claimed that Tammy was mistaken:
But soon, another theory emerged. Investigators thought that Natasha might have overdosed on drugs. A scrap of plastic recovered on a landing outside Natasha’s bedroom contained traces of speed and cocaine. And there was a very small amount of the drugs in her nose. Forensic pathologist Cyril Wecht outlined a possible scenario:
Tammy Stelton rejected that theory:
During the autopsy, the medical examiner found no drug residue in Natasha’s system.
Today, the investigation has hit a dead end, leaving Tammy Stelton frustrated:
Scott Burau said his department is stumped:
Officially, the investigation into the death of Natasha Jennings is still open. Watch this case now on Amazon Prime in season twelve with Robert Stack and in season four with Dennis Farina. Also available on YouTube with Dennis Farina. Various seasons available now on Hulu. SUBMIT A TIP |
Anonymous
Natasha’s Dad killed himself , still to this day think he had something to do with this , but still no answers to what fore sure happened to Natasha, And Tasha would NEVER do drugs she saved me from myself .
thinkingoutloud
Like Syrus said, if the father was an informant of course he could never admit it. And of course the police department would deny it as well. I think it is possible that could have something to do with her death.
The drug theory also make sense. She might not have done a lot of drugs as her mother claims she had no history with drugs OR maybe someone slipped her something unknowingly at the party and died as a result. I think the theory of her father being an informant definitely played a role in this somehow.
There’s no way they can claim she wasn’t raped by the test. If she claimed she was raped, she was raped. Pathetic
Anon
The idea that an autopsy can show for sure whether sex was consensual or rape is ludicrous. This is the same outdated thinking that prevents many male rape survivors from coming forward (the idea that, if a person’s body is aroused in any way, they must “want” sex and therefore it can’t be rape).
Anonymous
it was a cover up, that she was not raped, Chris is a dignitaries son, She took the 2 drugs, that Anna N. Smith’s son, took in the Hospital and died.
Tony Congema
Maybe a psychic can help with answering questions,psychic’s have been working with law enforcement now and then,the poor girls mother needs some answers.
Tony Congema
Great idea
ROSE ANDREWS
I THINK THAT SOME ONE NEXT TWO NATASHA .I HOPE THAT YOU ALL GET GET THEM FOR THIS
Trevor
Are their any new developments in this case?
Syrus
if her father was/is an informant, he could never admit to it, because he’d be a dead man walking. so that’s only something he and the police would know, and now he will have to live with that for the rest of his life. Why had Clarence placed several calls to his daughter. He became more and more worried when he couldn’t reach her, did he receive a threat concerning threats on his daughters life.
R.I.P. Natasha Jennings
EKS
Clarence ended up dying of a botched suicide/OD. He left a suicide note and then was found, put in a hospital on life support and then died – all in Aug of 2008.
Rebecca
Somebody out there knows something, they need to come forward, so this family can have some peace in their life and closure. A young life taken away, her family deserve to know what happened to their loved one. A lot of unanswered questions but someone out there, somewhere has those answers. Rest in peace Natasha your case is still open which is a good sign.