DeepSummary
Jade Jenks, an interior designer, discovered explicit photos of herself on her stepfather Tom Merriman's computer. After picking him up from rehab on December 31, 2020, a series of events led to Tom's death, with conflicting accounts of what transpired. Jade claimed Tom overdosed on Ambien, while a witness alleged she strangled Tom after drugging him.
During Jade's trial, the prosecution presented damning text messages where she appeared to seek help from a 'fixer' to deal with Tom. The autopsy revealed Tom died from an Ambien overdose, but the prosecution argued Jade suffocated him while he was sedated. Despite her lack of criminal history, the jury swiftly convicted Jade of first-degree murder.
At her sentencing, Jade's father expressed belief in her innocence, but she received 25 years to life in prison. The case raised questions about how victims of trauma navigate the justice system when facing doubts about their credibility, and whether Jade's actions stemmed from a misguided attempt at self-defense against potential abuse.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Jade Jenks, an interior designer, was convicted of murdering her stepfather Tom Merriman after discovering explicit photos of herself on his computer.
- The prosecution argued Jade drugged and suffocated Tom, while her defense claimed he overdosed on Ambien.
- Text messages and circumstantial evidence played a key role in Jade's conviction, despite the autopsy showing no signs of strangulation.
- Jade's 25-year sentence raised questions about self-defense, trauma, and credibility issues faced by abuse victims in the justice system.
- The case highlighted the complex dynamics and ethical dilemmas surrounding domestic violence and the challenging decision of whether to involve law enforcement.
- Jade's father believed in her innocence, suggesting the possibility of mitigating factors or alternative perspectives on the events.
- The conflicting accounts and lack of clear evidence underscored the nuances and ambiguities often present in real-life crime cases.
- The case served as a reminder of the importance of thorough investigations and impartial consideration of all evidence in pursuit of justice.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “A reminder that patrons get special advantages when it comes to these things.“ by Peyton Moreland
- “I can only imagine what she went through when she found out that Tom, her stepfather, a person she trusted, that she called dad, was a sick, perverted individual.“ by Stephen Jenks
- “According to the prosecution, on Jade's case, when someone is already sedated, it requires very little force on the attacker's part to keep someone from breathing. Only about four pounds of pressure, which is about as much as a handshake.“ by Narrator (Peyton Moreland)
- “But there's one thing I didn't mention in this case, a frustrating detail that says a lot about why some women maybe choose to defend themselves in scenarios like this rather than turn to law enforcement. Supposedly, there was a lot of doubt around how those naked photos came to be on Tom's computer in the first place.“ by Peyton Moreland
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Episode Information
Murder With My Husband
OH NO MEDIA
3/18/24
In this episode, Payton and Garrett delve into the case of Jade Janks. When she uncovers a family secret, a chain reaction of events culminates in tragedy. As the trial unfolds, secrets unravel, blurring the lines between victim and perpetrator, prompting the question: where does justice truly lie?
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Case Sources:
48 Hours on CBS - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmXWb8ouzAY
CBSNews.com - https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jade-janks-tom-merriman-murder-explicit-photos-stepdads-computer-48-hours/
CBS8.com - https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/solana-beach-woman-to-be-sentenced-for-murdering-stepfather/509-90b5b26d-c786-420d-85e4-686918dee1b1
NBCSanDiego.com - https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/solana-beach-woman-gets-25-years-to-life-for-stepfathers-murder/3180663/
TheSun.com - https://www.the-sun.com/news/9333133/jade-janks-san-diego-verdict/
LawAndCrime.com - https://lawandcrime.com/crime/woman-convicted-of-murdering-former-stepfather-over-stash-of-her-nude-teenage-photos-expresses-few-regrets-when-sentenced-for-his-murder/
TheCoastNews.com - https://thecoastnews.com/janks-gets-life-sentence-for-former-stepfathers-murder/
TimesOfSanDiego.com- https://timesofsandiego.com/crime/2022/12/07/murder-trial-begins-for-stepdaughter-39-accused-of-killing-butterfly-farms-co-founder/
SanDiegoTribune.com - https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/courts/story/2022-12-21/solana-beach-interior-designer-stepfather-death-verdict
SanDiego.org - https://www.sandiego.org/articles/north-county/solana-beach.aspx
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