Jennifer Ann Crecente (September 9, 1987 – February 15, 2006) was an 18-year-old high school honor student who was shot and killed in Southwest Austin, Texas by an ex-boyfriend, Justin Crabbe on Wednesday, February 15, 2006. They were classmates at Bowie High School in Austin until Crabbe dropped out of school in the tenth grade.[1]
Events edit
Crecente's body was found at night on Thursday, February 16, 2006 in a wooded area.[3] Crabbe was arrested on Saturday, February 18, 2006 on a charge of first-degree murder.[4]
Crabbe told police that he and a man named Richard were playing with a gun. Jennifer was about 20 to 30 feet away. The gun fired, and Jennifer dropped. Crabbe did not check on Crecente to see how badly she was injured before fleeing the scene.[5]
Videotape shows Crabbe with another man purchasing ammunition at a sporting goods store. [6] Crabbe was on parole from a prior felony conviction[7] and could not legally purchase ammunition.
Crime After-Effects edit
- Crabbe pled "not guilty" on Friday, September 22, 2006 [8]. He is in jail and not eligible for bail. He's facing a maximum sentence of life in prison.[9]
Legislation edit
- "Jennifer Ann's Group," a non-profit organization, was created in Crecente's memory to fight teen dating violence. The stated purpose of the organization is to "keep Jennifer Crecente's memory alive through education and good works."[11]
- The Texas Psychological Foundation created The Jennifer Ann Crecente Memorial Grant[12] in Crecente's memory. The annual grant pays $5,000 to a graduate student studying violence against women. Crecente's grandmother, Dr. Elizabeth Richeson, Ph.D., M.S.PsyPharm is a psychologist and Crecente was considering pursuing a career in Psychology.
- On February 5, 2007, the Texas Legislature's State Representative Dawnna Dukes entered a bill to require school districts in Texas to create policies regarding Teen Dating Violence. This bill was created in memory of Jennifer Ann Crecente[13] and Ortralla Mosley.[14] Jennifer Ann's Group provided testimony on February 8, 2007 to the legislature in support of this bill. Governor Rick Perry signed the bill into law on May 18, 2007 and it immediately went into effect. [15]
- On February 15, 2007, on the the one-year anniversary of Jennifer's murder, Senator Eliot Shapleigh entered a bill to grant posthumous diplomas to students that have been murdered during their Senior year of high school. The bill is named "Jennifer's Law".[16] On May 28, 2007 the bill was signed in the Senate and passed to the Governor Rick Perry for signing. It will go into effect upon being signed or September 1, 2007, whichever occurs first. [17]
References edit
Footnotes edit
- ^ "Crecente Murder Investigation Continues". Feb 20, 2006. KXAN.
- ^ Texas Psychological Association
- ^ KVUE TV
- ^ News 8 Austin
- ^ Texas Council on Family Violence
- ^ KXAN TV
- ^ KXAN TV
- ^ TXCN
- ^ KVUE TV
- ^ Wattson, Gregg. "Crabbe's Lawyers Fight To Throw Out Confession". March 6, 2007. KEYE TV
- ^ Jennifer Ann's Group
- ^ Texas Psychological Foundation
- ^ Oak Hill Gazette
- ^ Austin-American Statesman
- ^ Bills Signed by the Governor
- ^ El Paso Times
- ^ History for HB 1563
{{DEFAULTSORT:Crecente, Jennifer Ann}} [[Category:1987 births]] [[Category:2006 deaths]] [[Category:2006 in the United States]] [[Category:Austin, Texas]] [[Category:Educational charities]] [[Category:Murdered American children]] [[Category:Deaths by firearm in the United States]] [[Category:People from Atlanta]]