After 30 Years, Suspect Charged with Murder of 12-Year-Old Jennifer Odom in Hernando County, Florida

After 30 years, authorities in Hernando County, Florida have charged a 61-year-old man with the murder of 12-year-old Jennifer Odom. The girl had been abducted and killed after she got off a school bus in 1993.

Sheriff Al Nienhuis said that a DNA match from another case identified Jeffrey Norman Crum as the alleged killer. A grand jury indicted him on Monday on first-degree murder, kidnapping and sexual battery charges.

At a press conference in Brooksville, State Attorney Brad King said, “This is every parent’s nightmare.” He added that Crum is “a bad guy who is very violent, who enjoyed violence, who enjoyed hurting people, particularly women, particularly taking advantage of them and raping them.”

Crum is already serving two life sentences for sexual battery and attempted murder. Sheriff Nienhuis said he has confidence that they have the right person and the right aggravators in the case.

The case has been a source of grief and anguish for the Odom family for 30 years. Jennifer’s father, Michael Odom, said he was relieved that the case was finally solved. He said, “It’s been a long time coming. We’ve been waiting for this for a long time.”