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Nikko Jenkins

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Nikko Jenkins
Born
Nikko Allen Jenkins

(1986-09-16) September 16, 1986 (age 38)
Colorado, U.S.
Motive
Conviction(s)
Criminal penaltyFour consecutive death sentences, plus 450 years in prison
Details
Victims4
DateAugust 11–21, 2013
CountryUnited States
Location(s)Omaha, Nebraska
Weapons12-gauge shotgun
Hi-Point carbine
Date apprehended
August 29, 2013
Imprisoned atNebraska State Penitentiary

Nikko Allen Jenkins (sometimes spelled Nicholas on first name; born September 16, 1986)[1] is an American spree killer convicted of committing four murders in Omaha, Nebraska, in August 2013. The murders occurred within a month after he had been released from prison after serving 10-and-a-half years of the 18 years to which he had been sentenced for a carjacking committed at age 15 and for assaults committed in prison.[2] Jenkins later stated that he had committed the killings at the command of the ancient serpent god Apophis.[3][4] He was found competent to stand trial, found guilty of the four murders, and was sentenced to death in May 2017.

Early years

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Jenkins was born in Colorado to parents David A. Magee, a black man, and Lori Jenkins, a white woman.[5]

At the age of 7, Jenkins brought a loaded handgun to school.[6]

In November 2003, aged 17, he was convicted of armed robbery.

In 2009, Magee perished while Jenkins was imprisoned.[7]

In 2009, Nikko Jenkins and Erica Jenkins were allowed to temporarily leave prison with corrections officers to accompany them to their grandmother's funeral. During the funeral, a guard uncuffed one of Jenkins's hands so he could use the restroom. Jenkins and his sister then attacked the guard but were both restrained.[8]

On July 30, 2013, Jenkins was released from prison.[9]

Murders

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At about 5:01 a.m. on August 11, 2013, a patrol officer discovered two bodies in a white Ford pickup truck parked near a city swimming pool at 18th and F St, in Spring Lake Park.[10] The two victims, identified as Juan Uribe-Pena and Jorge C. Cajiga-Ruiz, had each been shot once in the head by a shotgun, and their pockets turned inside out. They were lured to meet two women for a sexual encounter.[11] The murder spree began with this random double-murder less than two weeks after his release from prison on July 30.

On August 19, around 7 a.m., the body of Curtis Bradford was found outside a detached garage at 18th and Clark Street by a man returning home from a night shift at a convenience store.[12] Investigators arrived to find one revolver wound and one shotgun slug wound in the back of Bradford's head. It was later revealed that Bradford and Jenkins had met in prison and posed for a Facebook photo within 24 hours of Bradfords murder.[13] It is believed that Nikko and Erica lured Bradford out by telling him that they wanted to do a robbery with him, and then they shot him in the back of the head. It is also believed that Erica wanted him dead because his friends shot at her house.[14] Bradford would be the only victim familiar to Jenkins.

Jenkins' fourth and final victim, Andrea Kruger, a mother of three, was discovered on August 21, at about 2:15 a.m., by a deputy sheriff responding to a shots-fired call. Her body was found lying in the road at 168th and Fort St., with four 9mm gunshot wounds, two to the face, one to the neck, and one to the shoulder/back.[15] Kruger had been returning home after a bartending shift near 178th, and Pacific Street Surveillance footage showed her locking up the Deja Vu Lounge at 1:47 a.m. At 6:30 that evening, Kruger's gold 2012 Chevrolet Traverse SUV was found abandoned 12 miles (19 km) away in an alley at 43rd and Charles Street.[16] Later that week, a news conference was held by Douglas County Sheriff Tim Dunning, in which he stated that investigators believed the SUV had been abandoned roughly 2.5 hours after being stolen, and that a "feeble attempt" had been made at setting the vehicle's interior ablaze.[17]

Victims

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No. Date Name Age Crime scene Method Relation Ref.
1 August 11, 2013 Juan Uribe-Pena 26 Pick-up truck by swimming pool at Spring Lake Park, near 18th & F St Shot in head None [10]
2 August 11, 2013 Jorge C. Cajiga-Ruiz 29 Pick-up truck by swimming pool at Spring Lake Park, near 18th & F St Shot in hand, which penetrated to the head None [10]
3 August 19, 2013 Curtis Bradford 22 Near 18th & Clark St, outside detached garage Shot twice in back of head Met in prison [12]
4 August 21, 2013 Andrea Kruger 33 168th St near Fort St, middle of road Multiple shots to face, neck and shoulder/back None [16]

Arrest

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On August 29, 2013, Jenkins was arrested on an unrelated terroristic threats charge. By then, the evidence against him had mounted—investigators had the image of a female associate on surveillance footage at a local gun outlet buying the kind of distinctive ammunition (Brenneke Classic Magnum 12-gauge, commonly known as "deer slugs") that had been used to commit the killings.[13][11] Additional footage had been pulled from cameras along the route to Kruger's abandoned SUV.[17][18] On the evening of September 3, Jenkins confessed to all four murders during a rambling 8-hour interview. Jenkins told police that the acts were sacrifices to Apophis, a deity in the ancient Egyptian religion.[11] He was charged with four counts of murder following the confession.[13]

Trial

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In handwritten letters dated November 3, 2013, submitted to the Omaha World-Herald, prosecutors, and a judge, Jenkins said he wished to plead guilty to all counts in the four slayings and that he would protect Apophis' kingdom with "animalistic savage brutality."[19]

On February 19, 2014, Jenkins filed a federal lawsuit seeking $24.5 million from the State of Nebraska for wrongfully releasing him from prison. He stated that his claims of hearing voices from Apophis were repeatedly ignored. In the six-page handwritten filing, he stated that being kept in solitary confinement augmented his schizophrenia. He blamed corrections officials for the four killings.[20] Jenkins claimed that his problems were caused by mental illness, and that he had schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The judge ordered a psychiatric evaluation, and a psychiatrist concluded that Jenkins had antisocial personality disorder and was faking psychotic symptoms.[1]

After being declared competent to stand trial (Jenkins scored 68 on an administered IQ test),[21] the proceedings against Jenkins commenced. On his request, Jenkins was allowed to represent himself at trial under the guidance of advisory attorneys.[22] Throughout the trial, Jenkins maintained that he acts under the command of Apophis.[4] His courtroom antics included speaking in tongues, howling, and laughing as prosecutors recounted the details of his victims' deaths.[3] On April 16, 2014, Judge Peter Bataillon found Nikko Jenkins guilty of all four murders.[3]

Jenkins was initially scheduled to be sentenced on August 11, 2014. The date was delayed indefinitely following a hearing held to determine whether he was capable of understanding the death penalty proceedings against him.[23] On July 29, Judge Bataillon ordered Jenkins to be housed at the Lincoln Regional Center psychiatric hospital until doctors were satisfied with his condition.[24] Officials at the Regional Center refused to house Jenkins due to inadequate security,[25] but doctors agreed to treat him at a Lincoln prison.[26]

In May 2017, Jenkins was sentenced to death by a three-judge panel. He was also sentenced to 450 years on weapons charges connected with the murders.[27]

Throughout his trial and imprisonments, Jenkins engaged in self mulilation numerous times, including on his face, tongue, and groin areas, and has required numerous stitches.[28]

On April 20, 2020, the US Supreme Court refused to hear his appeal.[29]

Accomplices and their final fates

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Six family members of Jenkins were captured in late August, 2013. All arrests were made in connection with the slaying spree.[30]

Nikko Jenkins' sister, Erica Jenkins, was sentenced to life in prison for also shooting Bradsford. She also changed her name to Elluminati Egoddess Enikko Prestige.[31]

Lori Jenkins was sentenced to 10 years in a federal prison for buying the ammo used in the slayings.[32]

Christine Bordeaux, a cousin to the Jenkins's, was sentenced to 20 years for robbery in connection with the slayings. She was also assaulted by Erica Jenkins while they were being held in the same cell. Erica was armed with a bike lock contained in a sock.[33]

Warren Levering, Nikko's uncle, was sentenced to 40 years in prison for his role in the murder of Andrea Kruger.[34]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Nikko Jenkins has spent his life in the system". Omaha World-Herald. Archived from the original on August 31, 2024. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
  2. ^ Cooper, Todd; Wynn, Matt (September 5, 2013). "Why Nikko Jenkins was out on the street and not behind bars". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c Cooper, Todd (April 16, 2014). "When judge asks, Nikko Jenkins says 'I killed them'". Omaha World Herald. Retrieved July 31, 2014. He claimed that "command voices" clouded his memory of the killings. He said he remembered that the voices matched tattooed phrases on his face. "Kill them, destroy them, attack them," he said, translating the words.
  4. ^ a b Cooper, Todd (April 2, 2014). "Nikko Jenkins opened up to police in 'long night'". Omaha World Herald. Retrieved July 31, 2014. Jenkins has maintained that he acts under the command of Opophis [sic], whom he calls an Egyptian serpent god.
  5. ^ Cooper, Todd (May 31, 2017). "Nikko Jenkins sentenced to death for 'one of the worst killing sprees in the history of Nebraska". Omaha World Herald. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  6. ^ Mastre, Brian (May 13, 2024). "Nikko Jenkins asking Nebraska for mental health study to challenge death sentence". www.wowt.com. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  7. ^ "Who are the Jenkinses?". KETV. September 21, 2013. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  8. ^ Pickett, Hannah (September 6, 2013). "New details surfacing in Nikko Jenkins case". KETV. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
  9. ^ Group, Sinclair Broadcast (August 30, 2013). "Omaha Police: "Reign of Terror" Ends with Arrest of Nikko Jenkins". KPTM. Retrieved July 25, 2024. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  10. ^ a b c Cole, Kevin (August 12, 2013). "2 found slain in truck at Omaha park". Omaha World Herald. Archived from the original on February 15, 2014. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
  11. ^ a b c Cooper, Todd (May 4, 2014). "The night Nikko Jenkins confessed". Omaha World Herald. Retrieved July 30, 2014.
  12. ^ a b Skelton, Alissa; Cole, Kevin (August 20, 2013). "Homicide victim's mom says he was turning his life around". Omaha World Herald. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
  13. ^ a b c O'Brien, Maggie; Moring, Roseann (September 4, 2013). "CrimeStoppers tips linked 4 slayings, then Jenkins described spree to police". Omaha World Herald. Retrieved July 30, 2014.
  14. ^ writer, Alissa Skelton / World-Herald staff (January 8, 2015). "At Erica Jenkins' trial, prosecutors detail night of Curtis Bradford's killing". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
  15. ^ writer, Todd Cooper / World-Herald staff (October 1, 2013). "Deer slug found in Andrea Kruger's vehicle was key in connecting 4 slayings, police say". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  16. ^ a b Withrow, Jay; Skelton, Alissa (August 22, 2013). "Funeral set for Omaha woman shot on the way home". Omaha World Herald. Archived from the original on February 15, 2014. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
  17. ^ a b "Sheriff: We have a killer on the loose". KETV. August 23, 2013. Retrieved July 30, 2014.
  18. ^ O'Brien, Maggie (September 6, 2013). "After Kruger slaying, police acted fast to prevent more killings". Omaha World Herald. Retrieved July 31, 2014. High-resolution security cameras also helped solve the case, said Dunning, who previously acknowledged that at least one image of Kruger's stolen sport utility vehicle was captured on a surveillance tape.
  19. ^ Cooper, Todd (November 6, 2013). "In letter, Nikko Jenkins says he wants to plead guilty to all counts in 4 slayings". Omaha World Herald. Retrieved July 31, 2014. In those, Jenkins claimed to be ruled by an Egyptian serpent demon named "Ahpophis" [sic] and warned that he would protect the kingdom with "animalistic savage brutality."
  20. ^ Cooper, Todd (February 20, 2014). "Nikko Jenkins files federal lawsuit against prison system". Omaha World Herald. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
  21. ^ Cooper, Todd (February 20, 2014). "Nikko Jenkins ruled competent to stand trial". Omaha World Herald. Retrieved August 15, 2014.
  22. ^ Retzlaff, Duane (March 14, 2014). "Judge: Nikko Jenkins can represent himself in court". Omaha World Herald. Retrieved August 15, 2014.
  23. ^ Cooper, Todd (July 10, 2014). "Hearing again asks: Is Nikko Jenkins really mentally ill?". Omaha World Herald. Retrieved August 15, 2014.
  24. ^ Cooper, Todd (July 29, 2014). "Nikko Jenkins is ordered to Lincoln Regional Center for treatment". Omaha World Herald. Retrieved August 15, 2014.
  25. ^ "Regional Center won't accept Nikko Jenkins". Lincoln Journal Star. August 4, 2014. Retrieved August 15, 2014.
  26. ^ "Nikko Jenkins will get treatment at Lincoln prison". Lincoln Journal Star. August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 15, 2014.
  27. ^ Beck, Margery A. (May 30, 2017). "Man who killed 4 people in Omaha sentenced to death". Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  28. ^ "Complete coverage: Nikko Jenkins convicted of 4 murders, sentenced to death". Omaha World-Herald. December 11, 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  29. ^ Sievers, Kent (April 20, 2020). "U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear appeal from Omaha killer Nikko Jenkins". Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  30. ^ writer, Alissa Skelton / World-Herald staff (January 12, 2015). "Melonie Jenkins testifies at murder trial of sister Erica". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  31. ^ Writer, WILLIAM SWETT Staff (January 30, 2024). "Erica Jenkins accused of assault at York women's prison". York News-Times. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  32. ^ Mogeni, Rodah (January 24, 2022). "Who is Lori Jenkins? Age, family, attorney, sentence, what did she do?". Briefly. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  33. ^ "Judge adds 20-40 years to life sentence of Omaha woman". 1011now.com. Associated Press. April 23, 2019. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  34. ^ "Jenkins' uncle sentenced for role in murder". KMTV 3 News Now Omaha. February 26, 2016. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
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