Crime Junkie Podcast Summary

Episode: MURDERED: Wendy Jerome
Date: August 18, 2025
Hosts: Ashley Flowers & Brit Prawat

Overview

This episode chronicles the 1984 Thanksgiving Day murder of 14-year-old Wendy Jerome in Rochester, New York—a case that haunted her family and community for decades. Hosts Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat unpack the investigation’s twists, persistent family advocacy, and the eventual, groundbreaking identification of Wendy’s killer via familial DNA technology after 36 years. The episode is a testament to endurance, hope, and the evolving power of forensic science.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Disappearance and Discovery (02:07–07:01)

• Wendy left home around 7pm to deliver a birthday card to her friend, Sue. She missed her 8pm curfew and her favorite dessert, pumpkin pie.
• Marlene, Wendy's mother, became increasingly worried, calling friends' homes with no answers, ultimately learning from Sue’s mom that Wendy left much earlier and had not been with them.
• At 11:30pm, Marlene contacts police after Sue’s mom mentions a commotion near a local school.
• Memorable Quote:
  “He couldn’t even bring himself to look at [Wendy’s photo]... all he said was, ‘Wendy had an accident.’” — Ashley Flowers (06:08)

Initial Crime Scene & Autopsy Findings (07:05–09:14)

• Wendy’s body was found near School 33, her face so badly beaten she was only ID’d by her school ID.
• Blunt force trauma, skull fractures, facial injuries, defensive wounds, a laceration to the neck, and evidence of sexual assault.
• Wendy wasn’t naked, but her attire indicated someone had hurriedly redressed her; her bra and coat were strewn nearby and her face covered.
• The blood patterns and locations suggest a possible attempt by Wendy to escape, succeeded by further assault.

Early Theories, Suspects, and Community Rumors (09:14–24:08)

• The scene was chosen for its seclusion despite being close to the street—a sign of premeditation.
• Investigators found blood trails leading away from the scene but could not definitively say if the blood belonged to Wendy or the perpetrator.
• Early suspects included Craig (who found the body), a boyfriend named Joey (exonerated), and a local man, Dale, with self-inflicted injuries and a dubious alibi.
• Michael Ross, a violent local figure, became a suspect due to false alibis and community rumors but could not be connected forensically.
• Over the years, various tips—including a suspect with mysterious blood, misleading confessions, and threatening phone calls to Wendy’s family—all led to dead ends.

Advancements in DNA and the Road to Justice (29:39–41:16)

• In 1999, police developed a male DNA profile from Wendy’s sexual assault kit, ruling out early suspects but gaining no matches in national databases.
• Family endured untold pain, with Wendy's brother having to attend the same school where she was found; parents divorced under the strain.
• Quote: “In almost every family… they have moments where they try and reckon with the unknown… how else do you survive?... You don't give up.” — Ashley Flowers (33:26)
• By 2016, cold case investigator Sergeant Gus Vanosa took over, bringing renewed energy and utilizing new familial DNA methods.
• In 2017, New York approved familial DNA searching, providing hope, but initial DNA profiles were too degraded for a match.
• Persistence paid off; by 2019, a new sample produced CODIS hits to relatives of the unknown killer.

Breaking the Case with Familial DNA Technology (41:46–53:29)

• Leads pointed to the Williams family: a chain of relatives living on Rosewood Terrace near the crime scene.
• After ruling out initial suspects via surreptitious DNA collection and old case files, attention turned to Timothy Williams—unlisted in earlier family obituaries because he was born posthumously.
• Astonishingly, a 1992 sexual assault kit from an unrelated incident had been preserved; it provided the sample matching the DNA found on Wendy.
• Timothy Williams, living a quiet family life in Florida, was definitively linked to Wendy’s murder.

Arrest, Trial, and Aftermath (53:29–57:01)

• In September 2020, police arrested Timothy Williams with meticulous planning; he denied knowing Wendy and claimed to have never lived in Rochester in 1984, then backpedaled under questioning.
• His family and especially his wife, Barbara, were utterly shocked by the news.
• Wendy’s mother, Marlene, experienced overwhelming emotions—collapsing upon hearing the arrest had been made.
• The first trial in 2023 resulted in a mistrial due to juror misconduct; the second in 2024 saw Williams claim a consensual relationship (with no supporting evidence).
• Jury found him guilty on all counts—the first New York conviction using familial DNA. He received a 25-years-to-life sentence.
• Memorable Moment:
  Sergeant Vanosa, deeply moved, requested to tattoo Wendy’s initials and gave Marlene the engraved handcuffs used in the arrest.

Legacy and Reflection (57:01–End)

• Marlene shared her hope that keeping Wendy’s story alive honors her memory:
  Quote:
  “She had dreams... was a beautiful soul and a loving daughter, loving sister. She's missed every day.” — Marlene Jerome (57:01)
• The case exemplifies tenacity, progress in forensic science, and the dedication of both families and investigators.

Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• Ashley (on police informing Marlene): “He couldn’t even bring himself to look at it… all he said was, ‘Wendy had an accident.’” (06:08)
• Ashley (about Marlene’s trauma): “You can almost pinpoint the moment… her eyes just kind of drifted up and over. I could tell… she was right back in 1984.” (06:51)
• Brit: “When we were that age… that means we were walking through the door at 8:29 with like 30 seconds to go.” (16:25)
• Ashley (on cold case work): “Sometimes you just need the right person to latch onto a case at the right time.” (33:47)
• Ashley (on the moment of arrest notification): “…it's there on her porch, through tears, that Sergeant Vanosa gives her the news that I think she feared would never come.” (51:13)
• Marlene (about Wendy): “She had dreams… was a beautiful soul and a loving daughter… she's missed every day.” (57:01)
• Ashley (on closure): “Her years since have been about keeping Wendy’s memory alive… it means that Wendy is still alive in some way and that she hasn’t been forgotten.” (56:45)
• Brit (on the persistence of hope): “That's all so incredible.” (55:53)

Timeline of Important Segments

• [02:07] – [07:01]: Wendy goes missing after Thanksgiving dinner; her body is discovered, and the initial trauma to her family is described.
• [07:01] – [09:14]: Details of the crime scene and autopsy.
• [09:14] – [24:08]: Early suspects, witness accounts, dead-end tips, and the community’s reaction.
• [29:39] – [32:20]: Introduction of DNA evidence and emotional toll on family.
• [33:47] – [37:13]: Sergeant Vanosa takes over, lays groundwork using new technology.
• [41:46] – [44:56]: Familial DNA breakthrough, the search for the right family member.
• [46:05]: The preserved sexual assault kit provides the key evidence.
• [47:37] – [51:13]: Arrest of Timothy Williams in Florida.
• [53:29] – [57:01]: Two trials, conviction, and family’s reaction.
• [57:01]: Marlene reflects on Wendy’s life and legacy.

Tone & Language

• Deeply empathetic and sensitive—balancing investigative detail with emotional storytelling.
• Persistent theme of hope, endurance, and the refusal to let cold cases fade into obscurity.
• The hosts’ rapport injects moments of lightness and relatability, while maintaining reverence for the victim and her family.

Takeaways

• Justice is possible, even decades later: Wendy Jerome’s case illustrates how steadfast investigative work, advancements in technology, and unrelenting hope can eventually yield answers.
• Familial DNA is transformative: This episode marks the first time such evidence led to conviction in New York, laying groundwork for similar cold cases.
• Family and community matter: Marlene Jerome’s advocacy and the respectful bond formed with Sergeant Vanosa were instrumental in achieving justice.
• Victims’ stories endure: Marlene’s words encapsulate why Crime Junkie continues to revisit these stories—to honor lives lost and never let them be forgotten.

For more on this case, including photos and sources, visit crimejunkiepodcast.com.