Melissa Jenkins // 484

Summary

Podcast Summary: Going West: True Crime - Episode 484: Melissa Jenkins

Hosts: Daphne Woolsoncroft and Heath Merryman (Krista)

Release Date: March 11, 2025

---

Introduction

In Episode 484 of Going West: True Crime, hosts Krista and Daphne delve into the harrowing case of Melissa Jenkins, a beloved high school science teacher whose mysterious disappearance and subsequent murder shocked the quiet town of Saint Johnsbury, Vermont. Despite occurring 13 years prior, the case unraveled long-standing enigmas, bringing closure to many perplexing questions.

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Background: Melissa Jenkins

Melissa Jenkins, born on November 23, 1978, was a dedicated science teacher at Saint Johnsbury Academy, a prestigious private school in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom. Melissa was celebrated by students and colleagues alike for her kindness, approachability, and commitment to her students' well-being. She not only taught physics but also coached girls' basketball and soccer, earning a reputation as a role model, especially among teenage girls.

Krista highlights Melissa's deep roots in Vermont:

"[Melissa] was ready to stay [in Vermont]. She knew she didn't want to leave the state again." [05:34]

Melissa balanced her professional life with motherhood, raising her two-year-old son, Ty, as a single parent after her relationship with B.J. Robertson, a professional basketball player, ended. To support her family, Melissa pursued a master’s degree and worked additional jobs, including waiting tables at the local Creamery restaurant.

---

The Disappearance

On the evening of Sunday, March 25, 2012, around 8:30 PM, Melissa received a call from an acquaintance experiencing car trouble. Known for her generous nature, Melissa volunteered to assist despite it being a school night and leaving her son alone at home. Before departing, she informed her friend Randy about her plans, ensuring someone knew her whereabouts.

Krista emphasizes Melissa’s character:

"Melissa would never leave her baby in the car unattended." [10:02]

However, Melissa never returned. Randy grew worried as hours passed without any news. At 11 PM, he discovered Melissa's Suzuki SUV abandoned on the roadside with Ty asleep inside but found no trace of Melissa.

---

Investigation Unfolds

The investigation quickly pointed towards Allen and Patricia Prue, a local couple who had a professional relationship with Melissa through snowplowing services. Key pieces of evidence included:

• Burner Phone: Melissa received the distressing call from a burner phone purchased by the Prues a month prior.

  "The caller was clearly trying to hide their identity." [12:34]

• Surveillance Footage: Security video showed a blonde woman (Patricia) purchasing the burner phone.

  "The store really came through here. And they sent the picture to the FBI." [18:06]

• Physical Evidence: A black shoe belonging to Melissa and a Polaris brand men's baseball hat matching Allen's attire were found near the crime scene.

Krista recounts Ty’s terrifying account:

"Ty gestured with his hands around his neck, saying that someone had done that to his mom." [13:21]

Despite initial denials, inconsistencies in the Prues' alibis and the mounting evidence led to their arrest on March 28, 2012.

---

Suspects: Allen and Patricia Prue

Background of the Prues:

• Allen Prue: A 33-year-old snowplow driver from Saint Johnsbury with a stable reputation until his relationship with Patricia unfolded.

• Patricia Prue: A 30-year-old bisexual woman from New York who moved in with Allen after meeting online. Their relationship was tumultuous, characterized by Patricia's mental health struggles and their mutual interest in exploring their sexualities.

Krista describes Patricia's influence:

"She sought to get even with those who had wronged her. 'People will be surprised of what she is capable of.'" [39:49]

Melissa had previously declined Allen’s advances, citing discomfort with his persistent and inappropriate behavior. A neighbor reported seeing Allen lurking near Melissa's driveway on the day of her disappearance, further incriminating him.

---

Confronting the Evidence

Faced with overwhelming evidence, Allen and Patricia eventually confessed to the murder. Their motive stemmed from a deranged obsession with Melissa, leading them to orchestrate a plan that disastrously failed.

Krista summarizes their motive:

"They wanted this to be non-consensual. They wanted to take her against her will and rape her." [32:59]

Key revelations included:

• Premeditation: Patricia's laptop revealed searches on how to commit violent crimes without detection.

• Confession: Allen admitted his and Patricia's fixation on Melissa and their brutal actions to abduct and murder her.

• Cover-Up: They attempted to dispose of Melissa's body by dousing it with bleach, weighing it down, and hiding it in the Connecticut River. They also destroyed evidence by burning her clothes and the burner phone.

---

Trial and Sentencing

Allen Prue faced a trial beginning in October 2014, where his defense attempted to shift blame solely onto Patricia, citing his past and low intelligence as factors that made him susceptible to coercion. However, his own confession undermined this strategy, leading to his conviction on multiple charges, including first-degree murder and kidnapping.

Patricia Prue initially denied involvement but later pleaded guilty to avoid a prolonged trial, accepting a life sentence without parole. Her defense cited severe mental illness, but this plea was met with skepticism by both hosts and the community.

Daphne comments on the trial outcomes:

"You know, he admitted to strangling her... he's not innocent in this." [42:21]

---

Aftermath and Reflections

The community of Saint Johnsbury mourned Melissa Jenkins deeply. A memorial service highlighted the community's respect and love for Melissa, celebrating her life despite the tragic loss.

Krista reflects on the case:

"It's so disgusting. So thank you guys so much for listening to that frustrating case." [50:36]

Melissa’s family found some solace in the convictions of the Prues, though nothing could bring her back. Melissa's legacy as a dedicated teacher and loving mother remains a poignant reminder of the senselessness of her murder.

Daphne concludes:

"She never deserved what they put her through." [49:55]

---

Conclusion

Episode 484 of Going West: True Crime offers a comprehensive and emotionally charged examination of Melissa Jenkins' tragic story. Through meticulous investigation and the unwavering pursuit of justice, the podcast sheds light on the dark intersection of obsession and violence, honoring Melissa's memory while exposing the depths of human depravity.

Notable Quotes:

• Krista: "Any normal person would just say, you know what? That's totally fine. You know, have a great day." [33:26]

• Daphne: "They were out to hurt someone." [50:36]

• Krista: "She doesn't want to admit to guilt." [42:47]

---

Connect with Going West: True Crime

For more detailed discussions and case files, visit @goingwestpodcast on Instagram and join the community on Facebook.

Transcript

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What is going on? True crime fans, I'm your host, Teeth.

[Daphne]

And I'm your host, Daphne.

[Krista]

And you're listening to Going West.

[Daphne]

Hello, everybody. Thank you so much for tuning in today. Big shout out to Krista for sending in today's case. This one takes place in Vermont in winter. It only happened about 13 years ago, but it does have a ton of resolution and answers to some previously extremely perplexing questions.

[Krista]

Oh, yeah, and luckily, because this one is a doozy and it's definitely gonna piss you guys off because it pissed me off just researching it. So. Also just wanted to let you guys know, forewarning that we're a little congested today because the allergies are crazy down here in LA this time of year.

[Daphne]

The pollen is insane right now. So apologies from us, but we're gonna do our best.

[Krista]

Yeah, there's like a layer of pollen car right now, so if we sound a little congested, that's why. But without further ado, this is episode 484 of Going West. So let's get into it.

[Daphne]

In March of 2012, a beloved 33 year old high school science teacher went missing from Vermont after heading out to help someone with apparent car troubles. When her abandoned vehicle was discovered with her 2 year old still inside, a frantic search began. And when detectives began looking into a local man who used to work for her, a sinister plot unraveled. This is the story of Melissa Jenkins. Melissa Jenkins was born on November 23, 1978 in Berlin, Vermont, which is about 10 minutes south of the capital of Montpelier. Melissa was raised in a loving family consisting of her parents, Fill Ann and Richard, a brother named John, and a half brother named Robbie. She attended Danville High school, graduating in 1996, and then went on to attend three different universities. Plymouth State University in Plymouth, New Hampshire, Montclair State University in Montclair, New Jersey, and then Vermont State University in Linden, Vermont, where she eventually obtained her bachelor's degree in natural science. Settling back in her home state after a brief stint away from, you know, the schools in New Jersey and New Hampshire, Melissa decided to plant some roots in her beloved Vermont. She was ready to stay there. She knew she didn't want to leave the state again. And this time around, she wound up in Saint Johnsbury, which is nestled in what's known as the Northeast Kingdom in the upper right corner of Vermont. And that borders Canada. And the Northeast Kingdom is like a very peaceful outdoor oasis. It's known for being quiet, unspoiled and safe. So a beautiful area to live.

[Krista]

To be honest with you, I don't think that there is a bad place in Vermont to live. It's all beautiful.

[Daphne]

Yeah, it's gorgeous. And they have like the best fall foliage and all that. So this probably, especially in the fall was like, or, and in the summer of course as well, is like incredible. So she, she loved living here and there. Melissa took a job teaching physics in the science department for a prestigious private school in the area called Saint Johnsbury Academy, which is like a hybrid boarding and day school established nearly 200 years ago. There, Melissa was beloved by her students and fellow teachers alike. But she was especially doted upon by the teenage girls that she taught who really saw her as a role model. For the first few years of her tenure there, she even lived on campus as a dorm proctor for the girls who were boarding there because, you know, a lot of kids board at this school and naturally athletic. Melissa also coached girls basketball and soccer, and according to her students, she was very kind and approachable. Just one of the few teachers who made her students feel safe and comfortable and let them come to her about anything. Which was especially important for the students who were away from home and, you know, couldn't go to their parents at the end of the day, you know what I mean?

[Krista]

It's really giving that movie that you love. What's that movie that you watch all the time with Paul Giamatti?

[Daphne]

The Holdover.

[Krista]

The Holdovers, yes. It's kind of giving that sort of vibe.

[Daphne]

Except Paul's character is like not like Melissa at all.

[Krista]

And that was also said in what, Massachusetts?

[Daphne]

Yeah, this is not the same, but it's the same in the sense that there is boarding. Okay, so.

[Krista]

All right, I guess I'm an idiot.

[Daphne]

This is. So this is exactly like the Holdover.

[Krista]

It's the girls version.

[Daphne]

Alright, so a few years into her tenure there, Melissa began dating B.J. robertson, a professional basketball player for the Vermont Frost Heaves. But when the relationship didn't work out and Melissa became pregnant with BJ's baby, she decided that she would raise the child on her own, giving birth to a son named Ty months later. Now, BJ did still visit. He was very much a part of Ty's life. But Melissa held primary custody and Ty lived with her in St. Johnsbury. Her family remembers proudly that her greatest joy in life came from being Ty's mom. In addition to being a full time teacher and mother, she decided to go back to school to obtain her master's degree from St. Michael's College in order to make extra money on the weekends and over the summer when she wasn't teaching, Melissa also waited tables at the Creamery, which was a restaurant in Danville where she worked since she was a teenager.

[Krista]

Now, on the Evening of Sunday, March 25, 2012, around 8:30pm, Melissa received a phone call from an acquaintance who was having car trouble. And this person wound up stranded on the side of the road. Never one to turn away from someone in need, Melissa offered to come pick them up despite the fact that it was a school night and she was home alone with her son Ty. But before she headed out as a precaution, she called a good friend of hers named Randy to tell him that she was going to help someone out who had been having some car trouble and that she would be back shortly, but that she wanted someone to know where she was going and what she was doing.

[Daphne]

So, so smart.

[Krista]

So Randy kept an eye on the clock and as the night grew later, with no word from Melissa, he began to grow anxious that something had happened. So naturally, he stopped by her house. But he found it dark and empty. With panic starting to set in, he drove around looking for her car, worried that something may have happened to Melissa. And it was around 11pm that night when he came upon Melissa's Suzuki SUV parked on a shoulder, still idling with its lights on. But there were no other cars in sight. Now, cautiously, Randy approached the vehicle, and he found no sign of Melissa. But he was horrified to see that Ty had been left alone and was asleep in the car seat in the back of the car.

[Daphne]

And he now knows that something happened to Melissa because no way would she leave her baby in the car unattended.

[Krista]

Absolutely, she would never do that. And of course, she's absent from the scene. So, panicking, Randy called police to the scene, fearing the worst and honestly instantly convinced that Melissa had been met with foul play. When police arrived to survey the scene, Randy explained that Melissa told him that she had gotten what she described as a weird call from the couple who used to plow her driveway on snowy days, telling her that their car happened to break down near her house.

[Daphne]

And such a random connection, like, these aren't her friends who say, hey, Liz, can you come help me? Like someone who she hired to do a job in the past.

[Krista]

Yeah. And you can imagine that they probably weren't there all the time. You know, it's not like they're plowing her place every week. It's probably once or twice a year, if that.

[Daphne]

Yeah. And it's. It's an outside job, so it's not like they're hanging out the whole time fixing something in her kitchen or something like this is a very strange request for them to be making.

[Krista]

Absolutely. And, you know, again, this really just speaks to the character of Melissa, the fact that she hardly knows these people, but she's offering to go give them help on the side of the road, so.

[Daphne]

True.

[Krista]

Well, unfortunately, Randy couldn't remember the names of this couple, but detectives had a head start, because in the dirt and brush alongside the road, investigators found a black shoe believed to belong to Melissa, as well as a Polaris brand men's baseball hat, which they believed belonged to her abductor.

[Daphne]

When investigators checked her phone records, Melissa's last outgoing call had been to Randy, as he said it would be, at 8:39pm so it is very much dark at this time of night. The incoming call that summoned her from her house was made at 8:34pm so five minutes earlier and lasted a minute and a half, which Means that right after getting this call, she almost right away called Randy and then left to go help them.

[Krista]

And again, very, very smart of her to do.

[Daphne]

Yes, very. But unfortunately, this call had been made from a burner phone which was confirmed to be a Tracphone brand flip phone. And it was gonna require some digging to determine the origin of the call. And this is, I mean, this is even more suspicious that the caller was clearly trying to hide their identity for when an investigation began. The fact that they're even calling from a burner phone to begin with, it's like they know that someone's gonna see this call.

[Krista]

Absolutely.

[Daphne]

Well, naturally, Randy was questioned as a potential suspect, and he admitted that he and Melissa had shared a sexual relationship in the past, despite how suspicious that may have appeared to law enforcement, given the circumstances. You know he's telling the truth here. He's laying all cards on the table. However, Randy explained that his and Melissa's romantic and physical relationship hadn't worked out and that they settled on being just friends. He claimed that he had no idea who hurt her or who would have wanted to, since everyone adored her, but maintained that he had nothing to do with her disappearance. Knowing that there was one person in their custody who was actually there when Melissa was taken, state troopers brought in an expert in child psychology to speak with Melissa's 2 year old son Ty, hoping they could coax some information out of him despite his very young age. When Ty was questioned about what had happened to Melissa, he gestured with his hands around his neck, saying that someone had done that to his mom. He then told them that his mommy left in a car. Detectives briefly considered the involvement of Ty's father, B.J. but he had been out of the state with an airtight alibi at the time, and also he would have no motive for this. They. They co parented just fine.

[Krista]

Yeah, it seemed like they didn't have any problems.

[Daphne]

Yeah, if anything, we would probably statistically see this happen before Ty was even born. You know what I mean? So now, two years later, everything's fine. They. They know that it's not bj. And for anybody wondering, Melissa's parents did assume temporary custody of Tai until they and BJ could work out an arrangement for his long term care. Now, alarmed at the development that Melissa had likely been strangled and then abducted in front of her son, Vermont state police troopers issued a statewide be on the lookout or bolo. So state troopers and local police alike combed the area for any sign of her.

[Krista]

Sadly, it seemed that Melissa's kind and generous nature and her tendency to help anybody in need had landed her in a little bit of trouble here. Her cousin Eric Barry, who named Melissa the godmother to his young daughter, said sadly, she left her house with the idea, I think, to try and help somebody. A family friend named Ron Craig, who along with his wife Lauren, would occasionally watch Ty when Melissa needed childcare, agreed to this sentiment, saying she would do anything for anybody. She definitely will be greatly missed. And then his wife Lauren added, she was an awesome mom. He was her world on Monday, March 26, 2012, the day after Melissa vanished, word had spread around the campus of St. Johnsbury. That same Evening, more than 100 students and faculty members gathered despite the bitter winter cold outside for a candlelight vigil, hoping for the safe homecoming of Melissa. Headmaster Tom Lovett said fondly, she's got a real gift with students who either haven't liked science before or learning science doesn't come easy to them. She's got a real gift with them. But it was at that very gathering, meant to bring hope and awareness, that word began to spread that Melissa's body had been recovered. Because that afternoon around 3pm her remains were pulled from the Connecticut river near the small town of Barnet, which is about 15 minutes south of St. Johnsbury in Vermont. Though they were ultimately successful, her killers did their best to ensure that her body was never recovered. Melissa's body was found naked, wrapped in a tarp, doused with bleach, and weighed down with cinder blocks until they sunk to the bottom of the Connecticut River. On top of this, there were also branches which had been severed from nearby trees surrounding her in the water to help her blend in with the nature around her. As the news erupted in the town of just 6,000 people, Melissa was brought in for an autopsy. And just like Ty had alleged, she had been strangled and she had also sustained multiple bruises and lacerations from fighting back. Now, as detectives continued to pursue the few tangible leads that they did have, at this point, the track phone would prove to be invaluable to the investigation because with it, law enforcement was able to track down the burner phone number to a phone sold in nearby Littleton, New Hampshire, 20 miles or 32 kilometers south of St. Johnsbury. And actually, Melissa's murderers purchased that track phone on February 28, 2012. So nearly a month earlier at the Littleton Electronics Center. And the only call that was made from that phone was made to Melissa. Now, after speaking with the store, detectives were able to pull security footage from the day of the purchase and Came upon video of a blonde woman purchasing this phone, which honestly, it's kind of surprising that they still even had this footage since so many places wipe footage after a short period of time.

[Daphne]

Yeah, I am shocked by this, but.

[Krista]

The store really came through here. And they sent the picture to the FBI for assistance in identifying this blonde woman. Meanwhile, police combed Melissa's house and found another essential piece of evidence, something that Melissa had left out for herself as if it were a clue from the grave. It was a business card that was placed on her counter and it read Prue's snow plowing. Allen and Patricia plowing experts. And this was the couple that she told Randy she was meeting on the night that she was murdered.

[Daphne]

33 year old Patricia and 30 year old Allen Prue met online about four years prior to Melissa's murder. Allen was born and raised in the area and lived a simple life. He drove a snowplow in the winters and delivered papers in the summer. His mom, Donna Prue, described him as hard working, gregarious and kind and said that he stayed out of trouble. But remember, I don't know if we can trust this Donna, so just hold on to that. But Donna said that all of that changed when he met Patricia Osborne. Finding it difficult to date in his small hometown, Allen made an online dating profile and began chatting with Patricia, who hailed from nearby New York State. The pair connected quickly and he had a soft spot for her admission that she had just been in an abusive relationship and was out of contact with her family. So he kind of saw her as a little bit down on her luck. He wanted to help her out. Right.

[Krista]

Somewhat of a charity case, I guess you could say.

[Daphne]

Sure, right. She was also open about her struggles with her health, both physical and mental, as she suffered from diabetes as well as depression and occasional panic attacks. Now, after about a month of talking online and over the phone, Patricia came to Vermont for a visit, staying with Allen and his mother Donna, whose house he shared. After just two weeks, they decided that they were ready to move forward with their relationship. So Patricia moved in permanently. And right then and there, and with what little money they had, they held a modest wedding ceremony. Now, Patricia Allen, Allen's mother, Donna and Donna's boyfriend, as well as Allen's sister, husband and kids all live together under one roof in a moderately sized trailer.

[Krista]

So you basically have like essentially three families living under one roof. That's a lot of people to be living in a moderately sized trailer.

[Daphne]

Yeah. And I mean, especially when it was at this time that the couple Chose to explore their sexualities after they moved in together and started this relationship. And they were trying to do it on their own property with all of.

[Krista]

These people there, which is very sick and very up.

[Daphne]

Well, they're. I mean, they're not trying to, like, show the family. It's just that they were doing that on the property with all these people living there. And here's the situation. Patricia was bisexual, and she confided in Allen that she wanted to have a threesome with him and another woman. So he agreed, and the two actually invested in a camper that they would park on his mom's property to use specifically for these sexual affairs. Right. Knowing that Donna did not approve of what they were doing, and this is her property.

[Krista]

Well, I guess at least they had some sort of consideration to not be, you know, having weird sexual affairs in his mom's house.

[Daphne]

Yeah. In the trailer that he. They live with so many other people. So they are. They have this special camper that they're doing this on. Fine. No problem. But they were still kind of scouting online websites for women to invite into their camper. And additionally, they were also starting to try for a child. But after struggling to conceive, they consulted a fertility clinic, only to find out that Patricia would be unable to bear children.

[Krista]

So, as we mentioned, in the winter, Alan would plow dozens of driveways for area families, Sometimes on a near daily basis. And when Patricia came into the picture, she took over the business side of his operation, which allowed him to kind of take on more houses and make more money at this venture. One fateful winter day, Alan and Patricia were dropping off business cards in order to attract new clients, which is a practice that Patricia had set into motion. And that's when they met Melissa Jenkins, Both members of the couple. Both Alan and Patricia were instantly attracted to her, and Melissa's friendly nature likely made them feel as if they were comfortable with her from the jump. It also seems like they were both kinda envious of the family unit she had with her son and hoping to start up a sexual relationship with her. Now, Melissa, none the wiser to how they thought of her, started hiring Allen on an occasional basis to plow her driveway. And strangely, before police even had a chance to track down the PRUs in order to speak with them, the couple actually showed up to the station hoping to lodge a complaint of their own. Now, the PRUs were alleging identity theft and hoped to speak to a detective regarding this issue. After their complaint was filed, detectives questioned them about their relationship with Melissa. You know, they're already there at the station, why not take this opportunity? Allen did mention casually that he had plowed snow for her in winters prior, but said that he had followed up with her this winter and that she had politely declined his services. They, like everyone else in the town of St. Johnsbury, claimed to be devastated at the loss of Melissa and were just shocked to hear the news. But detectives were not so convinced, and when asked their whereabouts for the evening of Sunday, March 25, they said that they had been in bed by 7pm.

[Daphne]

So around an hour and a half before that phone call was made.

[Krista]

Yes, but what they didn't share was that Melissa had been afraid of Allen in the past and had even accused him of stalking her.

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[Daphne]

A friend of Melissa's recalled that when she was paying Allen to plow for her, Allen had actually asked her out multiple times and that she felt so uncomfortable around him that she had declined his offer to come back and plow for her. So this is why she stopped using his services during that winter 2011 2012.

[Krista]

Yeah, because he was a fucking creepy.

[Daphne]

Well, months earlier in the fall of 2011, 32 year old Melissa relayed to a friend that he had even shown up drunk to her home asking to come back to work for her.

[Krista]

Yeah, and this is very, very not normal. You know, it's so inappropriate. She said she's done with your services because you're weirding her out. That should have been the end of it right there.

[Daphne]

And again, they hardly knew each other. He just plowed her driveway a number of times. And now he's coming over drunk, asking if he can continue to do it. It's just she's like, what are you doing here? Enough to tell her friend that this weird thing happened, and this guy honestly freaks her out.

[Krista]

Yeah. And that was probably the moment that she realized that she was unsafe being around Allen. Because you think about this, any normal person would just say, you know what? That's totally fine. You know, have a great day. I'm gonna go find other clients. But he's showing up drunk, as if. Like, he feels like he's scorned, like she did something to him.

[Daphne]

Truly. And it gets creepier because a few days before Melissa disappeared, a neighbor of hers named Diane told police that she had seen a man she believed to be Alan Prue lurking at the bottom of Melissa's driveway, peering out his car window, looking for her. And when he spotted Diane watching him, he sped away from Melissa's house. On the day of Melissa's murder, the Prues alleged that they were out and about in town running a few errands and that they stopped to have fast food for lunch before heading home and getting into bed, where they remained for the rest of the night.

[Krista]

Well, at least that's what they said.

[Daphne]

At least that's what they said. But this was an easily verifiable lie based on the fact that the couple had called Melissa from the track phone that Patricia, who had been the blonde woman on the surveillance footage, could be seen purchasing. So unless they gave this phone to somebody else to do this, you know, then it's them. She's the one who bought the phone. But still, police set out to verify their other claims, including stopping by the restaurant where they picked up lunch to check their surveillance footage. And when detectives viewed the footage from this restaurant, they spotted Allen pulling through the drive through in the exact hat that they discovered on the road next to Melissa's car.

[Krista]

Yeah, that Polaris hat.

[Daphne]

Right. So this proved that they had been at the scene of Melissa's abduction. And then, of course, like I said, yeah, technically, Patricia could have bought that phone and given it to somebody else. But now we have a couple pieces of evidence going against their little story.

[Krista]

Well, as far as the state police were concerned, this was the last piece of evidence to fall into place. The Prues were asked to come in again to discuss their fraud case. You know, the case that they were complaining about. But this time, they were separated in hopes that the couple would turn on each other. When the detective interviewing Allen skewed his line of questioning towards Melissa, Allen started to get kind of cagey and defensive, demanding to know why they were interrogating him on this matter. And then, when the detective revealed that he was actually a suspect, tipping Allen off about the track phone, the hat, and also the surveillance footage, Allen finally broke down, expressing both guilt at what had unfolded and fear about getting caught. So at this point, he admitted what investigators had already that Melissa Jenkins was the object of their sexual desires and that he and his wife had killed her. Both Allen and Patricia had been fixated on Melissa and wanted to kidnap her to have a threesome, which is honestly just so stupid.

[Daphne]

Like, just find a willing woman. There's many out there.

[Krista]

I'm sure there are people out there that would probably willingly, consensually have a threesome with you.

[Daphne]

Although, ew, you should have seen Heath's face when he said that.

[Krista]

Ugh, God. They're just. You know, they're just trash, people in general. But I'm sure that somebody out there probably would have done that.

[Daphne]

Somebody would have.

[Krista]

And in Allen's own words, we went out there to get a girl. According to Allen, their original plan was to casually propose a sexual encounter to Melissa while she was rescuing them from the side of the road, which, I don't know what in his mind, made him think that Melissa was ever gonna agree to do this, but when Melissa arrived, he said that he panicked and started strangling her.

[Daphne]

This doesn't make any sense. They came up with this whole plan to try to kidnap her and convince her to have a threesome with them, but they're saying that, hey, we. We broke down on the side of the road. Can you come help us? Which I'm so surprised she did. Anyway. Like, that seems like such a dumb plan on their part. And then you panic and strangle her. What?

[Krista]

Yeah, I. I just don't believe that it went down that way. I think that that's complete bullshit. I think that probably Alan made a pass at her or something, and then she, you know, was not interested, and then he started strangling her. Because, again, like, what makes you think that after you kidnap somebody that they're gonna want to have a sexual situation with you?

[Daphne]

Well, I think Your theory is 100% correct, especially with the Google searches that we're gonna get into here in a minute.

[Krista]

So after Alan started strangling Melissa, she fought back and hard, based on the injuries that she received. But she was no match for going against two people. Allen claimed that they hadn't realized that Ty had been with them until Melissa lay unconscious on the ground. In a snap decision, they decided that it would be best to leave Ty there crying in his car seat rather than risk the implication of kidnapping charges, which, I mean, you're already kidnapping another person, seriously. So Patricia climbed into the backseat with Melissa while Alan drove. And Patricia continued to struggle with Melissa, trying to, quote, ensure she wasn't breathing until she finally told Alan, she's gone.

[Daphne]

Which makes even less sense for this whole ordeal that they wanted to allegedly find a woman to sleep with, but then they immediately strangle her and kill her in the back of their vehicle.

[Krista]

Yeah, I mean, it's, it's really stupid. This whole plan was for nothing and it ended this wonderful person's life just because, you know, they couldn't find someone consensually to have a threesome with.

[Daphne]

And it's horrible that they left Ty in the back of the car because if it hadn't been for Melissa calling Randy, Ty could have died there.

[Krista]

Absolutely. He's a two year old kid. And the temperatures in Vermont in March, I mean, it's, it's freezing, it's obviously snowing.

[Daphne]

Well, this really shows the true character of the Proust.

[Krista]

Absolutely. Piece of shit squared.

[Daphne]

Well, they then took 33 year old Melissa's body back home. And without any of the other residents noticing, they dragged Melissa's remains onto the lawn and undressed her, disposing of her clothing, dousing her in bleach to get rid of any evidence they may have left on her. Then wrapping her in a tarp, they placed her in their car and drove across state lines to dispose of her body. Allen and Patricia then stripped themselves of anything that could be used of evidence, including Melissa's clothes and the clothing and shoes that they had been wearing. And they burned it all in a rural area of New Hampshire. After Allen admitted to all of this, detectives asked if he'd be willing to take them to the scene of where they burned the evidence. And he agreed. There in the brush was a patch of charred grass where the evidence had been torched. And also in that vicinity was where he dumped the track phone in the water. Surprisingly, the forensics team was actually able to get it working again and verified the outgoing call made to summon Melissa. 30 year old Allen also brought them to where they had placed her body in the water. And finally he broke down in sobs about what he and his wife had done and told Melissa that he was sorry and that she hadn't deserved what they had put her through. When police circled back to 33 year old Patricia, she feigned ignorance and claimed that she didn't have anything to do with Melissa's death. But the evidence was sufficient enough to put both of them behind bars. So she was arrested alongside her husband on March 28, 2012, just two days after Melissa's murder.

[Krista]

And I hope you guys are ready to be extremely pissed off because initially after their arrest, Donna proustood by her son and daughter in law at their arraignment for the heinous crime of which they were being accused, Donna even announced to the press, I want people out there to realize he is not the monster they're making him out to be. Yes, he is. Donna's sister, Sharon Tinder added, quote, neither one of them are. I wish I could do something to prove that they really didn't do it. And I hope that the cops aren't willing to give up and try to find more evidence that they really didn't do it instead of wrongly accusing somebody.

[Daphne]

Oh, quiet.

[Krista]

Your brother confessed to the murder, you idiot.

[Daphne]

And there's evidence.

[Krista]

Well, Donna then said, quote, I think there are a lot of holes in this case and I think they really need to keep looking. They're good people and I want them to have a fair deal in this. They're being set up by somebody. I just don't know who. It's like, no, they're not. They're not being set up. This is so classic, though. We see this in so many different cases where a mother always has to come to the defense of a murderer and say, oh, not my son. He could never do that.

[Daphne]

Yeah, just like she said, oh, my son was perfect until she came along.

[Krista]

Yeah, it's always somebody else and it's never your son. Right?

[Daphne]

Exactly.

[Krista]

Well, they staunchly claimed that the couple had barely known Melissa, that they had only plowed for her a few times a few seasons ago, and that they didn't even know her last name because she had paid them in cash. Both Patricia and Allen pleaded not guilty to charges of second degree murder and unauthorized burial or removal of a dead body. But the more digging the investigators did, the more the more incriminating evidence they found. On a laptop belonging to Patricia, which was seized from Donna's property, investigators found searches for the months before Melissa's murder that included how to rape a girl and not get caught and how to kidnap a girl and not get caught.

[Daphne]

Which is exactly what helps prove that they weren't just using this as a meet cute to say, oh, hey, now that you're here, Melissa, would you like to have a threesome? They wanted this to be non consensual. They wanted to take her against her will and rape her.

[Krista]

Well, Patricia had also left behind journals where she had detailed sexual fantasies as well as plans for revenge, writing that she sought to get even with those who had wronged her. And that quote, people will be surprised of what she is capable of. In addition to the track phone, the couple had also acquired a stun gun. So obviously they were planning on using that on somebody. So it became clear to investigators that this was all a premeditated act. On Friday, March 30, 2012, St. Johnsbury Academy held a memorial in celebration of Melissa's life, requesting that attendees show up in pink, which was Melissa's favorite color. Joe Healy, the spokesman for St. Johnsbury Academy, announced that he hoped the arrest would bring peace and closure to those who were mourning her life, saying, we can now turn our full attention to healing from this tragic loss, celebrating Melissa's life and mourning her death.

[Daphne]

Allen's trial commenced in October of 2014, and in a bombshell revelation, his defense blamed Patricia alone for being the mastermind behind the crime. His defense attorney, a guy named Robert Caddams, basically alleged that Allen's dysfunctional childhood and his low IQ combined made him extremely vulnerable to being conned into the plot of a criminal mastermind like his wife.

[Krista]

And I could honestly kind of see this because it does kind of feel like she was the one who, you know, put out this idea of having a threesome with another woman because she was bisexual. It seems to me like he's just kind of like a big dummy, but also, you know, obviously he's a piece of as well. But it does feel like she was kind of the, the, the ringleader.

[Daphne]

She may, and she may have been for sure. It's. I totally agree with you, but it sucks when defense attorneys say this to try to get him off. But he admitted to strangling her. And it's great that you admitted to guilt. It's great that you feel bad about what you did, but you were still a part of this horrible plot and you stalked her months earlier. Like, you're not innocent in this. You're not a good guy that got conned. You're a creep.

[Krista]

Oh, not at all, not at all. He is definitely responsible, but I think when you look at the situation, there's two different scenarios. There's Alan over here who's saying, you know, I'm so sorry I did this. Obviously don't care about your sorry. You still did it. But then you have Patricia on the other side going, well, I didn't do this. This would. This was all Alan.

[Daphne]

Yeah. She has no remorse. She doesn't give a totally.

[Krista]

She. She doesn't want to admit to guilt.

[Daphne]

Yeah, for sure. Well, Donna, who again is Alan's mom, of course, agreed with this conclusion, you know, that Alan was conned.

[Krista]

Who didn't see that coming, right?

[Daphne]

Yeah. And of course, she's saying that Patricia was envious of Alan's desire for Melissa, and she accused Patricia of being mentally unsettled, stable, and being behind this entire thing. Donna explained later in an interview, quote, she was very, very jealous of Melissa. She thought Allen was having an affair with her, and he wasn't.

[Krista]

Like that would ever happen. I'm sorry.

[Daphne]

Yeah, she was just one of his plow customers. But again, just looking back at the fact that he showed up drunk at her house, that her neighbor caught him stalking and watching her, this wasn't just an innocent little crush she had. He was taking it to this uncomfortable level, stupidly. Allen's defense relied heavily on testimony from Donna. But with Allen's verbal confession, this wasn't enough to sway a jury into believing that Patricia was solely responsible for the crime. So on October 22, 2014, Allen was found guilty of first degree murder, as well as kidnapping with the intent to commit suicide, sexual assault, and conspiracy to commit murder.

[Krista]

He was sentenced to 50 years to life for the murder charge, life in prison for the kidnapping charge, and five years in prison for the conspiracy charge. At his Sentencing on Wednesday, December 17, 2014, Allen proclaimed, the one thing I'm guilty of is bringing the person who committed this crime to Vermont, and for that, I'm truly sorry. But the judge, Robert Bent, dismissed his account of events, saying this was a hunt and they were acting as a pair. Mr. Prue's role was not minor. Similarly, Patricia tried to point the finger back at Allen, alleging that she was severely mentally ill and that he had been obsessed with Melissa and coerced Patricia into going along with his perverse plan, something that apparently she was unable to talk him out of due to her severe mental instability. Throughout her legal proceedings, Patricia used Allen as the scapegoat and proclaimed herself as the innocent victim in his sinister plot. But when that wasn't working and she felt like she was going to be held accountable for her role in this senseless murder, she and her defense team pivoted to an insanity plea. Shortly before her trial was slated to begin, her defense team approached the prosecution, requesting to have her ruled unfit to stand trial because they believed that she suffered from PTSD and dissociative identity disorder. But she was evaluated by a psychiatrist, and she was found fit to stand trial. Patricia then changed her plea to guilty, accepting a plea deal for responsibility on all three charges. She claimed that she did this to spare Melissa's family from having to undergo another trial. But Donna said with distaste, I don't believe that for a minute. She has no sympathy. She just didn't want her history being dug up and her history being put on the front page of the newspaper. She didn't want that. She did it for her sake, which, honestly, is, like, the only thing that Donna has said correctly thus far. Patricia was sentenced to life without parole for the murder charge, life in prison for the kidnapping charge, and about four to five years for the charge of conspiracy to commit murder.

[Daphne]

Patricia pleaded guilty on Thursday, February 12, 2015, and was sentenced the next day. Patricia's defense lawyer, Brian, addressed the court at her sentencing, labeling his client as, quote, severely mentally ill and adding, as horrible as Ms. Jenkins death was, it should stand for something. I suggest that it stands for a moment in time where people actually take a moment to take a serious look at how we allocate our resources to social services. I think we need to realize that each dollar we spend or don't spend could have a serious impact on our society and our safety.

[Krista]

I do understand the need to. To put money into social services to help people with mental health. But him using Melissa's death and. And what she did, what Patricia did as an excuse, it's just. It's just wrong. It's. It's totally wrong.

[Daphne]

Well, Patricia actually made a similar statement as well. She took a little responsibility, I guess, if you want to even say that. But this is what she told the court. Quote, there is nothing I or anyone can say to make what you've been put through any easier. I'm not sorry we were caught. I'm sorry it ever happened at all. I want to apologize personally for the fact that my husband wasn't a strong enough human being to admit his wrongs and be able to take his rightful punishment willingly.

[Krista]

Oh, my God. She is so insufferable.

[Daphne]

She's just deflecting like hell. Well, judge bent dismissed her excuses, telling her you knew how the abduction would end. This was not a sudden or impetuous act on your part. In your future life in prison, I trust that not a day goes by in which you won't revisit your crime. Melissa's family wrote a victim impact statement for the court that read, we will never again know the joy and love we knew for 33 years. Please do the right thing for Melissa. Though nothing can bring her back, they were relieved at the outcome of the trials. Allen Proulx did attempt to appeal his sentence in 2016, but it was rejected by the Vermont Supreme Court. His attorney alleged that his confession was coerced and that he had not been read his Miranda rights, but the court disagreed and his sentence was upheld.

[Krista]

Though she was never able to complete her studies, Melissa's master's degree was awarded to her posthumously the year after her death. To this day, both Patricia and Allen remain behind bars, though they're divorced, where they will remain for the rest of their lives after what they did to the wonderful and beloved Melissa Jenkins. Foreign.

[Daphne]

Thank you so much, everybody for listening to this episode of Going West.

[Krista]

Yes, thank you guys so much for listening to this episode. If you want to see photos from this case and all the other cases that we've covered, head on over to our socials. We're on Instagram @goingwest podcast. We're also on Facebook and we have a discussion group where you can talk all the shit that you want about Alan and Patricia Prue.

[Daphne]

Truly, what a God. I mean, it is. It was so senseless. It was so senseless. Like, I know we, I know we said this twice in the episode, but the fact that they didn't just go find a woman to have consensual sex with, but it didn't even seem like that's what they wanted to do. Or at least Patricia, or at least Alan, one of them. I mean, we'll say Patricia because it was on her computer. How to rape a girl and not get caught. How to kidnap a woman and not get caught, like, that is so clear. Like, you, you never wanted to do this consensually. You wanted to hurt somebody.

[Krista]

Absolutely. I think that was the plan from the get go. And, you know, even they, even though they tried to play it down, that just wasn't the case. They were out to hurt someone.

[Daphne]

It's so disgusting. So thank you guys so much for listening to that frustrating case and a big shout out once again to the person who recommended it, which was Krista. If you guys have a case that you want us to cover on the show, please send us an email and we will do our best to cover it. As soon as possible. Our email is going west podcastmail.com and we will see you guys back here on Friday.

[Krista]

All right guys, so for everybody out.

[Daphne]

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