A judge ruled Monday that jurors in the upcoming murder trial of Jeffrey Crum will be allowed to hear evidence about a similar attack on a Pasco County teenager that happened just weeks before 12-year-old Jennifer Odom was abducted and killed.
The case involves the 2016 abduction and murder of Jennifer Odom, who was 12 years old at the time. Jeffrey Crum, the suspect, is accused of abducting and killing Odom on March 24, 2016, in Pasco County, Florida. According to court documents, the similar attack occurred on February 28, 2016, when Crum allegedly attacked a 17-year-old girl in Pasco County. The judge’s ruling allows prosecutors to present evidence of the prior attack to establish a pattern of behavior and to help prove Crum’s guilt in Odom’s murder.
The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office led the investigation into Odom’s disappearance and death. Jennifer Odom was last seen at her home in the 1100 block of Meadowood Drive in Dade City, Florida. Her body was found several days later in a wooded area.
Crum was arrested in 2016 and has been charged with Odom’s murder. He has maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty to the charges. The trial is expected to begin soon.
Originally reported by WFLA – Pasco County
Sources: WFLA – Pasco County
