Florida Jury Recommends Death Penalty for Man Convicted in 1993 Murder of Jennifer Odom

A Hernando County jury has unanimously recommended the death penalty for Jeffrey Crum, a 65-year-old man convicted of kidnapping, sexually abusing, and killing 12-year-old Jennifer Odom in 1993. The case gained renewed attention after DNA evidence linked Crum to the crime three decades later.

Jennifer was last seen getting off her school bus in Pasco County, Florida, on March 4, 1993. Classmates reported seeing a blue truck pull up next to her as she walked down a private road. Her body was found several days later in a wooded area nearby, and the case remained unsolved until recently.

Crum had already been serving two life sentences for the 1992 kidnapping and sexual assault of another Pasco County teenager when he was connected to Odom’s murder through DNA evidence in 2015. The victim from the earlier attack suffered a brain injury that left her permanently disabled, according to court records.

During his trial this year, prosecutors presented testimony from Crum's son who stated that his father admitted to killing Jennifer Odom and had said, "Remember Jennifer Odom? I did her too." Additionally, evidence showed that Crum owned a blue truck at the time of the incident, corroborating witness accounts.

On August 25, the jury unanimously voted to recommend the death penalty for Crum during sentencing deliberations. This decision came on what would have been Odom’s 46th birthday. During the hearing, many of Jennifer's loved ones spoke in court, including her aunt Mary Beth Lambert who described her niece as a talented and beloved member of their community.

The final sentence for Crum will be determined during a Spencer hearing scheduled for October 21st. This proceeding allows the judge to review aggravating and mitigating factors before issuing the final verdict on whether to impose the death penalty or life in prison without parole.