ST. JOHNSBURY, Vt. -
Continuing coverage on the Melissa Jenkins murder case. Yesterday, we told you new information was released in court documents. Some of it was disturbing and gruesome. Other parts may hint to a possible motive in the case.
Allen and Patricia Prue are charged with the teacher's death. We want to stress, the couple is innocent until proven guilty. They have not been tried yet, but we wanted to learn more about what goes through the mind of a potential killer.
We have been following this case since march, but for the first time, we're gaining insight from an expert who examines inside the minds of accused killers.
Long blond hair, it's mentioned several times in the most recent affidavit. Forensic Psychologist Thomas Powell hasn't met Patricia or Allen Prue, but testifies as an expert in court cases. Based on his knowledge of what he's seen and read about this case, he says the accused killers obsession with Melissa Jenkins motivated the heinous crime.
"They certainly went off the deep end in terms of the sorts of psychological and psychosexual interests," Powell said.
Allen and Patricia Prue are accused of luring Jenkins from her home, shocking her with a stun gun then beating, strangling and raping the mother of one. Court documents say Patricia wishes she had saved some of Jenkins bloody hair to use for sexual gratification. Then, police say she bragged about what she did to at least five jail inmates.
"She had some sort of a desire to communicate, get out of herself those issues that are bottled up," Powell said.
From Powell's past experiences, he says this behavior often comes from a combination of genetics, possible parental abuse, drug use, or environmental factors. "I think that they probably lived in a very isolated way and allowed themselves to drift into perversions and deviant interests," Powell added.
Another possible motive, according to Powell... revenge.
According to court documents, Patricia says Jenkins made it impossible for them to make friends. Patricia even said she was the victim and that Jenkins deserved to die.
"They're feeling horribly dissed by the decedent, they felt that she had caused them embarrassment or somehow dismissed them as lower in the society than she is," Powell said.
Once again, we want to stress the Prue's are charged, but the case is still ongoing. Meanwhile, Police are still piecing together evidence, including a note that officers say Patricia had written and ripped up in jail. Words they could make out include "We picked her because." "Sexually attracted." "Blonde hair." and, "It was fun."
I also spoke to Donna Prue on the phone this morning. She's Allen Prue's mother, she says she has been able to talk to her son on the phone since he's been in jail.
