Not much going on today, feeling the burnout from work and school.  It's kind of a dreary day up here and been thinking about what exactly I can do to show support for the family of Jennifer Daugherty.  I feel like even though I've emailed the papers and news stations, talked about her case to classmates and co workers, it may not be enough.  I think I'll base my project for my Women and Violence class either on mob mentality or violence against our mentally disabled/disabled adults.  Whatever I decide to do, I'm sure that it will come out o.k.  I would like to be back home for the trial of those monsters, but don't know how that will pan out for me.  My life is crazy busy up here.

I am sitting in my women and violence class here at MCTC thinking of the ways to honor Jennifer's memory.  How to do this, without continually going over the details of her torture.  Jennifer, yes, suffered horrors that no one ever should, but I want to focus on who Jennifer was as a person, what she meant to all those who knew her, and how she affected those of us who didn't.

And...D.A. John Peck, Westmoreland County, Pa...the death penalty discussion should not even be up for debate.  4 people brutalized her before murdering her, two people watched and did nothing.

Speaking of doing nothing..how about a Good Samaratin Law, Pa?  The neighbor heard the screaming and all of the noise while Jennifer was being tormented....WHY DIDN'T YOU CALL THE POLICE?!?!  You're intervention could have saved her life..Shame on you too.

We are after all all of our brother/sister's keeper.  Rest in Peace Jen

Graphic Tapes Describe Jennifer Daugherty's Torture Death - Pittsburgh News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh

Graphic Tapes Describe Jennifer Daugherty's Torture Death - Pittsburgh News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh

Updates on the Jennifer Daugherty case

Jennifer's murders first hearing postponed due to lice infestation. Westmoreland County Jail shaved the heads of all 6 of the accused as a treatment for lice.  Ironic, since Jennifer's head was shaved during her 36 hours of torture.  Pennsylvania Justice...

Justice for Jennifer

Sadly, I have decided to blog about the brutal torture/murder of Jennifer Daugherty. Jennifer was a happy, sweet 30 year old woman from Mt. Pleasant, Pa. She had the mental capabilities of a 12-14 year old, but Jennifer had a zest for life and by all accounts, the ability to bring a smile to everyone's face. On February 8th, 2010, Jennifer posted on her Myspace account,"this is my time to make a new start for myself, and making some new friends and not being afraid of anything, so this is going to be a good thing for me." Her new friends that she spoke of were Peggy Miller, Rickey Van Smymes and Robert Masters. She boarded a bus to visit her new friends. Jennifer had no idea what lay ahead for her.

Sometime shortly after her visit, Jennifer's friends turned on her in the most horrific, brutal ways imaginable. Rickey, Peggy and Robert were later joined by Melvin Knight, Amber Meidinger and Angela Marinucci. Angela finding out that her boyfriend, Rickey Van Smymes had sex earlier that day with Jennifer, went into a rage. Angela, joined by Amber, began to viciously beat on Jennifer. According to report, Peggy and Robert did nothing, they did not intervene, they did not stop the beating, they just watched, doing nothing. Melvin joined in on the assault on Jennifer, for 36 hours, Jennifer was the victim of a brutal beating. She was forced to drink concoctions of feces, urine, detergent, spices. Her head was shaved. She was forced to write her own suicide note. Rickey took a knife and sliced her wrists, Melvin asked her if she wanted to die. Jennifer begged to be let out of the apartment, telling her assailants that she would not tell anybody. They ignored Jennifer's pleas, and stabbed Jennifer to death. Later they wrapped her body in garbage bags and threw her in the trash at an elementary school parking lot.

Does this sicken you? It should. What Jennifer had to endure was horrific, unimaginable. I did not know her. I do not know the animals that did this to her. I do know, that this crime has shook me to the core. Jennifer endured 36 long hours of torture and I can not forget that, nor can I stay silent. Jennifer does not have a voice anymore, but we do. We can petition for the ultimate punishment for these 6 degenerates. Jennifer was a trusting soul, a vulnerable adult, a human being. Full of life. They took that from her. She was a daughter, a sister, a cousin and a friend. She did not deserve this.