On March 30, 1996, Jennifer Rose Vernals, 15, was dropped off in Downtown Ventura by her grandmother so she could shop for jeans. Her remains were found 5 months later in an avocado ranch off Toro Canyon Road in Santa Barbara.
Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department determined she was killed the same day she was taken. Her case has been linked to murderer Michael Schultz, who was convicted in the rape and murder of Cynthia Burger. Michael and Jennifer were one time neighbors.
Michael's former roommate expressed concern to police at the close nature of the relationship between Michael and Jennifer, since she was only 14 and he was 28 at the time. A week after Jennifer's body was found, a woman told investigators that Michael had given drugs and alcohol to Jennifer.
Michael has never been charged with Jennifer's murder and claims that although he knew her and was close to her, he had nothing to do with her death.
Timeline
-August 5 1993: Cynthia Burger, a 44 year old Port Hueneme woman, was raped and strangled, her condo was burglarized then set on fire.
-March 30 1996: Jennifer Rose Vernals is abducted from Downtown Ventura. Her remains were found 5 months later.
-1997: While in prison for unrelated charges, Michael was questioned in the Jennifer Vernals case when it surfaced that they were once neighbors.
-2000 DNA linked Michael Schultz to the rape and murder of Cynthia Burger and is charged. He has never been charged with the death of Jennifer Vernals and there are no other suspects.
Resources
Defendant is Suspect in Earlier Killing
Hello my butterfly Jennifer Rose we always think about you and want to let you know that you are missed but not forgotten.
ReplyDeleteI hope that paradise is as beautiful as you god gained a sweet angel RIP
Love kim
DeleteI remember Jennifer fondly. I still have her ribbons and missing poster and all of the articles from back then. I think of her family often. We were close friends and her loss was very hard for me.
DeleteMichael Schultz and his father attempted to murder me in 1989, I was a 19 year old kid visiting my mom. Redlands PD, in spite of the fact that I managed to fight those two men off and call 911 myself (and I was a short, fat, nerdy dude in glasses) accused me of jumping these two much larger men, and refused to investigate them for their attempted 1st Degree Murder. Redlands PD, by not doing their jobs due to police corruption (the father apparently had friends on the force) caused Jennifer and the other victim, Cynthia Berger, to be murdered. The penalty for 1st degree attempted murder in California is life in prison, and there were witnesses to their attack on me who saw from inside their house. I have regret every day that I didn't fight back more aggressively and somehow make him unable to hurt anyone else. I have resentment and anger every day to the Redlands PD who let a violent thug walk the streets while trying to punish his victims. I pray for you all!
DeleteMy daughter Heather and Jennifer were friends. We think of her often. She was a lively, vibrant, beautiful young girl, and we were heartbroken at the lose. We stood by her family along with many other friends, and even strangers, who came together to protest the lack of investigation into her disappearance. Ventura Police tagged her as a runaway and no investigation was conducted despite the fact that there was every indication that she was not a runaway. I know that Jennifer is in heaven and will always live in the hearts of those who knew her. We will never forget you Jennifer.
ReplyDeleteI remember protesting their inaction. She obviously had not run away, she wasn't with any of her friends who she would have run away with. She was one of my best friends and I still miss her. I am still mad at the injustice.
DeleteWhich Heather ? Thompson? I vaguely remember a Heather with long blond hair I went to middle school with Iam Heather Martin and was one of her best friends I have a portrait of her and her baseball cap hanging up on the wall in my house this was such a tragedy
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DeleteHeather I reme.ber you contact me at loisbowden345@gmail.com
DeleteI sent you an email Lois Live Heather
DeleteWe miss our Jenny so much. She is my only cousin. 10 years after her death my sister was murdered.
ReplyDeleteI still wit just got told her case is to old to look at by cold case detectives
DeleteI saw a cold case files episode about this that was filmed 15+ years ago. I was hoping to see that the killer was finally charged.
ReplyDeleteMy sympathies for those of you who have had to suffer this terrible loss made worse by the justice system's failure to punish the person responsible.
I was 22 when my Fiance died in a car accident many years ago. I know the pain that I felt was unbearable. I can't even imagine if her life had been taken by another. I considered suicide, but my therapist said that the odds of a family member committing suicide rise greatly when a suicide is committed in their immediate family.
People would tell me that they couldn't deal with what I was going through and they don't know how I did it. I hate hearing that. I can't deal with it either, but it's not like I have an option.
My condolences to the family and friends of the victim and also to her cousin whose life was again terrorized by murder 10 years later. I wish you all the best as you continue living your lives to the best of your abilities.
Thank you for your kind words I keep going only to find my daughters killer
ReplyDeleteMike's former roommate Dave has answers to this cold case. Neighbors saw the 2 together around 2 a.m. the night Jennifer disappeared. Talking rather intensely. And he was definitely not to be trusted. Dave was and probably still is, a scam artist and a liar. I know this personally.
ReplyDeleteI think of you all the time sweet girl, my you and Alicia keep each other company in heaven as you did in life. 😘
ReplyDeleteLois, Have you contacted the American Unsolved Cold Cases Association.I am hoping for the best.
ReplyDeleteLisa
I was 8 years old when this happened. I remember Jennifer because she was so full of life and she was so nice to me as a kid. I still think back to all this from time to time. I remember Lois as she was close to my mother at that time. It still breaks my heart to this day and I'm 36 now.
ReplyDeleteI just heard the Ventura PD solved a cold case from the 90s and was hoping it was Jennifer’s. It turned out to be a different woman, but it was from 1991 and they solved it using new advanced forensic techniques. Hopefully advances will enable them to solve Jennifer’s case soon! I sat by her in English class and she was a really sweet girl. I still think of her and hope the killer can be brought to justice someday.
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