Nikko Jenkins

Nikko Allen Jenkins

Booking photo
Born (1986-09-16)September 16, 1986
Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Residence Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS) Prison in Lincoln, Nebraska (as of March 2016)[1]
Criminal penalty Pending (as of April 2016)[2][3][4] On March 2, 2015, the judge ruled Jenkins competent for sentencing.[5]
Conviction(s) 4 counts of 1st degree murder (April 16, 2014)[6]
Killings
Victims 4
Country United States
State(s) Nebraska
Weapons 12-gauge shotgun[7]
Date apprehended
 August 30, 2013

Nikko A. Jenkins[8] is an American convicted spree killer known for committing four murders in Omaha, Nebraska in August 2013. Jenkins is easily identified by his facial tattoos, which he claims to be in the language of the ancient serpent god Apophis,[6] under whose commands he claims to act.[9] Jenkins' murder spree occurred within a month after he had been paroled from serving a ten-year prison sentence for unrelated armed robbery and assault charges.

Early years

Jenkins spent the majority of his life leading up to the murder spree behind bars.[10] He first entered the system at age 7 after bringing a loaded .25 caliber handgun to his elementary school. At age 11, Jenkins was kicked out of a group home for repetitive violence, and stopped regularly attending school. He had committed multiple assaults, including one knife assault, by age 12. In 2003, after spending time in a youth detention facility, Jenkins was sent to prison for two armed carjackings. While incarcerated, he was charged twice: for his part in a 2006 prison riot, as well as for assaulting a prison guard while on a furlough for his grandmother's funeral.[10][11]

Murders

About 5 a.m. on the morning of August 11, 2013, a patrol officer discovered two bodies in a white Ford pick-up truck parked near a city swimming pool at 18th and F Streets, in Spring Lake Park.[12] Both Juan Uribe-Pena and Jorge C. Cajiga-Ruiz had been shot in the head, their pockets turned inside out.[13] The random double-murder began Jenkins' spree, less than two weeks after his release from prison on July 30.

On August 19, around 7 a.m., the body of Curtis Bradford was found outside a detached garage at 18th and Clark Streets, by a man returning home from a night shift at a convenience store.[14] Investigators arrived to find two bullet wounds in Bradford's back. It was later revealed that Bradford and Jenkins had posed for a Facebook photo posted the day before.[7] Bradford would be the only victim familiar to Jenkins.

Jenkins' fourth and final victim, Andrea Kruger, was discovered on August 21, at about 2:15 a.m., by a deputy sheriff responding to a shots-fired call. Her body was found lying in the road at 168th and Fort Streets, with multiple bullet wounds. Kruger had been returning home after a bartending shift near 178th and Pacific Streets. Surveillance footage showed her locking up the Deja Vu Lounge at 1:47 a.m. Kruger's gold 2012 Chevrolet Traverse SUV was found abandoned 12 miles (19 km) away, in an alley at 43rd and Charles Streets, at 6:30 that evening.[15] Later that week, a news conference was held by Douglas County Sheriff Tim Dunning, in which he stated that investigators believed the SUV had been abandoned roughly 2.5 hours after being stolen, and that a "feeble attempt" had been made at setting the vehicle's interior ablaze.[16]

Victims

Date Name Age Race Crime scene Method Relation
1 August 11, 2013 Juan Uribe-Pena[12] 26 Hispanic Pick-up truck by swimming pool at Spring Lake Park, near 18th & F St shot in head none
2 August 11, 2013 Jorge C. Cajiga-Ruiz[12] 29 Hispanic Pick-up truck by swimming pool at Spring Lake Park, near 18th & F St shot in head none
3 August 19, 2013 Curtis Bradford[14] 22 Black Near 18th & Clark St, outside detached garage shot in head met in prison
4 August 21, 2013 Andrea Kruger[15] 33 White 168th St near Fort St, middle of road multiple shots none

Arrest

On August 30, 2013, Nikko Jenkins was arrested on an unrelated terroristic threats charge. But by then, evidence against him had mounted—investigators had the image of a female associate on surveillance footage at a local gun outlet buying the kind of distinctive ammunition (Brenneke Classic Magnum 12-gauge, commonly known as "deer slugs") that had been used to commit the killings.[7][13] Additional footage had been pulled from cameras along the route to Kruger's abandoned SUV.[16][17] On the evening of September 3, Jenkins confessed to all four murders during a rambling 8-hour interview, attributing the acts as a sacrifice to Apophis.[13] He was charged with four counts of murder following the confession.[7]

Trial

In handwritten letters dated November 3, 2013, submitted to the Omaha World Herald, prosecutors, and a judge, Jenkins said he wished to plead guilty to all counts in the four slayings, and that he would protect Apophis' kingdom with "animalistic savage brutality".[18]

On February 19, 2014, Jenkins filed a federal lawsuit seeking $24.5 million from the State of Nebraska for wrongfully releasing him from prison, stating that his claims of hearing voices from Apophis were repeatedly ignored. In the six-page handwritten filing, he stated that being kept in solitary confinement augmented his schizophrenia. He blamed corrections officials for the four killings.[19]

After being declared competent to stand trial,[20] the proceedings against Jenkins commenced. On his request, Jenkins was allowed to represent himself at trial, under the guidance of advisory attorneys.[21] Throughout the trial, Jenkins maintained that he acts under the command of Apophis.[9] His courtroom antics included speaking in tongues, howling, and laughing as prosecutors recounted the details of his victims' deaths.[6]

On April 16, Judge Peter Bataillon found Nikko Jenkins guilty of all four murders.[6]

Sentencing dilemma

Jenkins was initially scheduled to be sentenced on August 11, 2014. The date was delayed indefinitely following a hearing held to determine whether he was capable of understanding the death penalty proceedings against him.[22] On July 29, Judge Bataillon ordered Jenkins to be housed at the Lincoln Regional Center psychiatric hospital until doctors were satisfied with his condition.[4] Officials at the Regional Center refused to house Jenkins due to inadequate security,[23] but doctors agreed to treat him at a Lincoln prison.[24]

References

  1. ↑ Jake Wasikowski. "Nikko Jenkins reportedly swallows set of keys; Chambers calls for prison director's resignation". KMTV. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  2. ↑ "Dismissal of suit against state over Jenkins release upheld". starherald.com (Scottsbluff Star-Herald Online). Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  3. ↑ Lena Tillett. "State Doctors: Nikko Jenkins Is Competent For Sentencing". wowt.com, WOWT. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  4. 1 2 Todd Cooper (29 July 2014). "Nikko Jenkins is ordered to Lincoln Regional Center for treatment". Omaha World Herald. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  5. ↑ Kyle Gravlin (2 March 2015). "Nikko Jenkins competent for sentencing, judge says". KETV. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Todd Cooper (April 16, 2014). "When judge asks, Nikko Jenkins says 'I killed them'". Omaha World Herald. Retrieved July 31, 2014. He claimed that “command voices” clouded his memory of the killings. He said he remembered that the voices matched phrases that are tattooed on his face. “Kill them, destroy them, attack them,” he said, translating the words.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Maggie O'Brien, Roseann Moring (4 September 2013). "CrimeStoppers tips linked 4 slayings, then Jenkins described spree to police". Omaha World Herald. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  8. ↑ "Nikko Jenkins has spent his life in the system". Omaha.com. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  9. 1 2 Todd Cooper (April 2, 2014). "Nikko Jenkins opened up to police in 'long night'". Omaha World Herald. Retrieved July 31, 2014. Jenkins has maintained that he acts under the command of Opophis [sic], whom he calls an Egyptian serpent god.
  10. 1 2 Roseann Moring, Todd Cooper (September 8, 2013). "Nikko Jenkins has spent his life in the system". Omaha World Herald. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  11. ↑ Todd Cooper (September 5, 2013). "Judge's math let Nikko Jenkins out of prison early". Omaha World Herald. Retrieved July 30, 2014.
  12. 1 2 3 Kevin Cole (12 August 2013). "2 found slain in truck at Omaha park". Omaha World Herald. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  13. 1 2 3 Todd Cooper (4 May 2014). "The night Nikko Jenkins confessed". Omaha World Herald. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  14. 1 2 Alissa Skelton, Kevin Cole (20 August 2013). "Homicide victim's mom says he was turning his life around". Omaha World Herald. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  15. 1 2 Jay Withrow, Alissa Skelton (22 August 2013). "Funeral set for Omaha woman shot on way home". Omaha World Herald. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  16. 1 2 "Sheriff: We have a killer on the loose". KETV. 23 August 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  17. ↑ Maggie O'Brien (6 September 2013). "After Kruger slaying, police acted fast to prevent more killings". Omaha World Herald. Retrieved 31 July 2014. High-resolution security cameras also helped solve the case, said Dunning, who previously acknowledged that at least one image of Kruger's stolen sport utility vehicle was captured on a surveillance tape.
  18. ↑ Todd Cooper (6 November 2013). "In letter, Nikko Jenkins says he wants to plead guilty to all counts in 4 slayings". Omaha World Herald. Retrieved 31 July 2014. In those, Jenkins claimed to be ruled by an Egyptian serpent demon named “Ahpophis” [sic] and warned that he would protect the kingdom with “animalistic savage brutality.”
  19. ↑ Todd Cooper (20 February 2014). " "Nikko Jenkins files federal lawsuit against prison system". Omaha World Herald. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  20. ↑ Todd Cooper (20 February 2014). "Nikko Jenkins ruled competent to stand trial". Omaha World Herald. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  21. ↑ Duane Retzlaff (14 March 2014). "Judge: Nikko Jenkins can represent himself in court". Omaha World Herald. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  22. ↑ Todd Cooper (10 July 2014). "Hearing again asks: Is Nikko Jenkins really mentally ill?". Omaha World Herald. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  23. ↑ Grant Schulte (4 August 2014). "Regional Center won't accept Nikko Jenkins". The Associated Press. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  24. ↑ "Nikko Jenkins will get treatment at Lincoln prison". The Associated Press. 12 August 2014. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
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