Both agencies held a joint news conference Friday, June 25 and outlined the details of the case, and why information is being sought years after the initial report was filed to authorities.
Wheeling Police began their investigation on Aug. 3, 2018, when Trevor Vossen, 27 and Lauren “Lulu” Jenkins, 28, who was five months pregnant, were reported missing.
Roughly two weeks later, on Aug. 15, 2018, dismembered and burned human remains were found along Sullivan Road, a rural area in Raleigh County, W.Va. For several days, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office investigated, and later that month, the West Virginia Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the burned remains, identified via dental records, were Vossen and Jenkins.
The remains were later sent to the Smithsonian Institution – National Museum of Natural History, Department of Anthropology in Washington, D.C. for forensic analysis.
Wheeling Police, learning of the findings downstate, and having an active missing person’s case, communicated with the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office and together were able to connect the crime.
Based on a lengthy investigation, Wheeling Police detectives believe that Vossen and Jenkins were lured to a house in Wheeling, murdered, their bodies dismembered and then transported to Raleigh County, W.Va. to be destroyed by fire.
Police are also seeking information on the whereabouts of Vossen’s 2002 two-door White Honda Accord SE, which has been missing since the crime took place. The car had a WV license plate number of 73K986.
Gerald Wayne Jako, Jr. is being considered as a person of interest in the triple homicide. Jako has since been convicted of an unrelated crime and was sentenced to 100 years in prison in 2019. Jako’s conviction and sentencing were recently upheld by the West Virginia State Supreme Court.
Initially, authorities suspect people may have been reluctant to talk with police because of fear of retaliation. With Jako incarcerated, law enforcement is hoping anyone with information may feel more at ease to have a conversation with investigators.
“We believe there are others out there that have knowledge of what happened. We will not give up on justice for Trevor and Lulu and hope someone will come forward to help,” said Shawn R. Turak, Assistant Ohio County Prosecuting Attorney.
“Our work on this case will continue. Detectives are still looking for any tip that may offer more details or provide insight on what happened. We urge anyone who knows more to call us,” said Sgt. Rob Safreed, Investigations Commander for the Wheeling PD.
Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger added, “This is a very complex case and requires a lot of knowledge. I am proud of the skill set and professionalism of the Wheeling Police Department. I am also pleased to have a great working relationship with the Ohio County Prosecutors Office, as well as many other law enforcement agencies in West Virginia.”
Anyone with information on is case can call the Wheeling Police Department at 304-234-3664, The Raleigh County, W.Va. Sheriff’s Office at 304-255-9300 or the Crime Stoppers Upper Ohio Valley tip line at 877-TIPS-4-US.
