Human Resources (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)

In March of 1999, a detective in Norcross, Georgia, was reviewing video footage from a murder scene. He zoomed in on a particular frame, and a smile spread across his face. The exact thing he was looking for was not there, a crucial detail that would set the course for a complex investigation into the murder of Danielle Jennings.

The Discovery of a Body

On the afternoon of March 15, 1999, Danielle Jennings, a 20-year-old woman, was found strangled to death in her apartment at the Ashley Lake Apartments in Norcross, Georgia. Her fiancé, Luis Payano, discovered her body after leaving work early when she failed to return his calls. Upon entering their apartment, Luis found Danielle's purse overturned in the kitchen, its contents scattered. He then proceeded to the bedroom, where he found Danielle lying face down on the bed, fully dressed. Her face was dark blue, indicating asphyxiation. Luis immediately called 911.

Detective Bob King of the Gwinnett County Police Department arrived at the scene 45 minutes later. He observed the crime scene, noting the nylon stocking cinched tightly around Danielle’s throat. The apartment showed no signs of forced entry, and nothing valuable appeared to have been stolen. A wad of cash was left on the kitchen floor, and the TV, computer, and jewelry box were untouched. This led King to initially believe that robbery was not the motive. The manner of death—strangulation—suggested an intimate act, pointing towards someone Danielle knew. The fact that there was no forced entry also suggested that the killer had a key or was let in, further narrowing the suspect pool to someone close to Danielle, possibly a romantic partner.