8 Murders in 8 Days; Montgomery Residents Worried About Safety

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By Heather VacLav

Story Created: Jun 13, 2012 at 11:45 PM CDT

Story Updated: Jun 14, 2012 at 1:47 PM CDT

In just eight days, eight people were murdered with no known connection except with the city of Montgomery. Two out of the eight crimes were committed in Montgomery, however the others involved extensive manhunts inside city limits.
 
While Montgomery's overall crime statistics are down, the back-to-back murders are making many people question their safety in the city.
 
“It’s been the most violent, that I can remember in a long, long time, its just been one right after another,” said Miriam Shehane, executive director of Victims of Crime and Leniancy (VOCAL).
 
Shehane helped found VOCAL after she lost her daughter Quenette to a violent crime more than 35 years ago.
 
“Murder is the ultimate crime, it is the ultimate crime,” Shehane repeated while sitting on the couch in her family room holding a picture of her daughter.
 
These “ultimate crimes” have happened one right after another in Lowndes, Montgomery and Lee Counties.
 

Time line of Murders:

  • Monday June 4th: there was a triple homicide in Lowndes County. According to the Alabama Bureau of Investigation, 9-year old twins Taylor and Jordan Dejerinett and their babysitter 73-year old Jack Mac Girder were shot and killed by 22-year old Deandra Lee of Montgomery.
  • Thursday, June 7th: Montgomery police found a man who was shot and killed...the 11th homicide of 2012 in the city.
  • Saturday, June 9th: Auburn police say 22-year old Desmonte Leonard shot six people, three died as a result of the gunshot wounds.
  • Monday, June 11th: Montgomery police responded to a shooting on the 1300 block of Audubon Road where a man died from gunshot wounds…the 12th homicide in the city.

  

“I'm not quite sure what's going on,” said Patricia Cox of Montgomery, “It seems like, in the bible, they talk about the last days, and right now its seems pretty rampant.”
   
While these crimes are the talk of the town, Miriam Shehane says since her daughter was murdered she still does not know a pinpointed resolution. However she does warn that these violent crimes may serve as a wake-up call to the public, to be aware of what could happen to you.
 
If you or a loved one needs help coping with or getting through some of the recent crimes, VOCAL offers free counseling 24-hours a day: call 1-800-239-3219.

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