A Waterford couple was arrested on charges of second degree murder and improper disposal of a body in connection with the homicide of Melissa Jenkins.
Allen Prue, 30, and Patricia Prue, 33, husband and wife, were arrested Tuesday night following an investigation by the FBI, Vermont State Police and local authorities.
They are being held at the St. Johnsbury jail and will be arraigned at 11 a.m. today.
Maj. Ed Ledo of the Vermont State Police said Jenkins’ death was caused by strangulation, according to Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Steven Shapiro.
Police said investigators had combed crime scenes that ranged from Jenkins’ vehicle, where her 2-year-old son had been found, to the remote location on Comerford Dam Road where her body was found, and the Prues’ residence.
Ledo said the Prues’ home had been secured overnight and the investigation was ongoing.
“We are grateful for all of the assistance and support from cooperating agencies, the community, and the press while we investigated this case,” said Major Ed Ledo. “Our efforts in this case are not complete, as there is still much work to be done; however we hope these arrests help bring some closure to the family and friends of Melissa Jenkins. Members of the Crime Scene Search Team executed a search warrant at the Prue residence last night and will continue throughout the day. The scene was secured over night. The dedicated men and women of the Vermont State Police and the FBI assigned to this investigation played a vital role in how quickly Ms. Jenkins’ body was found and the preservation of evidence which ultimately resulted in the apprehension of the Prues.”
The Caledonian-Record reports Allen Prue is a subcontracted newspaper delivery driver for the newspaper as well as an independent snow plow driver and had plowed Jenkins’ driveway once several years ago.
Police said the Prues knew Jenkins.
We’ll update this story following the arraignment.
The Associated Press
