Awareness=Answers

The story of Chris Jenkins is so unbelievable, it’s hard to comprehend it’s true. “Footprints of Courage” exposes real life details of the business student’s murder and the bungled police investigation that are so chilling, you’ll wish it was fiction.

“Of course, there were times when we didn’t think we could go on.” When Jan Jenkins had those moments, she’d clear off her mantle and line up pictures of her son. Staring into Chris’ eyes gave Jan the energy to search for him, the courage to investigate how he died and the inspiration to tell his story.

“I told the story and I told it straight up,” Jan says matter-of-factly. Jan just completed writing “Footprints of Courage.” It’s first and foremost a tribute to her beloved son. “It is the only justice that young man will ever get.”

Chris was last seen getting kicked out of the Lone Tree Bar in Minneapolis on Halloween 2002. When police initially refused to investigate Chris’ disappearance, Jan and Steve Jenkins organized search parties, hired private investigators and fought for the truth. Right away, Jan and Steve recognized the similarities between their son’s disappearance and that of other young men.  They appeared on Good Morning America in November 2002 and asked for a multi-disciplinary task force comprised of local, state, and federal agencies.

Chris’s body was recovered in the Mississippi River in February 2003. Police closed the case and his death was ruled an accidental drowning. Jan and Steve didn’t buy the police explanation and always believed Chris was murdered. They kept searching for answers because “we had to stand up to the nonsense. We lost a child and we lost faith in every system that was there to help.”

It took years, but Minneapolis Police did publicly admit making mistakes and changed Chris’ official cause of death to homicide. It is currently an inactive open investigation. Click here to go deeper into the Jenkins investigation.

Jan hopes “Footprints of Courage” will inspire others and can be a blueprint for parents of missing children. “If your gut is telling you something is wrong, stand up for it,” she says. While acknowledging and honoring other parents’ decisions about how to deal with their child’s death, Jan and Steve asked each other only one question “If you can’t stand up for your own child, what could you ever stand up for?”

Does Jan believe Chris’ murder is connected to others? Without a pause and with deep conviction, she says, “Beyond the shadow of a doubt.”

“Footprints of Courage” is on sale. Click here to pre-order a copy and to read more about Chris.

UPDATE: Jan Jenkins will be signing books on September 30 from 1-5 p.m. at Bremer Bank.  Bremer is located at 11800 Singletree Lane in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.  

NOTE: Steve and Jan Jenkins opened their files, their lives and their hearts to me. Several years ago, they told me Chris’ murder was connected to other mysterious drowning deaths.  In April 2008, we brought the story to a national audience on Good Morning America. I can tell you that the work Jan and Steve have done is saving lives. Ultimately, they’ve laid the groundwork for a full federal investigation.

Click here for the Chris Jenkins tribute website.

Click here to read earlier sfkillers.com posts about Chris Jenkins.

Kristi Piehl Uncategorized

Bryan Barker

Bryan Barker, a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee student, was last seen leaving a Milwaukee bar early July 4th. He’d been celebrating a friend’s birthday at Sullivan’s on Water Street. According to Bryan’s friend Zac, Bryan may have been kicked out of the bar after a fight.  Bryan told friends he was walking to a nearby bar.  The media is reporting Bryan left to walk home. Click here to read more about Bryan.

On  July 6, Bryan’s body found in the Milwaukee River about two blocks from where Bryan was last seen.  

People who live nearby continue to write on this blog and email me because they say the facts don’t add up. The location where Bryan was found is in the opposite direction of his house and the other bar he may have been going to.  Read more from Bryan’s friends in the comments section of this post.

Police say Bryan’s death is a tragic accident and there is no sign of foul play.  The medical examiner ruled drowning as the cause of death.  

Here’s how a local newspaper linked Bryan’s death to others, “Barker’s death will be added to a growing list of college-age drinking fatalities. According to a 2007 Associated Press story, nine college-age men have drowned since 1997 in La Crosse-area rivers after drinking heavily.” 

While I normally don’t add my personal comments – I can’t help myself.  How many young men have to die before people take time to look at the facts, learn about the victims and use critical thinking skills? Why isn’t this happening to women?  Why do these drowning deaths continue to happen in the same states?  When will reporters stop drinking the kool-aid some police pour after a victim is recovered in the water?

Kristi Piehl Case Updates