Bio

Jesse K. Timmendequas was born on April 15, 1961. He grew up in a troubled environment in New Jersey. His childhood was marked by instability and hardship. His mother struggled with alcohol, and it is reported that she had ten children with seven different men. His father was also known to have a history of violence and criminal behavior.

Timmendequas faced significant challenges at a young age. He was described as having emotional problems and was classified as “educable mentally retarded.” However, there were conflicting reports regarding his intellectual capabilities. Timmendequas’ family life was quite chaotic and dysfunctional. According to some accounts, he lived in poverty. The family sometimes resided in inadequate conditions, and he faced neglect.

In 1979, when Timmendequas was 18 years old, he pleaded guilty to attempted aggravated sexual assault against a five-year-old girl. He received a suspended sentence but was later sent to Middlesex Adult Correctional Center for nine months due to his failure to attend counseling.

By 1981, he was involved in a more severe case, where he pleaded guilty to the sexual assault of a seven-year-old girl. This incident led to a six-year sentence at the Adult Diagnostic & Treatment Center in Avenel, New Jersey. At Avenel, his participation in treatment programs was minimal. He was described negatively by therapists, who reported that he often seemed disengaged and lackadaisical.

Regardless of the mental health evaluations, some experts believed that he might commit further sexual offenses in the future. After serving his time, Timmendequas moved in with two other convicted sex offenders in Hamilton Township, New Jersey.

Murder Story

On July 29, 1994, Jesse Timmendequas lured seven-year-old Megan Kanka into his home in Hamilton Township, New Jersey. He told her he wanted to show her a puppy. Once inside, he attempted to sexually assault her. When Megan screamed and tried to escape, Timmendequas became afraid of being caught. He then strangled her with a belt, causing serious injuries during the struggle. To prevent blood from staining his carpet, he placed a plastic bag over her head.

After he believed Megan was dead, Timmendequas put her body into a toy box. He carried the box downstairs and then loaded it into his truck. Before disposing of her body, he sexually assaulted her again. He drove to nearby Mercer County Park, where he removed her body from the box and left it in tall weeds.

The following day, when Megan’s family reported her missing, Timmendequas joined in the search. He spoke to police and provided conflicting statements about when he last saw her. Eventually, after many hours, he confessed to the murder and led investigators to Megan's body.

Evidence against Timmendequas included blood, hair, and fibers found at his home, as well as a bite mark on his hand that matched Megan's teeth. He was charged with kidnapping, multiple counts of aggravated sexual assault, and felony murder. His trial began in May 1997, and on May 30, he was found guilty on all counts.

During the penalty phase of the trial, Timmendequas was sentenced to death. However, in December 2007, the New Jersey Legislature abolished the death penalty, and his sentence was commuted to life in prison without the possibility of parole. As of 2010, he is held at New Jersey State Prison in Trenton.