Megan Kanka
Encyclopedia
The murder of Megan Kanka occurred on July 29, 1994 in Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey
. The 7 year old Kanka was raped and murdered by her neighbour Jesse Timmendequas. The murder attracted national attention and subsequently led to the introduction of "Megan's Law
", which requires law enforcement to disclose details relating to the location of registered sex offenders.
Kanka's family set up a charitable foundation, the Megan Nicole Kanka Foundation
, with the aim of preventing crimes against children.
to the attempted aggravated sexual assault
of a five-year-old girl in Piscataway Township, New Jersey
. He was given a suspended sentence but, after failing to go to counseling, he was sent for nine months to the Middlesex Adult Correctional Center. In 1981, Timmendequas pleaded guilty
in regards to the assault of a seven-year-old girl, and was imprisoned at the Adult Diagnostic & Treatment Center (ADTC) in Avenel, New Jersey
for six years.
Timmendequas reportedly participated little in the treatment program offered at the ADTC. He was described by one therapist who treated him at the facility as a "whiner" who spent most of his time sleeping. Another therapist stated that she had believed that Timmendequas would eventually commit another sex crime (although she did not believe he would commit murder).
and dumping it in nearby Mercer County Park
. The next day, he confessed to investigators and led police to the site.
Evidence including bloodstains, hair, and fiber
samples, as well as a bite mark matching Kanka's teeth on Timmendequas' hand, led to Timmendequas being found guilty of kidnapping
, four counts of aggravated sexual assault, and two counts of felony murder
— committing murder in the course of a felony.
The court sentenced Timmendequas to death, and the sentence was upheld by the New Jersey Supreme Court
on appeal. Congressman
Dick Zimmer
stated, "I believe he is exactly the kind of predator that the legislature had in mind when it enacted the death penalty
."
Timmendequas remained on New Jersey's Death Row
until December 17, 2007, when the New Jersey Legislature abolished the state's death penalty. This ban resulted in Timmendequas's sentence being commuted to life in prison without the possibility of parole
.
passed a series of bills proposed by Paul Kramer
that would require sex offender registration
, with a database tracked by the state, community notification of registered sex offenders moving into a neighborhood and life in prison for repeat sex offenders. Kramer expressed incredulity at the controversy created by the bills, saying that "Megan Kanka would be alive today" if the bills he proposed had been law.
Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey
Hamilton Township is a Township in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township had a total population of 88,464...
. The 7 year old Kanka was raped and murdered by her neighbour Jesse Timmendequas. The murder attracted national attention and subsequently led to the introduction of "Megan's Law
Megan's Law
Megan's Law is an informal name for laws in the United States requiring law enforcement authorities to make information available to the public regarding registered sex offenders. Individual states decide what information will be made available and how it should be disseminated...
", which requires law enforcement to disclose details relating to the location of registered sex offenders.
Kanka's family set up a charitable foundation, the Megan Nicole Kanka Foundation
Megan Nicole Kanka Foundation
The Megan Nicole Kanka Foundation is a non-profit charity founded by the family of Megan Kanka with the intent of preventing crimes against children....
, with the aim of preventing crimes against children.
Jesse Timmendequas
Jesse K. Timmendequas (born April 15, 1961) had two previous convictions for sexually assaulting young girls. In 1979 he pleaded guiltyPlea
In legal terms, a plea is simply an answer to a claim made by someone in a civil or criminal case under common law using the adversary system. Colloquially, a plea has come to mean the assertion by a criminal defendant at arraignment, or otherwise in response to a criminal charge, whether that...
to the attempted aggravated sexual assault
Sexual assault
Sexual assault is an assault of a sexual nature on another person, or any sexual act committed without consent. Although sexual assaults most frequently are by a man on a woman, it may involve any combination of two or more men, women and children....
of a five-year-old girl in Piscataway Township, New Jersey
Piscataway Township, New Jersey
The township consists of the following historic villages and areas: New Market, known as Quibbletown in the 18th Century, Randolphville, Fieldville and North Stelton...
. He was given a suspended sentence but, after failing to go to counseling, he was sent for nine months to the Middlesex Adult Correctional Center. In 1981, Timmendequas pleaded guilty
Plea
In legal terms, a plea is simply an answer to a claim made by someone in a civil or criminal case under common law using the adversary system. Colloquially, a plea has come to mean the assertion by a criminal defendant at arraignment, or otherwise in response to a criminal charge, whether that...
in regards to the assault of a seven-year-old girl, and was imprisoned at the Adult Diagnostic & Treatment Center (ADTC) in Avenel, New Jersey
Avenel, New Jersey
Avenel is a census-designated place and unincorporated area within Woodbridge Township, in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the CDP population was 17,552...
for six years.
Timmendequas reportedly participated little in the treatment program offered at the ADTC. He was described by one therapist who treated him at the facility as a "whiner" who spent most of his time sleeping. Another therapist stated that she had believed that Timmendequas would eventually commit another sex crime (although she did not believe he would commit murder).
Murder and trial
Timmendequas lured Kanka into his house by offering to show her a puppy. He subsequently raped Kanka, slammed her head onto a dresser, put two plastic bags over her head and strangled her to death with a belt. He moved her body to his truck, assaulting her a further time before placing the body in a wooden toy chestChest (furniture)
A chest is one of the oldest forms of furniture. It is typically a rectangular structure with four walls and a liftable lid, for storage. The interior space may be subdivided...
and dumping it in nearby Mercer County Park
Mercer County Park
Mercer County Park is a recreational park located mostly within West Windsor Township, New Jersey. Mercer County Park encompasses over covering areas of the Townships of West Windsor, Hamilton and Lawrence. It is the home for the US Olympic Rowing Team's training center...
. The next day, he confessed to investigators and led police to the site.
Evidence including bloodstains, hair, and fiber
Fiber
Fiber is a class of materials that are continuous filaments or are in discrete elongated pieces, similar to lengths of thread.They are very important in the biology of both plants and animals, for holding tissues together....
samples, as well as a bite mark matching Kanka's teeth on Timmendequas' hand, led to Timmendequas being found guilty of kidnapping
Kidnapping
In criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or transportation of a person against that person's will, usually to hold the person in false imprisonment, a confinement without legal authority...
, four counts of aggravated sexual assault, and two counts of felony murder
Felony murder rule
The rule of felony murder is a legal doctrine in some common law jurisdictions that broadens the crime of murder in two ways. First, when an offender kills accidentally or without specific intent to kill in the course of an applicable felony, what might have been manslaughter is escalated to murder...
— committing murder in the course of a felony.
The court sentenced Timmendequas to death, and the sentence was upheld by the New Jersey Supreme Court
New Jersey Supreme Court
The New Jersey Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It has existed in three different forms under the three different state constitutions since the independence of the state in 1776...
on appeal. Congressman
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
Dick Zimmer
Dick Zimmer (New Jersey politician)
Richard Alan "Dick" Zimmer is an American Republican Party politician from New Jersey, who served in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature and in the United States House of Representatives. He was the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate from New Jersey in 1996 and 2008...
stated, "I believe he is exactly the kind of predator that the legislature had in mind when it enacted the death penalty
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
."
Timmendequas remained on New Jersey's Death Row
Death row
Death row signifies the place, often a section of a prison, that houses individuals awaiting execution. The term is also used figuratively to describe the state of awaiting execution , even in places where no special facility or separate unit for condemned inmates exists.After individuals are found...
until December 17, 2007, when the New Jersey Legislature abolished the state's death penalty. This ban resulted in Timmendequas's sentence being commuted to life in prison without the possibility of parole
Parole
Parole may have different meanings depending on the field and judiciary system. All of the meanings originated from the French parole . Following its use in late-resurrected Anglo-French chivalric practice, the term became associated with the release of prisoners based on prisoners giving their...
.
Megan's Law
One month after the murder, the New Jersey General AssemblyNew Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
passed a series of bills proposed by Paul Kramer
Paul Kramer
Paul Kramer is an American Republican Party politician. He served four terms in the New Jersey General Assembly, where he represented the 14th Legislative District from 1992 to 2000.-Early career:...
that would require sex offender registration
Sex offender registration
Sex offender registration is a system in various states designed to allow government authorities to keep track of the residence and activities of sex offenders, including those who have completed their criminal sentences. In some jurisdictions , information in the registry is made available to the...
, with a database tracked by the state, community notification of registered sex offenders moving into a neighborhood and life in prison for repeat sex offenders. Kramer expressed incredulity at the controversy created by the bills, saying that "Megan Kanka would be alive today" if the bills he proposed had been law.