MURDERED: Wendy Jerome
When a teenage girl goes out to deliver a birthday card to her best friend, she never makes it home alive. Her family and police would search for her killer for decades, and in the process, this case would make history in the state of New York.
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Wendy Jerome.
Credit: Jerome Family Photo
Wendy and her father Wayne.
Credit: Jerome Family Photo
Aerial photo of School 33.
Courtesy: Rochester Police Department
Outside of School 33.
Courtesy: Rochester Police Department
The blood drop on the corner of Rosewood Terrace and Schafer Street.
Courtesy: Rochester Police Department
Wendy’s bra at the crime scene.
Courtesy: Rochester Police Department
The note in Wendy’s pocket.
Courtesy: Rochester Police Department
Wendy’s casefile box.
Credit: Audiochuck staff
Investigator Gary Galetta.
Credit: Audiochuck staff
Sergeant Gus Venosa.
Courtesy: Gus Venosa
The handcuffs used to arrest Timothy.
Credit: Audiochuck staff
Sergeant Gus Venosa’s tattoo for Wendy.
Courtesy: Gus Venosa
Timeline:
7:00pm
Wendy Jerome leaves her house to visit her best friend, Sue.
7:30pm
Wendy leaves Sue’s house. This is the last time she was seen alive.
About 10:45pm
Wendy’s body is found.
The first attempt to use DNA to find a potential suspect failed when a semen sample collected at the crime scene did not result in any matches in CODIS.
DNA sample is submitted to the state crime lab for familial comparisons. Lab officials tell police that the sample did not meet the testing requirements.
Police submitted a DNA sample that the state crime lab says it could test.
Timothy Williams is arrested for the murder of Wendy Jerome.
The first trial for Timothy Williams begins.
The judge declares a mistrial due to “juror misconduct.”
Timothy Williams’ retrial begins.
Timothy Williams is sentenced to 25 years to life.
School 33
Where Wendy’s body is found.
Rosewood Terrace and Shafer Street
The location of the blood drop.
Timothy’s House
Where Timothy used to live with his cousin.
Sue’s House
The house Wendy was visiting and then left at 7:30 pm.
The Jerome Residence
Where Wendy and her family lived.
We’d love to speak with you and see how we can support.
If you’re a law enforcement agency or family member of one of the people we mentioned in this episode, or if you’re looking for more coverage on a case, please reach out. You can email us at:
Episode Source Material
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Original reporting by Nina Schutzman
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Various police, court documents, and public records.
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Democrat & Chronicle (Rochester, NY): Body of teen-age girl is found at School 33 by Mark Pittman. Published November 23, 1984. Accessed April 3, 2025 via newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/136568380 & https://www.newspapers.com/image/136568384
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Democrat & Chronicle (Rochester, NY): Victim was ‘sweet, caring’ by Todd Lighty. Published November 24, 1984. Accessed April 3, 2025 via newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/136568441
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Democrat & Chronicle (Rochester, NY): Mother won’t give up on decades-old cold case by Jon Hand. Published November 12, 2012. Updated December 16, 2014. Accessed April 3, 2025. https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2014/12/16/wendy-jerome-cold-case-rochester/20510947/
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The New York Times (New York City, NY): 36 Years Later, Police Arrest Suspect in Rape and Killing of a 14-Year-Old by Michael Levenson. Published September 11, 2020. Accessed April 3, 2025. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/11/nyregion/Wendy-Jerome-arrest.html
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WHEC News 10 (Rochester, NY): Testimony to start Thursday in cold-case murder of 14-year-old in 1984 by Marsha Augustin. Published November 29, 2023. Accessed April 3, 2025. https://www.whec.com/top-news/testimony-to-start-thursday-in-cold-case-murder-of-14-year-old-in-1984/
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Rochester First (Rochester, NY): Timothy Williams takes the stand for rape and murder case by Dan Gross and Taylor Mulligan. Published March 7, 2024. Accessed April 3, 2025. https://www.rochesterfirst.com/crime/timothy-williams-takes-the-stand-in-court-for-rape-and-murder-case/
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13 WHAM ABC (Rochester, NY): Man accused of killing 14-year-old girl in Rochester in 1984 takes stand in own defense by Jackie Napier. Published March 7, 2024. Updated November 22, 2024. Accessed April 3, 2025. https://13wham.com/news/local/timothy-williams-to-testify-in-own-defense-wendy-jerome-rape-murder-trial-retrial-rochester-thanksgiving-1984
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Spectrum News (Rochester, NY): Timothy Williams found guilty of murder in 1984 killing of teen Wendy Jerome by Wendy Wright. Published March 8, 2024. Accessed April 3, 2025. https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/rochester/public-safety/2024/03/08/timothy-williams-found-guilty-of-murder-in-death-of-wendy-jerome
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Spectrum News (Rochester, NY): Timothy Williams sentenced to 25 years to life in Rochester cold case murder by Wendy Wright. Published April 17, 2024. Accessed April 3, 2025. https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/rochester/public-safety/2024/04/17/timothy-williams-sentenced-to-25-years-to-life-in-rochester-cold-case-murder
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People v Williams via Justia U.S. Law https://law.justia.com/cases/new-york/other-courts/2022/2022-ny-slip-op-22355.html
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