Overview of JodyLeCornu:
Jody was shot in the back while in a parking lot in Baltimore, MD. Could identifying the man in the white car uncover the identity of who killed her?
Jody LeCornu and her twin sister, Jenny, were inseparable growing up. The pair shared a bedroom, shared the same group of friends, and had similar interests in the same activities. Jody was described by her sister as being the “strong twin”, who always had a big smile on her face. Overall, Jody is described by family members and friends as someone who had a true heart of gold, and was always trying to help those in need around her. At the time of her death, Jody was a 23 year old student at Towson University in Maryland, who was studying geriatrics, and had recently started a part-time job at the Eastern Savings Bank in the area as a receptionist.
The evening of March 1, 1996, began like any other day for Jody.
She attended her normal shift at the Eastern Savings Bank before visiting the Mount Washington Tavern, where she planned to have a drink with a group of friends to wind down her evening. Jody remained at the tavern until closing time, which was around 2:00 am on the morning of March 2, 1996. After the last call at the tavern, an employee of the bar asked Jody for a ride home, to which she happily obliged. After she drove him home to the Roland Park area of Baltimore, Jody drove out to a nearby ATM to withdraw some money, before stopping at the Curbe Shoppe Bar to buy some beers.
By 3:00 am, Jody had left the shop and had traveled to a parking lot at the Drumcastle Shopping Center, where she had parked to make some phone calls. During this time, Jody had placed a call to the Mount Washington Tavern, where she tried to talk with the manager of the bar, who declined to talk, before calling a former roommate’s boyfriend. The content of this conversation is unknown. As she sat in that parking lot making phone calls, a white BMW pulled into a nearby parking spot, and a man, who remains unidentified, exited the car and approached Jody. Jody and the unidentified man share a short exchange before he returns to his vehicle, but it is unknown whether they knew each other. Shortly after, sometime around 3:40 am, the man in the white BMW fired a shot through the back left passenger window of Jody’s car, hitting her in the back. Jody tried to quickly drive out of the parking lot in an attempt to save her life, though she had only made it out of the parking lot before she was stopped by a curb and succumbed to her wound.
An individual making deliveries at a nearby business witnessed the entire attack.
As he called police, the eyewitness watched as Jody’s car rolled out of the parking lot, and informed police that the white BMW had followed behind Jody’s car. Before the suspect fled the scene, according to the eyewitness, he reached into Jody’s car, put it in park, and took something from inside of the car. By the time police arrived on the scene, Jody had succumbed to her injuries.
Where the case stands today.
Jody’s sister, Jenny, has remained persistent in her attempts to find her sister’s killer, and continues to seek justice, as she has for the past 26 years. Recently, Jenny has been able to raise enough money to erect three billboards in the area where Jody was killed, with hopes of generating tips.
According to the eyewitness, the suspect drove a white BMW, and fled southbound on York Road. The suspect is described as “a black male with a stocky build”, who was wearing a green-colored army or camouflage style coat, according to police.There is currently a $100,000 reward being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual(s) responsible for Jody’s death. If you have any information, please contact Metro Crime Stoppers of Maryland at (866) 7LOCKUP (756-2587).
Information:
Date of Death:March 2, 1996
Birthday:October 28, 1972
Age at Incident:23
Race:Caucasian / White
Gender:Female
Victim: Jody LeCornu
Jody was a 23-year old college student at Towson State University studying geriatrics. Jody is described by loved ones as someone with a heart of gold, always had a big smile on her face, and was always willing to help someone in need. Jody was known to always take extra precautions for her personal safety, especially when she was alone.
Timeline:
February 29, 1996
Late Night: Jody and her boyfriend Steve Durbin get into a fight
Details
Before they leave for work the next morning, he asks her not to return home. He assumes that she would go stay with her parents in Annapolis.
📍Jody's Home (Approx. Location)
Related People:
Jody LeCornu: Victim
Steve Durbin: Significant Other Of Victim
March 1, 1996
Early Evening: Jody goes to work
Details
Jody works her normal shift at the Eastern Savings Bank in Hunt Valley where she is employed as a receptionist.
📍Eastern Savings Bank
Related People:
Jody LeCornu
March 1, 1996
Late Night: After work, Jody goes to Mr. Washington tavern
Details
Jody enjoys the evening with friends at Mt. Washington Tavern—a bar she frequented.
📍Mt. Washington Tavern
Related People:
Jody LeCornu
March 2, 1996
2:00am: After last call, the manager of Mt. Washington Tavern asked Jody to drive an employee of the tavern home
Details
At about 2:00 a.m. Jody drives the bar employee home to the Roland Park area, an act that is considered very out of character for Jody, as she was known to take extra precautions for her own safety.
📍Mt. Washington Tavern
Related People:
Jody LeCornu
Manager Of Mt. Washington Tavern
Person With Information / Witness
Employee Of Mt. Washington Tavern
Person With Information / Witness
March 2, 1996
Overnight: Jody goes to an ATM before going to buy beer
Details
After dropping off the employee, Jody drives to an ATM to withdraw money and then stopped to buy beer.
Related People
Jody LeCornu
March 2, 1996
3:00am: Jody parks her car in a parking lot
Details
Around 3:00 a.m. she parks in the Caldor parking lot which is around the corner from her home and three miles from the Mt. Washington Tavern.
📍Caldor (Drumcastle Government Center)
Related People
Jody LeCornu
March 2, 1996
Overnight: Jody sits in the parking lot and makes some phone calls
Details
As she is sitting in her car, parked in the dark, snowy lot, she makes a couple of phone calls—including one to the Mt. Washington Tavern to speak to the manager who says he is too busy to talk. She then calls and spoke with the boyfriend of a woman who had been a former roommate of Jody’s. The content of her conversation is not known.
📍Caldor (Drumcastle Government Center)
Related People
Jody LeCornu
Manager Of Mt. Washington Tavern
Person With Information / Witness
March 2, 1996
Overnight: A white BMW pulled close to Jody’s white Honda Civic
Details
The man exits his car and approaches Jody's car before she rolls down her drivers side window. It is unclear whether or not Jody knew the man. After a brief exchange, the man returns to his vehicle.
📍Caldor (Drumcastle Government Center)
Related People
Jody LeCornu
Unidentified Suspect (Person Of Interest / Suspect)
March 2, 1996
3:40am: The man in the white BMW fires a .38 caliber handgun through the back, left passenger window of Jody’s car
Details
The bullet tears through Jody’s back and severs her spine. Eyewitnesses working at the Giant supermarket across York Road and another person making a delivery to the Boston Market hear the gunshot. They look out into the dark, snowy night to see Jody driving across York Road and into the Giant parking lot before her car circles and coasts to a stop after hitting a curb between the Boston Market and the Firestone Tire and Service Center.
📍Caldor (Drumcastle Government Center)
Related People
Jody LeCornu
Unidentified Suspect (Person Of Interest / Suspect)
March 2, 1996
3:41am: Eyewitnesses call the police
Details
While on the phone with police, eyewitnesses continue watching Jody's car and the suspect. The witnesses describe the suspect as a black male in "his mid-20s to early 30s, between 5'10" and 6'1", weighing between 200 and 220 pounds." The witnesses add that the suspect was wearing a green fatigue-style or camouflage jacket.
📍Giant Foods
Related People
Vince Raines (Person With Information / Witness)
March 2, 1996
Overnight: The man in the white BMW followed Jody's car as it coasted across the street
Details
The eyewitnesses notice that Jody is closely followed across York Road by her kiler. He stays back in the shadows waiting for Jody to die alone in her car.
📍Where Jody's Car Stopped
Related People
Jody LeCornu
Unidentified Suspect (Person Of Interest / Suspect)
Vince Raines (Person With Information / Witness)
March 2, 1996
Overnight: Then man approaches Jody’s car
Details
In an unhurried fashion—he reaches reaches in, and puts the car in park before reaching across her body, taking her purse and her mobile car phone.
📍Where Jody's Car Stopped
Related People
Jody LeCornu
Unidentified Suspect (Person Of Interest / Suspect)
March 2, 1996
Overnight: The killer flees the scene
Details
The killer then pulls out of the lot and turns south on York Road then east onto Walker Avenue
📍Where Jody's Car Stopped
Related People
Unidentified Suspect (Person Of Interest / Suspect)
March 2, 1996
Police arrive on the scene
Details
By the time police are able to arrive to the scene, only moments after the witnesses called for help, Jody had already died.
Related People
Vince Raines (Person With Information / Witness)
October 29, 2018
The first billboard is erected
Details
A billboard is erected less than a mile away from where Jody was shot and killed in her car 20 years earlier.
December 8, 2018
The reward is increased to $100K and three more billboards are erected
Details
In December of 2018, the reward for Jody's case raises from $32,000 to $100,000, as family members and police hope for an influx in tips. In addition to the increased reward, there are also three additional billboards placed around Baltimore.
Sources of Information
BillboardDelmarva Now / Daily Times
$100K Reward Offered To Help Solve 1996 Murder Of Towson StudentCBS 13 / WJZ-TV
Billboard (continued)Delmarva Now / Daily Times
Seeking clues 20 years after a killingThe Baltimore Sun
26 years later, questions remain in the fatal shooting of Jody LecornuNBC 11 / WBAL-TV
BillboardDelmarva Now / Daily Times
Justice 4 JodyJustice 4 Jody
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