"Shortly after Mr. Lannon was arrested, our detectives went to St. Louis and interviewed him about the case," he said. Lannons mother and sister dropped the kids off with the Whitmans on March 7 for a visit and authorities moved in to place the family under protective custody. WISH GRANTED FOR LITTLE BOY GRIEVING THE LOSS OF HIS BABY SISTER. Working man & sole provider of family on the brink of losing everything receives a big Christmas blessing from Biancas Kids. Photo: Washington Township Police Department; GoFundMe, Bodies of 4 People Including a Mom of 5 Found in Trunk of Car in New Mexico, Man Charged with Killing Ex-Wife and 2 Others in New Mexico After Allegedly Killing Man in New Jersey, Man Wanted in Connection with 5 Killings Including Death of Ex-Wife Is Found and Arrested, Cold Cases Heat Up: How Advances in DNA Technology Are Helping to Bring Justice for Victims, Pa. Police Arrest 'Supposed' Friend, Business Partner in Death of Mom Found in Shallow Grave, N.J. Woman Accused of Murdering Husband on Christmas; Victim Was Active in Local Politics, N.J. By Feb. 18, all three were determined to be missing. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. To donate, click here. Apostalon, who lived out of his vehicle, was known to give people rides for cash, but it was not known if thats how he met the other three victims. RCSJ Continues to Expose Hidden Truths with Afrocentric Collection, AG Investigates K-9's Death In South Jersey, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Recognizes RCSJ Administrator, Protect Your Home from Ticks with Yard Guard from Viking Pest, West Deptford Job Openings: See Who's Hiring In The Area, Police Use-Of-Force Incidents Could Drop With New NJ Initiative, Only In New Jersey: The Palace Of Depression. According to Whitman, Sean Lannon flew with the children March 4, the day before Jennifer Lannons body was found, to New Jersey, where he left the children with his family and said he was returning west to continue looking for his ex-wife. Jennifer and Sean Lannon, who are originally from South Jersey, divorced in 2019, according to New Mexico court records, with a judge ruling in favor of Sean Lannon. To raise $100,000 so she can sue Fox News for their, "Malicious, reckless lies about me.". The filing sought custody of . All rights reserved (About Us). He acts very nice and we do lots of things with him. According to Grants Police, the case began when 21-year-old Matthew Miller went missing in Grants. He did not even bring a weapon to the home. After the ceremony, the entire family gathered at Atkinson Park in Washington Township to have lunch and celebrate. We are granting this wish with a check for $1,000.00 for family members to provide Jennifers kids with whatever they need at the moment. However, the investigation would take another surprising turn when Lannon allegedly admitted to killing a total of 16 people, NBC Philadelphia reports. Though the couple had divorced in 2019, they still lived together in Grants. From his familys South Jersey home, Sean Lannon headed to Virginia, using a false identity to get rides from drivers with Uber and Lyft, according to NJ.com. He said his client killed Dabkowski during the subsequent fight. He left the kids with family and then traveled to multiple locations . They love each other, Whitman said. "But outside of that, we knew nothing else. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. Jennifer Whitman Lannon Family Fund $21,644 raised of $30,000 goal Donate now Joseph Wojtowicz $25 4 mos Anonymous $25 11 mos Janet Meyers $25 11 mos Nancy Caruso $100 11 mos Anonymous $45 16 mos See top Lisa Walker is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Chris Whitman. Albuquerque police spokesman Gilbert Gallegos Jr. said Sunday that of the four bodies found at the airport, it appeared one was killed in Albuquerque "and that is what our detectives are focused on" while the other three appeared to have been killed in the Grants area of Cibola County. A cemetery posted a personal ad for a goose whose mate died. Join Facebook to connect with Jennifer Lannon and others you may know. The investigators are still reviewing electronic records, communications, surveillance video and financial documents as part of the investigation and are working to try to track down additional witnesses in the case, the official said. Mom Is Fatally Shot by Retired Police Officer Ex-Boyfriend, Who Then Turns Gun on Himself, Teen Was Killed with Ax After Meeting Man on Phone Chat Line in 1998. The deaths are being investigated as homicides and Jennifer's husband, Sean Lannon, is a person of interest in the case, Albuquerque police told the AP. Read MoreBoulder crashes into home; rolls through living room and ends up in bedroom, Insurance companies State Farm and Progressive say they have temporarily stopped writing new auto insurance policies for some model years and trim levels of Hyundai and Kia vehicles because of Read MoreState Farm, Progressive have stopped insuring some Kia, Hyundai vehicles, More than 50,000 pounds of ready-to-eat sausage products have been recalled over concerns of possible listeria contamination. The oldest child has an understanding, while the younger ones have only a basic grasp of it all. Gutierrez said in court Friday that Sean Lannon told police he walked in on his ex-wife with one of the slain men, NJ.com reported. Sections of this page. It brings some kind of peace, knowing that theyre here with us and were able to honor my sister. But outside of that, we knew nothing else. The body of Jennifer Lannon, a 39-year-old South Jersey native, and the severed corpses of her boyfriend and another man were packed into storage containers in the truck's cab and bed, say police. Police named Lannon was a person of interest shortly after the discovery. Police officials said Jennifer Lannon, Mata and Miller were known to be friends, but it was unclear how, or even if, the trio knew Apostalon. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. The Whitmans two kids get along great with their new brother and sisters. A New Mexico man suspected of killing five people, including his ex-wife, across two states has claimed hes killed a total of 16 people, authorities said. Though the couple had divorced in 2019, they still lived together in Grants. Sean M. Lannon, 47, has been charged in New Jersey with the March 8 murder of 66-year-old Michael Dabkowski, the Associated Press reports. Right now, we are still looking for evidence, doing search warrants and talking to a lot of people, but nobody has been charged yet. The hammer used to kill Dabkowski was in the vehicle when Lannon was arrested, NJ.com reported. Chavez told NJ.com that authorities were close to filing charges there. In this photo taken in October 2020, Jennifer Lannon, second from right, poses for a photo with her brother Chris Whitman, second from left, and sisters, Sarah Whitman, far left, and Kim Bermudez . (Provided photo). On a GoFundMe page set up by family, Jennifer is described as having been "a beloved daughter, sister and most importantly a mom to five kids." "This is an extremely emotional time for our family," the page reads. We build boats, cars and things like that. Unfortunately, we are still investigating that and conducting search warrants for evidentiary value. Police said three of them had been reported missing in January from Grants, about 80 miles west of Albuquerque. George Santos stepping down from House committees, A recall of Banana Boat Hair & Scalp Sunscreen Spray that was found to contain high levels of benzene has been expanded. One is believed to have died in Albuquerque. This was the first in-person adoption the court had held in two years because of the pandemic, Whitman noted. Dabkowski said he learned a lot from his young friends, as well. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Jennifer Whitman Lannon Family Fund GoFundMe. Whitman said his family did not believe his sister had run off and left behind her children, including two girls ages 6 and 7 and a 4-year-old boy shed had with Sean Lannon. A year later, hes accused of five killings in all, including four in New Mexico, and sits in a New Jersey jail cell. Frank Unger, Lannons public defender, on Friday challenged the states probable cause to charge his client with murder. I am happy to have Mike as my Big Brother, Sean Lannon said, according to NJ.com. In the Jennifer Whitman Lannon Family Fund GoFundMe, Jennifer Lannon is described as a beloved daughter, sister and most importantly a mom to five kids, who are currently staying with family members. When Sean M. Lannon flew back to New Jersey from New Mexico with his three young children on March 4, he told his wife's family he planned to find a new job and then return West to look for his. Theres just something that tells me thatI just cant see it," Castillo said. Winds light and variable. March 22, 2021 / 3:12 PM They were still parenting together, and there was no indication that there was trouble, at all, Whitman told the AP. We still want justice, Whitman said. He claimed he dismembered several of the bodies. According to the Journal, the bodies were found by Sunport security personnel investigating a foul smell on the top level of the airports parking deck. One is believed to have died in Albuquerque. From his familys South Jersey home, Sean Lannon headed to Virginia, using a false identity to get rides from drivers with Uber and Lyft, according to NJ.com. A newsletter obtained by NJ.com shows that Dabkowski was named Big Brother of the Year in 1985 by the Big Brothers and Sisters of Gloucester and Camden County. Shortly after Mr. Lannon was arrested, our detectives went to St. Louis and interviewed him about the case, Gallegos said. Those. Their bodies were in Apostalons truck when they were found, the AP reported. The Albuquerque Journal reported that two of the four known New Mexico victims were found in pieces. Apostalon, however, was from Albuquerque. It was after the second break-in attempt that he went to Dabkowskis home, authorities said. We have Christmas surprises for over 100 kids & families this holiday season! Its my understanding that the FBI is assisting New Mexico in their investigation.. Sean Lannon, 47, is a suspect in five killings in New Jersey and New Mexico. The victims were identified as Jennifer Lannon, 39; Matthew Miller, 21; Jesten Mata, 40; and Randal Apostalon, 60. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) Jennifer Lannon loved her children, though she lost custody of them because of her struggle with prescription drug use. Mom Is Fatally Shot by Retired Police Officer Ex-Boyfriend, Who Then Turns Gun on Himself. For right now, the Whitmans are treasuring this moment of joy as they continue their healing process. He stated that he murdered his wife and [her] boyfriend in New Mexico and that he also murdered Michael Dabkowski in New Jersey," Alec Gutierrez, assistant prosecutor of Gloucester County, said, WPVI reports. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. Days later, Lannon was arrested in Missouri while driving the victim's car. Dabkowski had mentored him as a child through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. Prosecutors offered him a 50-year prison sentence in return for a guilty plea to killing Dabkowski and the defense is considering a counter-offer. Jump to. Pittsburgh woman missing for 31 years found alive in Puerto Rico, School shooting survivor has emotional audition on "American Idol", White supremacist and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes kicked out of CPAC, Skeletal remains found in Pennsylvania identified as man missing since 2013. Lt. David Chavez of Grants, New Mexico, police said, according to the AP. On Monday, New Mexico authorities announced that charges against Lannon for the deaths of his ex-wife and three others were imminent. Police in New Mexico scrambled to alert their counterparts in New Jersey. Jennifer Lannon and two other persons found dead in the vehicle 21-year-old Matthew Miller and 40-year-old Jesten Mata had been sought for weeks by police in Grants, New Mexico, a town. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23, who grew up with her brother and sisters in Blackwood, Lannon is accused of bludgeoning the man to death, and the defense is considering a counter-offer. The other one has trauma from everything, so weve been dealing with that. "She was a great mom and, just, it would be uncharacteristic of her to not be with her. An online fundraiser has been launched to benefit Jennifer Lannon, who authorities say was among four people in New Mexico who were killed by her ex-husband. In a feature in the newsletter, published by Dabkowskis employer, the boys said that Dabkowski, a research engineer by trade, took them to movies, as well as boating, hiking and fishing. Last week 39-year-old Jennifer Whitman Lannon was brutally murdered. The whole family, including all five kids and Jennifers parents, were in attendance as the adoption was made official Friday morning in Woodbury. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. He left his kids with his mother in Gloucester County and headed off. They were still parenting together, and there was no indication that there was trouble, at all, Whitman told the AP. It worked. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. When Millers truck was found abandoned in Grants on Feb. 9, Grants investigators began searching for Lannon and Mata to ask about Millers disappearance. Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Pour en savoir plus sur la faon dont nous utilisons vos donnes personnelles, veuillez consulter notre politique relative la vie prive et notre politique en matire de cookies. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). (Provided photo). The gruesome discovery at the parking garage about 80 miles (129 kilometers) from the tiny town where Lannon, Mata and Miller lived touched off a nationwide manhunt for Lannon's ex-husband in a strange case stretching from New Mexico to New Jersey that raised questions about possible serial killings and left grieving loved ones trying to understand what happened. Three days after the quadruple homicide was discovered, a welfare check conducted 2,000 miles away at the East Greenwich Township, New Jersey, home of Michael Dabkowski, 66, led to the discovery of his body. Miller, Lannon, and Mata were all reported missing out of Grants in January. Police officials said Jennifer Lannon, Mata and Miller were known to be friends, but it was unclear how, or even if, the trio knew Apostalon. According to Millers family, he was last seen Jan. 24 as he left to give Mata and Lannon a ride somewhere. Dabkowski, who has been described as a Big Brothers Big Sisters of America youth mentor to Sean Lannon and his twin brother, Eric Lannon, was bludgeoned to death with a hammer, according to court records obtained by the AP. Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.