Mary Ann Jenkins, a 22-year-old woman, was tragically murdered on April 11, 1977. Her body was discovered in East St. Louis, Illinois, but authorities were unable to identify her killer at the time. The case remained unsolved for decades, leaving her family without answers.
More than 40 years later, investigators began exploring a potential connection between Jenkins' murder and the notorious serial killer Samuel Little. Little had confessed to 90 murders across the country, including at least two in the St. Louis area. In 2018, Illinois State Police interviewed Little, who provided details and a sketch of a woman he admitted to killing in East St. Louis. Authorities believe this information may link him to Jenkins' death.
Jenkins' son, Jamar, was only four years old when his mother was murdered. He recalled detectives informing his family of her death, though he did not fully understand the gravity of the situation at the time. As he grew older, the absence of his mother deeply affected his life, leading him into a cycle of gang involvement and incarceration. Now in his forties, Jamar hopes that solving his mother's murder will bring him closure and allow him to move forward.
While investigators continue to examine the evidence, Jenkins' family remains hopeful that justice will finally be served. The possibility of confirming Little's involvement in her murder could provide long-awaited answers and accountability for the crime that took her life.
