On a tragic summer day, the community of Burley, Idaho, was rocked by the violent death of 62-year-old Donna Jenks, a White/Caucasian female, on July 8, 2025. She was discovered shot to death inside her home, a place that should have been a sanctuary. The devastating scene unfolded as sheriff's deputies found her husband, 66-year-old Kelly Jenks, also deceased from a gunshot wound in the living room.
Donna's body was located in a closet near the back of the house; both had suffered gunshot wounds to the head.
The investigation into the double homicide quickly expanded, revealing a string of killings that spanned multiple counties. Earlier that same day, authorities in the nearby town of Rupert were investigating the suspicious shooting death of a woman. Later that night, a fourth victim was found in a vehicle in Minidoka County, connecting the Jenks' murders to a larger, more horrifying crime spree. Neighborhood surveillance footage from the Jenks' street became a crucial piece of evidence, capturing a gold 2013 Toyota Tundra arriving at their residence and a man entering and leaving the home that afternoon. This information, along with evidence from the other crime scenes, pointed to a single suspect.
That same evening, law enforcement located the suspect's vehicle in Shoshone and conducted a traffic stop. The driver, identified as 56-year-old Benjamin Roy Naylor of Burley, was taken into custody. At the time of his arrest, Naylor was reportedly wearing a camouflage jacket and was armed with a 1911-style handgun in a shoulder holster. He was subsequently charged with four counts of first-degree murder with a deadly-weapon enhancement and held without bond.
Donna Jenks was remembered as a devoted grandparent who, along with her husband, cherished their daughter and young granddaughter. An online fundraiser set up by friends highlighted the couple's close family ties. Her obituary described a life centered around caring for others; she had worked as a paraprofessional at an elementary school for 20 years before retiring. The senseless act of violence left a deep void in the lives of her family and the community she had long been a part of.
