Ryan Jenkins (entrepreneur)
 | This article is currently being heavily edited because its subject has recently died. Information about their death and related events may change significantly and initial news reports may be unreliable. The most recent updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. |
 | It has been suggested that this article be merged into Murder of Jasmine Fiore and Talk:Jasmine Fiore#Move?. (Discuss) Proposed since August 2009. |
Ryan Jenkins | |
|---|---|
| File:Ryan Jenkins mugshot Vegas April 2009.jpg | |
| Born | Ryan Alexander Jenkins February 8, 1977 |
| Died | August 23, 2009 (aged 32) |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Alma mater | Mount Royal College (aviation 1997) Calgary Flight Training Centre (1999)[1] |
| Occupation(s) | Real estate develpment company owner television personality, socialite |
| Known for | Reality TV contestant, fugitive suspected in the murder of wife Jasmine Fiore |
Ryan Alexander Jenkins (February 8, 1977 – between August 21 and August 23, 2009) was a Canadian reality show contestant and real estate entrepreneur, who became a fugitive and was the suspected killer of his wife, swimsuit model Jasmine Fiore.
Jenkins was found dead in the Thunderbird Hotel in Hope, British Columbia, on August 23, 2009, by staff after he failed to check out of his room.
Murder of Jasmine Fiore
Investigators reported that Jenkins and Fiore checked into the L'Auberge Del Mar hotel in San Diego the night of August 13. Jenkins left the hotel the following morning with a gray suitcase. Fiore was not seen alive again. On August 15 Jenkins reported Fiore missing.[2][3]
On August 19, 2009, U.S. Customs stated that Jenkins' status of "Person of Interest" had been upgraded to "Potential Suspect". The Whatcom County Sheriff's Department received witness reports of Jenkins' black BMW SUV towing a boat towards the Canadian border. Deputies later found the SUV and an empty boat trailer at a marina in Blaine, Washington.
The U.S. Coast Guard reportedly encountered a speedboat believed to be Jenkins' at sea but the vessel fled into Canadian waters. Canadian authorities then gave chase with a helicopter and a boat but the suspect's speedboat crossed back into US waters, landing in Point Roberts, a peninsula that extends south of the 49th parallel, but is not connected by land with the rest of the United States.[4][5] Point Roberts shares a relatively unguarded and forested border with the British Columbia community of Tsawwassen.[6][7]
Suicide
On August 21 Jenkins arrived at the Thunderbird Motel in Hope, British Columbia, in a PT Cruiser with Alberta license plates, but stayed in the car while a young woman paid cash for three nights accommodation. The hotel manager described her as being very "pretty" and that she was likely between 25 and 30 years old. She apparently parked the car beside a dumpster rather than in a parking lot before checking in, which made the manager a bit suspicious. The manager also said she was very calm when registering. The lady, after registering, went to her room for about ten minutes before leaving and driving away. Then, Jenkins entered the room the woman had checked into and was not seen again.
After Jenkins failed to check out on August 23, and having noticed suspiciously little activity over the weekend, the motel manager and his nephew decided to check on the room. Jenkins was found deceased, apparently by suicide; the body was found hanging from the wall's clothes rack by a belt.[8][9]
VH1's response
Jenkins had been a contestant on two VH1's reality shows, Megan Wants a Millionaire as well as the third season of I Love Money. Following the announcement that Jenkins was connected with the murder, VH1 removed Megan Wants a Millionaire from circulation and its schedule, as well as removing the show's page from its website. The show was postponed until further notice and was then canceled on August 22. He was known as the "Smooth Operator". The day after his death, the network announced it would not run I Love Money 3.[10][11] 51 Minds, the production company who licensed the show to VH1, stated that they did perform a criminal background check on Jenkins, however, his 2007 assault charge from Canada did not show up.[12]
According to Jenkins' father, Dan Jenkins, Fiore would take off for days and lie about it to him; and Fiore was Jenkins' only friend in California.[13]
References
- ^ http://www.globalwinnipeg.com/Jenkins+violent+addict+court+papers/1915450/story.html
- ^ "Search for Suspect in Swimsuit Model Murder Intensifies". KTLA. 2009-08-21. Retrieved 2009-08-21.
- ^ Leonard, Tom (2009-08-20). "Reality show contestant Ryan Alexander Jenkins sought in model's death". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2009-08-21.
- ^ "Suspect in model's murder led police on boat chase before fleeing to Canada, sources said". LA Times blogs. 2009-08-21.
- ^ Expert explains why Ryan Jenkins’ details were held back News 1130, August 21, 2009
- ^ Breuer, Howard (2009-08-19). "INSIDE STORY: The Reality Star and the Murdered Playboy Model". People. Retrieved 2009-08-21.
- ^ Fugitive Calgarian charged with murder in US, CBC News, August 20, 2009
- ^ "Fugitive murder suspect found dead". The Globe and Mail. 2009-08-23. Retrieved 2009-08-23.
- ^ "Body of Ryan Jenkins found in Hope motel". The Hope Standard. 2009-08-23. Retrieved 2009-08-23.
- ^ "Megan Wants a Millionaire Officially Cancelled". VH1.com. August 24, 2009.
- ^ http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/08/24/jenkins-murder024.html
- ^ RE Jenkins' background check
- ^ http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2009/08/24/10592816-sun.html