A lengthy article with much information.
https://www.montanapress.net/post/jennifer-pentilla-a-montanan-forever-lost-in-new-mexico
https://www.montanapress.net/post/jennifer-pentilla-a-montanan-forever-lost-in-new-mexico
NM NM - Jennifer Pentilla, 18, Deming, 17 Oct 1991
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Thanks for posting.
Not only was that a good summary of the case but you gain a sense of who Jennifer (and her mother) are and really feel the tragedy of her being missing.
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Bumping up thread for Jennifer.
Pentilla case: 25 years unsolved
DEMING — Jennifer Lynn Pentilla was only 18 years old when she left on a bicycle mission trip to help those less fortunate in Mexico and never made the return journey home.
eu.demingheadlight.com
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Details of disappearance updated:
Jennifer Lynn Pentilla – The Charley Project
Pentilla left her home in Missoula, Montana in late September 1991. She planned to travel to San Diego, California to meet with a missionary group.
Pentilla was in Las Cruces, New Mexico in mid-October 1991. She was riding her new white Fuji mountain bicycle and carrying her backpack, a sleeping bag, a tent and other camping gear, $450 in cash, two Bibles and books about Mexico. She had decided to bike to Mexico and work with another mission assisting the poor.
Pentilla called her mother in Montana eight times between October 1 and October 13 to report her trip's progress. She called home the last time on October 17 from Deming, New Mexico. She placed the call a pay phone from the Shell gas station on Main Street, which is no longer in operation. Pentilla said her next stop was Las Cruces, New Mexico.
She said she heard Mexico could be dangerous for a single woman traveling alone, so she had changed her plans. She was thinking of traveling to Minnesota to visit a friend instead. Pentilla's mother offered to pay for her transport to Minnesota or back home after she made more concrete plans, and Pentilla agreed to call her mother that evening with her decision. She never called back, never arrived at the friend's home and has not been heard from again.
Pentilla's camping gear, backpack, bicycle helmet and journals were discovered by hunters under a tree about a mile off State Road 26, seven miles from Hatch, New Mexico, in 1992, approximately one year from the time Pentilla had disappeared. The road leading up to that site is on a marked private hunting preserve and blocked by a fence and a locked gate. Hatch is approximately 46 miles northeast of Deming, New Mexico.
There has been no trace of Pentilla since that time, and her bicycle has never been found. The bike is described as a white Sundance Fuji bicycle with green lettering, a front battery-operated headlight, black saddlebags on the front and rear, Jennifer's aunt's name engraved on the underside, and the serial number F 9101771.
Multiple witnesses said they saw Pentilla with Jesus "Chuy" Vasquez on the day of her disappearance, after her call with her mother. Vasquez's ex-girlfriend stated she saw a leather bracelet on Vasquez that was similar to Pentilla's leather friendship bracelet, and when she asked Vasquez about it, he stopped wearing it. Vasquez later killed his brother in a fight and served four years in prison for manslaughter. He returned to the Deming area after his release.
Another person of interest in Pentilla's disappearance is Henry Apodaca, a farm laborer from Hatch who reportedly bragged about kidnapping Pentilla. Apodaca was never charged in her case, and died in 2011.
Pentilla is originally from Great Falls, Montana. She moved to Missoula, Montana shortly before beginning her travels in September 1991. Her mother stated she had previously traveled to as far as Africa with religious groups. Pentilla's case remains unsolved.
Jennifer Lynn Pentilla – The Charley Project
Pentilla left her home in Missoula, Montana in late September 1991. She planned to travel to San Diego, California to meet with a missionary group.
Pentilla was in Las Cruces, New Mexico in mid-October 1991. She was riding her new white Fuji mountain bicycle and carrying her backpack, a sleeping bag, a tent and other camping gear, $450 in cash, two Bibles and books about Mexico. She had decided to bike to Mexico and work with another mission assisting the poor.
Pentilla called her mother in Montana eight times between October 1 and October 13 to report her trip's progress. She called home the last time on October 17 from Deming, New Mexico. She placed the call a pay phone from the Shell gas station on Main Street, which is no longer in operation. Pentilla said her next stop was Las Cruces, New Mexico.
She said she heard Mexico could be dangerous for a single woman traveling alone, so she had changed her plans. She was thinking of traveling to Minnesota to visit a friend instead. Pentilla's mother offered to pay for her transport to Minnesota or back home after she made more concrete plans, and Pentilla agreed to call her mother that evening with her decision. She never called back, never arrived at the friend's home and has not been heard from again.
Pentilla's camping gear, backpack, bicycle helmet and journals were discovered by hunters under a tree about a mile off State Road 26, seven miles from Hatch, New Mexico, in 1992, approximately one year from the time Pentilla had disappeared. The road leading up to that site is on a marked private hunting preserve and blocked by a fence and a locked gate. Hatch is approximately 46 miles northeast of Deming, New Mexico.
There has been no trace of Pentilla since that time, and her bicycle has never been found. The bike is described as a white Sundance Fuji bicycle with green lettering, a front battery-operated headlight, black saddlebags on the front and rear, Jennifer's aunt's name engraved on the underside, and the serial number F 9101771.
Multiple witnesses said they saw Pentilla with Jesus "Chuy" Vasquez on the day of her disappearance, after her call with her mother. Vasquez's ex-girlfriend stated she saw a leather bracelet on Vasquez that was similar to Pentilla's leather friendship bracelet, and when she asked Vasquez about it, he stopped wearing it. Vasquez later killed his brother in a fight and served four years in prison for manslaughter. He returned to the Deming area after his release.
Another person of interest in Pentilla's disappearance is Henry Apodaca, a farm laborer from Hatch who reportedly bragged about kidnapping Pentilla. Apodaca was never charged in her case, and died in 2011.
Pentilla is originally from Great Falls, Montana. She moved to Missoula, Montana shortly before beginning her travels in September 1991. Her mother stated she had previously traveled to as far as Africa with religious groups. Pentilla's case remains unsolved.
Jennifer's belongings were found 40 miles from Demming. It appears that she planned to camp there that night, but she took her bike, unweighted by her gear, to Hatch to get supplies. Whatever he happened to her, it probably happened during this trip. Chuy, the gas station guy, was the last person known to have interacted with her, but that doesn't mean he killed her. If she had done so, she would have dumped her body and her belongings in the desert near Demming, there would be no reason to go to Hatch or leave the team at a known "party spot." Chuy may not have been an angel, but it's unlikely he had anything to do with this.
Someone's memory of seeing her with farm workers in Hatch is something that could be a valid sighting but could also be mistaken identity or simply someone wanting to be part of the investigation. The bike wasn't expensive ($200 maybe), but it would have been worth keeping or trying to sell. I wonder if anyone at Hatch was hanging around during the first part of the investigation.
However, something a little strange is that "Chuy's ex-girlfriend, Amy Chavez, saw a leather bracelet on "Chuy" similar to Jennifer's, and when she mentioned it to him, he stopped wearing it." Of course, she's the ex-girlfriend, so there's no way to know how reliable her testimony is. However, I feel like we can't exclude Chuy. I have no idea how busy that gas station is or how many people work there, so how hard it would be for him to slip away or go unnoticed. However, is it possible that Jennifer left her belongings in the desert, thinking that she would return soon and camp there while she quickly went out to get some drinks or snacks from the gas station? I think that would make Chuy the most likely suspect? He maybe saw a couple of 100 bills in his wallet while he was paying....
either way
rest in peace
Someone's memory of seeing her with farm workers in Hatch is something that could be a valid sighting but could also be mistaken identity or simply someone wanting to be part of the investigation. The bike wasn't expensive ($200 maybe), but it would have been worth keeping or trying to sell. I wonder if anyone at Hatch was hanging around during the first part of the investigation.
However, something a little strange is that "Chuy's ex-girlfriend, Amy Chavez, saw a leather bracelet on "Chuy" similar to Jennifer's, and when she mentioned it to him, he stopped wearing it." Of course, she's the ex-girlfriend, so there's no way to know how reliable her testimony is. However, I feel like we can't exclude Chuy. I have no idea how busy that gas station is or how many people work there, so how hard it would be for him to slip away or go unnoticed. However, is it possible that Jennifer left her belongings in the desert, thinking that she would return soon and camp there while she quickly went out to get some drinks or snacks from the gas station? I think that would make Chuy the most likely suspect? He maybe saw a couple of 100 bills in his wallet while he was paying....
either way
rest in peace
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Jennifer Pentilla – CUE – Community United Effort
ncmissingpersons.org
Jennifer Lynn Pentilla - New Mexico Missing Person Directory
Details and Pictures of Jennifer Lynn Pentilla, Missing since October 1991
www.missingin.org
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Article clipped from The Missoulian
Clipping found in The Missoulian published in Missoula, Montana on 9/11/1994.
missoulian.newspapers.com
Article clipped from The Missoulian
Clipping found in The Missoulian published in Missoula, Montana on 10/14/1998.
missoulian.newspapers.com
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Does she have any NamUs exclusions? Here are some Jane Doe's that are the closest I could find to Jennifer's description..
UP5273 (Location makes sense but age is slightly off and height is way off)
UP91578 (slightly outside of age range but the bracelets are interesting to me, I'd be interested to know the estimated year of death)
UP8385 (Age slightly off again, but everything else tracks)
UP1976 (broadened the search to other states and this was the only AZ entry that made sense to me)
UP7212 (her nose is very similar to Jennifer's but all the physical deformities are throwing me off)
UP5273 (Location makes sense but age is slightly off and height is way off)
UP91578 (slightly outside of age range but the bracelets are interesting to me, I'd be interested to know the estimated year of death)
UP8385 (Age slightly off again, but everything else tracks)
UP1976 (broadened the search to other states and this was the only AZ entry that made sense to me)
UP7212 (her nose is very similar to Jennifer's but all the physical deformities are throwing me off)
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Double checked NamUs and there are no additional exclusions listed. List is above in post #27. If you are unable to view them, let me know.
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A lot of the links in this thread no longer work, so from I was able to read, I gathered the following. I'm not so sure Chuy did it, unless he moved her possessions later closer to Hatch ( she probably told him she was headed in that direction) to throw peoole off if/when they were found. Did he smoke? As for baby food, I don't know why that would have any connection to him. Perhaps Jennifer did eat baby food sometimes on her trip, as it was hard to eat normal food. Who knows. It seems that stuff might be from someone else than Chuy at least. Maybe Henry Apodaca did it, or maybe someone else.
I'd look into directions besides Chuy. Just because he killed his brother doesn't mean he also murdered Jennifer. I think if he had killed Jennifer, it would have been harder to cover up and there would have been more witnesses(I know there are supposedly some), unless they covered for him. Wasn't he supposed to be working? Who else was working or coming into work after he finished? I think more basic questions need to be asked before assuming it was Chuy who was responsible for her disapearence.
Jennifer sounds very naive and overly adventurous and too trusting, and she defintely seems to have ran into the wrong person or persons, whether Chuy or someone else. I doubt her death was accidental. The country looks pretty flat and the cigarette butts and food were found with her stuff, although perhaps the baby food was hers, and perhaps the cigarette butts were because of it being a teen party spot.
I'd look into directions besides Chuy. Just because he killed his brother doesn't mean he also murdered Jennifer. I think if he had killed Jennifer, it would have been harder to cover up and there would have been more witnesses(I know there are supposedly some), unless they covered for him. Wasn't he supposed to be working? Who else was working or coming into work after he finished? I think more basic questions need to be asked before assuming it was Chuy who was responsible for her disapearence.
Jennifer sounds very naive and overly adventurous and too trusting, and she defintely seems to have ran into the wrong person or persons, whether Chuy or someone else. I doubt her death was accidental. The country looks pretty flat and the cigarette butts and food were found with her stuff, although perhaps the baby food was hers, and perhaps the cigarette butts were because of it being a teen party spot.
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Ah, silly me. Yes, I can see them! Thank you.
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Abducted in New Mexico: The Disappearance of Jennifer Lynn Pentilla
Jennifer Lynn Pentilla, 18, disappeared on October 17, 1991, while traveling on bicycle through Deming, New Mexico.
truecrimediva.com
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Jennifer Pentilla looks to me exactly-- and I mean exactly-- like murder victim Tammy Zywicki, who was last seen near her disabled vehicle on an intererstate near La Salle IL on August 23, 1992. Tammy's body was found in Joplin Missouri on September 1 1992. Jennifer:
Tammy:
Tammy was 21 yo, 5'2", 120 lbs, blonde hair & green eyes; Jennifer's 18 yo at time of disappearance, 5'5", 125 lbs, blonde hair & blue eyes. Both girls definitely into fitness, Tammy played sports and Jennifer's clearly into cycling and the outdoors. And oddly, both had somewhat unusual watches. Jennifer had a Rice Krispies watch; Tammy had a musical watch that played "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head." It had an umbrella on its face and it was not recovered with Tammy's remains.
Are these cases related? Jennifer was last seen/heard from Oct 17, 1991, so if this is the same killer (and I will hope it's not and that perhaps Jennifer is still alive), if Jennifer and Tammy shared the same killer, hypothetically, Tammy would have been murdered almost a year after Jennifer. Right around the same time of year. Here's a route map from La Salle IL (around where Tammy was last seen before her body was recovered in Joplin) to Deming NM, where Jennifer was last seen:
Note that this route cuts through Joplin, MO, where Tammy's body was recovered. There are many that believe Tammy's murder was the work of a long-haul trucker. Perhaps so, but I wouldn't necessarily say that "has to be" the case with the amount of domestic travel within the US. It could be anyone that made frequent road trips. While I don't necessarily find the watches point significant (although it's odd and a bit of a coincidence), I find the resemblance between these two women to be uncanny. When I saw Jennifer's image, I instantly thought of Tammy and thought to myself they look enough alike where you'd think they were close relatives. And if Jennifer's watch was not recovered-- and I do not see it noted as of yet in listings of her recovered possessions-- I would definitely become more interested in the watch aspect because Tammy's watch was likely taken by the killer as a souvenir/trophy.
Not ready yet to say "likely" the same perp, but I think it's very definitely possible based on the strong resemblance alone.
Tammy:
Tammy was 21 yo, 5'2", 120 lbs, blonde hair & green eyes; Jennifer's 18 yo at time of disappearance, 5'5", 125 lbs, blonde hair & blue eyes. Both girls definitely into fitness, Tammy played sports and Jennifer's clearly into cycling and the outdoors. And oddly, both had somewhat unusual watches. Jennifer had a Rice Krispies watch; Tammy had a musical watch that played "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head." It had an umbrella on its face and it was not recovered with Tammy's remains.
Are these cases related? Jennifer was last seen/heard from Oct 17, 1991, so if this is the same killer (and I will hope it's not and that perhaps Jennifer is still alive), if Jennifer and Tammy shared the same killer, hypothetically, Tammy would have been murdered almost a year after Jennifer. Right around the same time of year. Here's a route map from La Salle IL (around where Tammy was last seen before her body was recovered in Joplin) to Deming NM, where Jennifer was last seen:
Note that this route cuts through Joplin, MO, where Tammy's body was recovered. There are many that believe Tammy's murder was the work of a long-haul trucker. Perhaps so, but I wouldn't necessarily say that "has to be" the case with the amount of domestic travel within the US. It could be anyone that made frequent road trips. While I don't necessarily find the watches point significant (although it's odd and a bit of a coincidence), I find the resemblance between these two women to be uncanny. When I saw Jennifer's image, I instantly thought of Tammy and thought to myself they look enough alike where you'd think they were close relatives. And if Jennifer's watch was not recovered-- and I do not see it noted as of yet in listings of her recovered possessions-- I would definitely become more interested in the watch aspect because Tammy's watch was likely taken by the killer as a souvenir/trophy.
Not ready yet to say "likely" the same perp, but I think it's very definitely possible based on the strong resemblance alone.
This UID?
Jennifer Lynn Pentilla?
Missing
Date of Last Contact
October 17, 1991
Missing From
Deming, New Mexico
Missing Age
18 Years
namus.nij.ojp.gov
Missing
Date of Last Contact
October 17, 1991
Missing From
Deming, New Mexico
Missing Age
18 Years
Missing Person / NamUs #MP634
View NamUs missing person case MP634 for Jennifer Lynn Pentilla missing from Deming, New Mexico. Date of last contact: Oct 17, 1991. NCMEC case number: --.
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