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January 14, 2007
Clues sought in Janesville deaths
The Rock County Sheriff's Department is still investigating the murder of three people - a mother, her daughter and son.
The bodies of the family members were discovered Friday morning at Jacob's Mobile Home Park south of Janesville.
Danyetta Lentz, 38, her daughter, Nicole, 17, and her son, Scott, 14 were found dead in their mobile home at 3225 South Highway 51 around 9:30 a.m. by Lentz's father, said Angela Puckett, neighbor and longtime friend of Danyetta.
“Right now our detectives are reaching out and finding out what the facts are,” said Rock County Sheriff Robert Spoden.
Deputies also are gathering background details about the victims and their Thursday activities. Spoden said they had a normal day Thursday with Danyetta going to work and the children going to school. Investigators also are speaking to the victims' family members and friends, Spoden said.
An autopsy will be done on all three bodies this morning in Madison, he said. It is unclear as to when the autopsy results will be available, Spoden added.
It is still unknown how long the victims has been dead, he said. The autopsy should reveal that information.
Puckett said Nicole's boyfriend called the Lentz residence Thursday night but no one was answering the phone. The boyfriend got worried and called Puckett to find out if she knew anything.
The next morning the daycare center Danyetta worked at, Community Kids Learning Center in Janesville, tried to find out why she hadn't come to work, Puckett said. The children's school, Janesville Parker High School, also called Danyetta's father after attempts to reach Danyetta herself failed, to find out where the children where, she said.
“Danni's dad discovered his daughter and her children in the trailer,” Puckett said.
Spoden said the father immediately called 911.
“Her dad broke down,” Puckett remembers. “I don't believe this, it just makes me sick.”
The sheriff's department, along with Wisconsin State Crime Lab technicians, worked through Friday night to determine how the family of three were left dead in their home, Spoden said.
“This is in the initial stages, so we are trying to determine what happened in the last 24 hours,” Spoden said. “We want the community to know we're going to work around the clock to ensure their safety.”
Puckett said Danyetta not only worked at the daycare but she also worked at her father's restaurant. They've been close friends since Puckett moved to the mobile home park five and half years ago. Puckett said the Lentz family had lived in the park for the last 14 years.
Danyetta and Nicole baby sat Puckett's kids on occasion, she said.
“I'm in shock and I'm devastated,” Puckett said.
Danyetta didn't date because she was so dedicated to her children, she said.
“Her life was her kids. She was the best, 200 percent, devoted mother you can meet,” Puckett said.
Fifteen-year-old Desiree Meade went to school with the Lentz children.
“I've known them pretty much all my life,” she said.
The atmosphere at Parker High School Friday was one of shock and sadness. Nicole had been a junior and Scott a freshman.
“There were a lot of people crying, like people who knew them but didn't to talk them,” Desiree said. “At first when I heard about it I felt really bad about it. I'm all right right now, but it's really sad.”
Counselors were at the high school Friday to help students, she said.
“The fact is when you have three homicides, it's horrendous,” Spoden said. “It's obviously a horrific crime.”
http://www.beloitdailynews.com/articles/2007/01/13/news/news01.txt
Posted by Nealus at January 14, 2007 09:47 AM
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