Kenneth Jerome got up that summer morning in 2005 and said goodbye to his girlfriend and children, just like he did every day. He set about his usual chores on the farm, just like he always did, and he expected to feed the cows, like he had for years. But July 7th was not like every other day. Kenny’s routine was pierced by a single gunshot wound that stole him from the family, friends, and community who loved him fiercely.
Now 20 years later, no one has been charged with his murder. In this small Vermont town, suspicion has run rampant for years, but suspicion alone has yet to rise to the level of an arrest.
If you have information about the unsolved homicide of Kenny Jerome, please contact Captain J.P. Schmidt at the Vermont State Police Major Crime Unit at (802) 244-8727. Tips may also be submitted anonymously by texting the keyword VTIPS to 274637 or via the form.
July 7, 2005
The morning of July 7, 2005 started out like any other for 33-year old Kenneth Jerome. Kenny, as his friends called him, was a farmhand at Diamond Hill Custom Heifers Farm in Sheldon, Vermont. According to reporting by Molly Walsh for the Burlington Free Press, Kenny helped care for over two thousand cows raised for other farmers and one of his primary duties included feeding the large herd.
Jennifer and Kenny had a 7-month old daughter together named Kaitlin. Kenny also had a strong bond with Jennifer’s daughter from her previous relationship. Both girls went with Jennifer to the barn each morning as mom took care of the calves. Jennifer and Kenny would cross paths throughout the day, just glimpses and waves across the farm.
Around 10 a.m. as Kenny set off towards the barn where hungry heifers awaited their morning feast, one of the farm’s owners, Terry Magnan, asked Kenny to catch up with him and the other farmhands when he was done to help them finish up their chores before lunch.
Jennifer saw Kenny just as she was finishing up for the morning and breaking for lunch with her daughters. As far as Jennifer remembers, that was around 11 or 11:30 a.m.
Around 12:30 that afternoon, Kenny still hadn’t returned from feeding the cows. As Leon Thompson reports for the St. Albans Messenger, Terry’s first thought was that Kenny was having some trouble with the tractor or other equipment. Seems like things were prone to break down on a working farm, but as a guy who loved tinkering with engines on his muscle cars, Kenny would’ve been well suited to deal with any issues on his own. Still, Terry, followed by his other farmhands Travis and Alex, went to go check what the hold up was.
As he approached the barn, Terry saw the tractor – still idling – but no Kenny. He thought maybe Kenny went into town to grab a part for the machinery, but that thought was quickly chased from his mind when he finally spotted him laying face down on a dirt path between the cattle feeding bunk and a patch of tall grass.
Terry ran to check on Kenny but he wasn’t breathing. Terry bolted back to his house and yelled for his wife, Joann Magnan, to call 9-1-1.
Questions raced in the minds of Terry and Joann and the other farmhands. Was this a medical event? Some sort of accident? How long was Kenny lying there? Would he be okay? As paramedics arrived at the farm and attempted life saving measures, the last question received a heartbreaking answer. Kenny wasn’t going to be okay, and it was clear why. First responders could see that Kenny had one single gunshot wound to his chest. Kenny had been shot.
With that, Vermont State Police were called to the scene to begin an investigation into Kenny’s sudden, tragic, and downright suspicious death.
Episode Source Material
- Man shot, killed at farm in Sheldon by Adam Silverman, Burlington Free Press, 8 Jul 2005
- Police investigate Sheldon shooting by Erica Jacobson, Burlington Free Press, 9 Jul 2005
- Police identify victim in Sheldon shooting, AP via Rutland Daily Herald, 9 Jul 2005
- Police identify victim in Sheldon shooting, The Times Argus, 9 Jul 2005
- Shooting ruled a homicide by Erica Jacobson, Burlington Free Press, 12 Jul 2005
- Farm shooting victim buried by Erica Jacobson, Burlington Free Press, 14 Jul 2005
- Victim of Sheldon shooting is buried, AP via Rutland Daily Herald, 15 Jul 2005
- Victim of Sheldon farm shooting is buried, AP via The Times Argus, 15 Jul 2005
- Quote: Lauri Fisher, Burlington Free Press, 18 Jul 2005
- Family remembers slain employee by Erica Jacobson, Burlington Free Press, 23 Jul 2005
- Police mum on probe of fatal shooting, AP via Rutland Daily Herald, 24 Jul 2005
- Police mum on fatal shooting, AP via The Times Argus, 24 Jul 2005
- Quote: Joanne Magnan, Burlington Free Press, 25 Jul 2005
- Gunshots fired at Sheldon home by Erica Jacobson, Burlington Free Press, 20 Aug 2005
- Suspect says shooting was retaliation for unsolved murder, AP via The Times Argus, 20 Aug 2005
- Police offer award for news about shooting, Burlington Free Press, 10 Sep 2005
- Sheldon reward, Burlington Free Press, 14 Sep 2005
- Sheldon killing left shattered lives by Erica Jacobson, Burlington Free Press, 25 Sep 2005
- Woman fears murder linked to her, AP via Rutland Daily Herald, 26 Sep 2005
- Ballistics underway in probe into death by Leon Thompson, St. Albans Messenger, 28 Nov 2005
- Sheldon man admits shooting at Dennis Harrness’ residence by Lee J. Kahrs, St. Albans Messenger, 6 Dec 2005
- Headlines haunt Franklin County by Erica Jacobson, Burlington Free Press, 18 Dec 2005
- Vt. homicides down in 2005, AP via Rutland Daily Herald, 28 Dec 2005
- Man gets jail time for shooting at house by Lee J. Kahrs, St. Albans Messenger, 5 Jan 2006
- Sheldon man begins sentence for shooting by Erica Jacobson, Burlington Free Press, 6 Jan 2006
- Sheldon man gets 18 months in prison, Rutland Daily Herald, 7 Jan 2006
- Callan, Harrness mending fences while in Ky. jail by Lee J. Kahrs, 1 Mar 2006
- One year later, Sheldon killer remains at large by Molly Walsh, Burlington Free Press, 9 Jul 2006
- One year later, murder of Sheldon farmhand remains unsolved, AP via The Times Argus, 10 Jul 2006
- State maintains right to property in murder case by Rick Burnham, St. Albans Messenger, 2 Sep 2006
- Friends hope for break in Sheldon case by Molly Walsh, Burlington Free Press, 7 Jul 2007
- Sheldon slaying unsolved by Molly Walsh, Burlington Free Press, 7 Jul 2010
- Reward offered in ‘05 farm killing, The Times Argus, 4 Oct 2012
- Police seek help with 2005 murder, St. Albans Messenger, 4 Oct 2012
- 2005 slaying in Sheldon is unsolved, Burlington Free Press, 4 Oct 2012
- Reward offered in ‘05 farm killing, The Times Argus, 4 Oct 2012
- Vermont State Police continue to investigate 2005 homicide, VT Digger, 4 Oct 2012
- Jerome murder inquiry continues eight years later, St. Albans Messenger, 10 Jul 2013
- Murder of Kenneth Jerome still unsolved on nine-year anniversary, Burlington Free Press, 8 Jul 2014
- Unsolved murder: Jerome slaying nine years ago, St. Albans Messenger, 8 Jul 2014
- Sheldon man pleads no contest in ‘99 arson by Erica Jacobson, Burlington Free Press, 3 Sep 2005
- Sheldon man pleads no contest to arson, AP via The Times Argus, 4 Sep 2005
- Harrness threat case in jeopard by Leon Thompson, St. Albans Messenger, 17 Nov 2005
- Harrness gets up to 10 years for ‘99 arson by Lee J. Kahrs, St. Albans Messenger, 30 Nov 2005
- Judge sentences Sheldon arsonist by Erica Jacobson, Burlington Free Press, 30 Nov 2005
- Obstruction case trial to go forward by Lee J. Kahrs, St. Albans Messenger, 6 Dec 2005
- Harrness: No contest, faces one to five years by Lee J. Kahrs, St. Albans Messenger, 10 Jan 2006
- Sheldon man changes plea in obstruction-of-justice case by Erica Jacobson, Burlington Free Press, 11 Jan 2005
- Callan cousin responds: Man denies anything to do with shooting by Lee J. Kahrs, St. Albans Messenger, 3 Mar 2006
- Contrite Harrness receives court ruling by Lee J. Kahrs, St. Albans Messenger, 31 Mar 2006
- Sheldon man to serve 90 days, Burlington Free Press, 1 Apr 2006
- Losing Kenny by Leon Thompson, St. Albans Messenger, 7 Jul 2006
- Hunter killed in St. Albans Town by Jessica Hyman, Burlington Free Press, 25 Nov 2005
- Teen pleads guilty in hunting death case, AP via The Times Argus, 7 Feb 2007