A coroner revealed 22-year-old Jenna Burleigh was killed by blunt trauma and strangulation
A coroner revealed that Temple University student Jenna Burleigh was killed by blunt trauma and strangulation.
The 22-year-old junior went missing early Thursday morning. Her death has been ruled a homicide.
On Saturday, police charged 29-year-old Joshua Hupperterz with murder, abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence and drug offenses after the dead body of Burleigh, a junior at Temple, was found at his grandmother’s home on Saturday.
Police say Hupperterz confessed to ‘elements of the crime,’ according to WPVI.
Police also discovered blood, drugs, and $20,000 in cash.
Burleigh was last seen on surveillance footage leaving a North Philadelphia bar at 2am on Thursday with Hupperterz.
A neighbor reported hearing screams coming from Hupperterz’s apartment around 4am.
Burleigh’s father, Ed Burleigh, posted a heartbreaking message on his Facebook page on Saturday, saying: ‘Our Beautiful Angel Jenna is now in Heaven. Now I know for sure that you can have a ‘broken heart’ RIP honey.’
On Saturday police confirmed that Burleigh’s body was found in Paupack Township, Pennsylvania, a town about 140 miles north of Philadelphia.
Investigators allege that Hupperterz moved the body twice – once from his home in North Philadelphia to his mother’s house in the nearby suburb of Jenkintown, and a second time to his grandmother’s home in Paupack Township, Wayne County, which likes 140 miles north.
Hupperterz was taken into custody by police at his grandmother’s house, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Police reportedly found blood, drugs, and $20,000 in cash in the apartment of 29-year-old Joshua Hupperterz (left), who is charged with the murder of Jenna Burleigh (right)
On Friday night, police obtained a warrant to search the home of Hupperterz, a 29-year-old former Temple University student. His home is located just around the corner from Pub Webb (above), the bar at which Burleigh was last seen early Thursday morning
Hupperterz was taken into custody by police in Paupack Township. Police noticed that Hupperterz had scratches on his face and a cut on his hand, which he told detectives was caused by broken china
Burleigh’s father, Ed Burleigh, posted a heartbreaking message on his Facebook page on Saturday, saying: ‘Our Beautiful Angel Jenna is now in Heaven. Now I know for sure that you can have a ‘broken heart’ RIP honey’
Pennsylvania State Police released a statement saying that Burleigh’s body was found in Paupack Township, about 140 miles north of Philadelphia
Police allege that Burleigh was murdered by Hupperterz at his home in North Philadelphia. From there, he allegedly took her body to his mother’s home in nearby Jenkintown. Authorities say he moved the body again, this time to Paupack Township, which is 140 miles north
Hupperterz has confessed to ‘elements of the crime,’ Philadelphia Police said.
Sources told the Inquirer that Hupperterz last took classes at Temple this past spring.
A native of Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, he reportedly met Burleigh at a bar.
Earlier reports indicated that police were combing the area surrounding a lake just outside of Scranton in Lackawanna County, but those reports were erroneous.
Burleigh, a resident of the Philadelphia suburb of Harleysville, transferred to Temple. She was majoring in film and media arts
On Friday, Burleigh’s sister shared a missing person’s notice on Facebook asking anyone with information to come forward to authorities
Police were reportedly combing the area surrounding a lake just outside of Scranton.
On Friday night, police obtained search warrant for Hupperterz’s home, which is located just around the corner from Pub Webb, the bar at which Burleigh was last seen early Thursday morning.
Surveillance footage captured at the time reportedly shows Burleigh and Hupperterz walking together toward his home.
After entering the house, investigators discovered blood spattered near the kitchen sink, rear door, and on a trash can lid.
Burleigh’s social media posts are filled with messages in support of social justice. She is seen above at the Women’s March shortly after President Donald Trump’s inauguration
Police also found between 10 and 15 pillow-case size bags of marijuana and approximately $20,000 in cash, the Inquirer reported.
Investigators also interviewed a neighbor who said that screams could be heard coming from the home at approximately 4am on Thursday.
Police noticed that Hupperterz had scratches on his face and a cut on his hand, which he told detectives was caused by broken china, the Inquirer reported.
Investigators also used cadaver dogs to search a nearby home in the area that reportedly belongs to Hupperterz’s mother and stepfather.
Investigators also want to interview a roommate believed to have lived in Hupperterz’s home.
Police said Saturday evening that Hupperterz has had ‘contact’ with law enforcement in the past, though investigators refused to elaborate.
The image above is a close-up shot of the outside of Pub Webb, a North Philadelphia bar where Burleigh was last seen alive early Thursday morning
Investigators are seen rummaging through garbage outside of Hupperterz’s home in North Philadelphia
Burleigh, a resident of the Philadelphia suburb of Harleysville, transferred to Temple. She was majoring in film and media arts.
The Temple News, a student-run newspaper, reported that Burleigh’s family notified campus police of her disappearance on Thursday night.
She was last seen wearing a white t-shirt with writing on the front, tan boots, and blue jeans.
On Friday, Burleigh’s sister shared a missing person’s notice on Facebook asking anyone with information to come forward to authorities.