For right now, the Whitmans are treasuring this moment of joy as they continue their healing process. Mom Found Partly Buried 2 Weeks After She Failed to Meet Son at Bus Stop, Woman in Custody After 'Ruthless' Alleged Murders of Elderly Couple at Fla. Retirement Community, N.J. The cause of their deaths has not been made public. Though the couple had divorced in 2019, they still lived together in Grants. On Friday, he was extradited to New Jersey, and lodged in the Salem County Correctional Facility. 2 men found drugged after leaving NYC gay bars were killed, medical examiner says. Read MoreBoulder crashes into home; rolls through living room and ends up in bedroom, Insurance companies State Farm and Progressive say they have temporarily stopped writing new auto insurance policies for some model years and trim levels of Hyundai and Kia vehicles because of Read MoreState Farm, Progressive have stopped insuring some Kia, Hyundai vehicles, More than 50,000 pounds of ready-to-eat sausage products have been recalled over concerns of possible listeria contamination. High 61F. Albuquerque police spokesman Gilbert Gallegos Jr. said Sunday that of the four bodies found at the airport, it appeared one was killed in Albuquerque "and that is what our detectives are focused on" while the other three appeared to have been killed in the Grants area of Cibola County. In this photo taken in October 2020, Jennifer Lannon, second from right, poses for a photo with her brother Chris Whitman, second from left, and sisters, Sarah Whitman, far left, and Kim Bermudez . The US Marshals Service had offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to Lannon's arrest. Their bodies were in Apostalons truck when they were found, the AP reported. Is it plausible?" At least 10 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, The Saturday Six: Dental device controversy, scientist's bug find and more, Indonesia fuel depot fire kills 18; more than a dozen missing, Biden had cancerous skin lesion removed last month, doctor says, Tom Sizemore, actor known for "Saving Private Ryan" and "Heat," dies at 61, Defense lawyers in Idaho killings case want gag order kept, Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison for murders of wife and son. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. We havent figured out how Randall fits into this, Chavez told the newspaper. Jennifer Lannon has five children total, according to a GoFundMe page set up to help her family. From my knowledge and our familys knowledge, they were working on their relationship and heading in the right direction. Crochet Braiding And Quick Hairstyles2u222 , Beauty . You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Apostalon, who lived out of his vehicle, was known to give people rides for cash, but it was not known if thats how he met the other three victims. Prosecutors offered him a 50-year prison sentence in return for a guilty plea to killing Dabkowski and the defense is considering a counter-offer. Lannon was already a person of interest in his ex-wife and three other's murders in New Mexico. On a GoFundMe page set up by family, Jennifer is described as having been "a beloved daughter, sister and most importantly a mom to five kids.". Police officials said Jennifer Lannon, Mata and Miller were known to be friends, but it was unclear how, or even if, the trio knew Apostalon. I knew he was a close just a close friend to Sean, and that he was a father figure, Whitman said. The official, who had direct knowledge of the probe, could not discuss the investigation publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. He left the kids with family and then traveled to multiple locations . Sean Lannon, 47, is a suspect in five killings in New Jersey and New Mexico. Jennifer Lannon has five children total, according to a GoFundMe page set up to help her family. He was driving Dabkowskis stolen vehicle when he was taken into custody. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. However, the investigation would take another surprising turn when Lannon allegedly admitted to killing a total of 16 people, NBC Philadelphia reports. At. On a GoFundMe page set up by family, Jennifer is described as having been "a beloved daughter, sister and most importantly a mom to five kids." "This is an extremely emotional time for our family," the page reads. The other one has trauma from everything, so weve been dealing with that. (Provided photo). GLOUCESTER COUNTY VIXENS BLESS BIANCAS KIDS WITH A MASSIVE DONATION! The fourth victim, Randal Apostalon, lived out of his car and was known to give rides to people for money. The New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, Gloucester County prosecutors, the Albuquerque Police Department and the Grants Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's requests for comment. Lannon's body and three other people were found in a vehicle in a parking garage at Albuquerque International Sunport, New Mexico's largest airport, on March 5. Jennifer and Sean Lannon, who are originally from South Jersey, divorced in 2019, according to New Mexico court records, with a judge ruling in favor of Sean Lannon. He claimed he dismembered several of the bodies. A year later, hes accused of five killings in all, including four in New Mexico, and sits in a New Jersey jail cell. Is it plausible? "Unfortunately we are still investigating that and conducting search warrants for evidentiary value.". She kind of understands everything.. Those bodies were positively identified as Matthew Miller, Jennifer Lannon, Jesten Mata, and Randal Apostalon. Though Lannon is the primary suspect in the New Mexico slayings, he had not yet been charged as of Tuesday afternoon. According to Whitman, Sean Lannon flew with the children March 4, the day before Jennifer Lannons body was found, to New Jersey, where he left the children with his family and said he was returning west to continue looking for his ex-wife. Low 43F. We go a lot of places together. MEET KENDRA. Frank Unger, Lannons public defender, on Friday challenged the states probable cause to charge his client with murder. From his familys South Jersey home, Sean Lannon headed to Virginia, using a false identity to get rides from drivers with Uber and Lyft, according to NJ.com. Prosecutors in Gloucester County told reporters that Dabkowski's body was discovered during a wellness check at his apartment. They were excited and they knew they were safe. By Feb. 18, all three were determined to be missing. Sean and Jennifer Lannon, who divorced in 2019, were both originally from New Jersey, NJ.com reported, citing New Mexico court records. "She was a great mom and, just, it would be uncharacteristic of her to not be with her. We still want justice, Whitman said. As the family coped with its grief and uncertainty about what the future would hold, they tried to provide a happy home for Jennifers kids. A New Mexico man who is the person of interest in the deaths of several people, including his ex-wife, allegedly confessed to murdering a total of 16 people. APD partnered with Grants Police to investigate the possible connection between the missing victims and the grisly discovery at the Sunport. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Three days after the quadruple homicide was discovered, a welfare check conducted 2,000 miles away at the East Greenwich Township, New Jersey, home of Michael Dabkowski, 66, led to the discovery of his body. Matthew Millers family set up a GoFundMe to help with funeral expenses. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23, who grew up with her brother and sisters in Blackwood, Lannon is accused of bludgeoning the man to death, and the defense is considering a counter-offer. The victims were identified as Jennifer Lannon, 39; Matthew Miller, 21; Jesten Mata . Its my understanding that the FBI is assisting New Mexico in their investigation.. Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. An online fundraiser has been launched to benefit Jennifer Lannon, who authorities say was among four people in New Mexico who were killed by her ex-husband. Police said they were looking for both Lannon and Mata to question them about Millers disappearance until they realized they were also missing. Shortly after Mr. Lannon was arrested, our detectives went to St. Louis and interviewed him about the case, Gallegos said. This is an extremely emotional time for our family, the organizers say in the post. Lannons mother and sister dropped the kids off with the Whitmans on March 7 for a visit and authorities moved in to place the family under protective custody. According to prosecutors, Dabkowski's body was discovered during a wellness check at his East Greenwich Township apartment. Lannon reportedly said hed lured his victims to a home in Grants, a small city about 80 miles west of Albuquerque, and killed them. The gruesome discovery at the parking garage about 80 miles (129 kilometers) from the tiny town where Lannon, Mata and Miller lived touched off a nationwide manhunt for Lannon's ex-husband in a strange case stretching from New Mexico to New Jersey that raised questions about possible serial killings and left grieving loved ones trying to understand what happened. I knew he was a close just a close friend to Sean, and that he was a father figure, Whitman said. Albuquerque police told AP that detectives will travel to New Jersey to question Sean on the four deaths in New Mexico. Jennifer Runyon needs your support for Karri Imes My dearest friend Karri just can't get a break in life. MEET TRAVIS. A New Jersey prosecutor said in court on Friday that Sean M. Lannon, 47, of Grants, has admitted to killing his ex-wife, his former childhood mentor and three others, as well as 11 other individuals who were drug dealers, according to NJ.com. Chris Whitman, Jennifer Lannon's brother, said that Sean Lannon told the family in January that Jennifer had "run off" with some friends, possibly to Arizona, and Whitman told the AP on Saturday that the story didn't sound right because "she was a great mom and, just, it would be uncharacteristic of her to not be with her children.". He hopes thats a good omen for some progress. At the time, the Lannon twins were 11 years old. He said Lannon retrieved two hammers from Dabkowskis garage and handed them to the older man, telling him, Youre going to need these. Your donation is protected by the GoFundMe Giving Guarantee. ", First published on March 22, 2021 / 10:16 AM. (Sharon Whitman via AP). A newsletter obtained by NJ.com shows that Dabkowski was named Big Brother of the Year in 1985 by the Big Brothers and Sisters of Gloucester and Camden County. All rights reserved (About Us). Sean Lannon case: Sean Lannon, 47, is a suspect in five killings in New Jersey and New Mexico. It was bittersweet, but it was a beautiful day.. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Man accused of 5 killings claims hes killed 16 people, authorities say (NCD). Investigators in New Mexico had suspected Lannon was responsible for the January disappearance of Jennifer and two acquaintances. (Provided photo). 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Albuquerque police spokesman Gilbert Gallegos Jr. said Sunday that three of the four victims found slain at the airport are believed to have been killed in Grants. To honor his sister, they had her first name added to the middle names of her two daughters as part of the adoption. The hammer used to kill Dabkowski was in the vehicle when Lannon was arrested, NJ.com reported. Superior Court Judge Mark B. Shoemaker presided over the occasion and presented teddy bears to the five kids. MEET E.J. I know shed be looking down and shed be happy. Dabkowski said he learned a lot from his young friends, as well. Read more here: Man Charged In 5 Murders In 2 States Extradited To New Jersey. Accessibility Help. Two of the kids have special needs.