Miranda Warrant

UPDATE 10/01/08 6:00 p.m.: KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- As Jennifer Hampton's family travels to Alabama for her funeral, the long journey through the legal process begins with a murder charge.

Police charged 19-year-old Valentino Vasquez Miranda with first degree murder Wednesday morning.

Miranda, who both worked and lived at the hotel, wound up in jail on forgery charges the day after Hampton disappeared, but the strongest evidence against him in the murder case came from his employer and his wife.

Police say this is the man who killed the woman they spent a week searching for. On Wednesday morning they formally charged 19-year-old Valentino Vasquez Miranda with First Degree Murder in the death of Jenny Hampton. On September 20th, she disappeared from the Days Inn where Miranda Lived and worked.

Knoxville Police Spokesman Darrell DeBusk says, "The investigation does not stop now that we have charged one individual, so we have to be careful with some of the information that we release."

According to the arrest warrant, the motel provided evidence indicating Miranda's key was used to open Hampton's room door. The warrant also says Miranda's wife turned over his bloody clothing that day, blood they've since determined was Hampton's. The medical examiner says she died of strangulation. A fisherman found her nude body in Melton Hill Lake one week after she disappeared.

Days Inn manager Nick Patel refused to go on camera but he said, “We are shocked and surprised like everyone, and we have fully cooperated with the investigation from day one. The first thing we did was to begin looking at our employees to make sure everyone was valid. We are doing everything we can to make sure security measures are in place.”

Volunteer TV asked Patel if he had fired any employees or asked anyone to leave, he said no.

Police say at least one more of the people who worked for him was not in the country legally when Hampton died. 38-year-old Rogelio Dominguez Melchor is being held without bond on an immigration hold. He's charged with the same forgery charge Miranda was jailed on. Police say both used fake social security cards to get their jobs. Melchor has not been charged with any crime connected with Hampton. Police won't comment on Melchor specifically.

DeBusk says, "There's a possibility that there could be some additional charges placed as the investigation continues."

Jennifer's family will receive friends Thursday afternoon from 4:00 to 7:00 at the Morrison Funeral Home in Florence, Alabama.

A memorial service will follow.

Graveside services are private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Jennifer Hampton fund at any SunTrust Bank.

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn (WVLT) -- A first degree murder warrant has been served for a Days Inn employee in connection with the death of Alabama waitress Jennifer Hampton.

Valentino Miranda, 19, has been held in the Knox County Detention Center on a forgery charge and a federal detainer since September 20th, the day after Jennifer Hampton disappeared from the Days Inn on Lovell Road.

Eddie Daniel, who represents Hampton's, family says the family is relieved of the news.

"They're relieved at hearing justice is being served in the death of their beloved Jenny," he said. "They will continue to aggressively pursue justice for her until all of the suspects are found guilty in this case."

Daniel also said the family wants to thank Knoxville Police and the Medical Examiner's Office for their quick work on the case.

According to the warrant, the medical examiner has ruled Hampton was strangled, sometime in the early morning hours of September 20th.

The warrant says Miranda's wife, who is also an employee at the Days Inn turned over bloody clothes she says Miranda was wearing in the early morning hours of September 20th.

The blood on the clothes matches Hampton's blood, according to the warrant.

Knoxville Police investigators have evidence to show that Miranda's master key card was used to access Hampton's room at the Days Inn around 2:45 a.m. on September 20th, according to the warrant.

Miranda will be held on a $1 million bond.

Stay connected to Volunteer TV News and VolunteerTV.com for continued coverage of this developing news story.