Hampton strangled; Murder warrant served for Days Inn employee

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Posted: 8:55 AM Oct 1, 2008
Last Updated: 6:12 PM Oct 1, 2008
Reporter: Brian Gregory; Rob Pratt

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Miranda Warrant

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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.

Jennifer Lee Hampton, 21 (Photo Courtesy: Knoxville Police Department)

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Anonymous on Dec 11, 2008 at 12:58 PM
I dont think everyone is seeing this correctly. The criminal was caught and is behind bars. Yes he was an illegal however how many of those do we have in this country? Several to many to count. Hotels are not required to do background cks on their employees just to provide the adaquated documentation for employment. Mr. Patel is not a fault here, he didn't know what was going on. I feel for this familly, but don't take it out on DAYS INN. It is this mans fault not the htls fault.

Posted by: David Stanley Location: Columbia,SC on Oct 10, 2008 at 07:27 PM
The motel mgr. should be thrown in jail immediately. Last year American business paid out $2.5 trillion dollars to illegal workers. It is very easy to verify by the amount that is shipped to Mexico through Western Union.Our country is going belly up finacially because all of our wealth is leaving the country. Add $750 billion for oil that can be pumped out of Alaska and off shore. I don't hold the Mexicans responsible. I hold the politicians and business leaders at fault. They must go to jail until this stops. The politicians lie thrugh their teeth about this. As long as welook up and see these people in our towns we know they are still lieing. Don't just pull a few ICE raids at election time for show...Do them everyday all day long until these people are gone. We also need to boycott Days Inn now that we know they will stab the general public in the back to save a few bucks. This is easy to do if we can get the politicians off their sorry lieing asses and do something.....

Posted by: David Location: Knoxville on Oct 7, 2008 at 04:16 PM
First, this is a terrible tragedy for the family. All hotels have master keys for employees (housekeepers, maintence crews etc). You should always use deadbolts in your hotels. Immigration is a governement failure. 12 million illegals in the US. Hotels dont have the ability to verify all the fraudlent ids available. These SSN are usually legit... They are being used by 10 different people. I guess all crimes in the US must be committed by illegals.... Be realistic: This is a terrible tragedy to all involved and could happen to anyone at anytime. My sympathies and condolences to the family.

Posted by: Kathy Location: Mars, PA on Oct 5, 2008 at 05:56 PM
I think Days Inn should be sued for millions and people should boycott all Days Inn. If companies are going to hire illegal immigrants, they should know they will be held accountable. These people are breaking the law by entering the country illegally, why would think they would not break other laws.

Posted by: Michelle Location: Knoxville on Oct 4, 2008 at 09:55 PM
I'm sorry for the Hampton family and very glad that Jennifer's murderer is behind bars. I do have a question. Don't hotel doors have deadbolts and a safety lock on them? I wouldn't think that a master key card can undo a deadbolt. If the Days Inn on Lovell Road didn't have any safety features on their doors, then yes--sue the heck out of them!

Posted by: JC Location: Knoxville on Oct 3, 2008 at 05:59 PM
can't the family sue that hotel for their lack of security to their guess?

Posted by: bill Location: sevierville on Oct 3, 2008 at 03:38 AM
first off an employer can go omline free to verify a ssn. secondly we need more immigration sweeps in this area. the only should be fined and put out of business. he should also be financially liable to the family for all there expenses.

Posted by: Me Location: Knoxville on Oct 2, 2008 at 10:37 PM
My thoughts and prayers are with the family of Jennifer. To all those who are bashing on the Days Inn, first of all, "Police say both used fake social security cards to get their jobs" How the heck is that the owner or managers fault, if someone provides you with a social security card that looks real, you automatically assume it is real. I think that the owners are not responsible for this horrible crime that happened. How many of YOU could spot fake paperwork??

Posted by: Zorro Location: Knoxville on Oct 2, 2008 at 05:12 PM
I think this Days Inn needs to be picketed to let everyone know, especially the people coming off the interstate, it's not a good or safe place to stay.

Posted by: Kerri Location: Knoxville on Oct 2, 2008 at 03:27 PM
From above article.....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.” The first thing we did was begin looking at employees to see if they were valid??? Mr. Patel, if you would have checked these guys out in the first place, this wouldn't have happened. Too little, too late Mr. Patel!!!!!

Posted by: Ziggy Location: Knoxville on Oct 2, 2008 at 11:53 AM
They need to take this guy and throw him in the shark infected waters to swim back to his own country. Why should Americans pay to keep this scum in our prisons. That would be too good for him

Posted by: Joe Location: Knoxville on Oct 2, 2008 at 10:44 AM
Another reason not to invite aliens in to America without strict immigration laws. We offer them welfare, driver's licenses, and a chance to become citizens. They should be bussed in to pick crops and bussed back across the border and that's it. I'm very sorry for the Hampton family loss.

Posted by: Tina Location: Rockwood on Oct 2, 2008 at 08:20 AM
MIRANDA looks like an evil satanic freak! He needs to be executed for all to see..and "pre meditated" murderers like him will see what happens when they even think about killing an innocent person again...and these type killings would stop!! GET RID OF PREMEDITATED MURDERERS, AND ILLEGAL MEXICANS!!!!! God bless Jennifer's family!!

Posted by: chris on Oct 2, 2008 at 06:08 AM
It is against Federal law to hire illegal aliens.. Ignorance of the law is no excuse. Just try telling a traffic cop you didn't know the speed laws.. Of course, Days Inn is responsible for the people they hire. Especially when they give out master keys to the rooms to people they have hired. I don't like the suing epidemic in our country but when that is the only way to get the attention of businesses and lawmakers, I say yes,sue to the family.

Posted by: Lynn Location: Alabama on Oct 1, 2008 at 11:55 PM
Jennifer was a very sweet young lady. My prayers are with her family. Amen to everything Ray said. GET RID OF THE ILLEGALS, ONCE AND FOR ALL!!!!

Posted by: MARY Location: KNOXVILLE on Oct 1, 2008 at 10:09 PM
MY PRAYERS TO THIS FAMILY. YOU HAVE AN ANGEL WATCHING OVER YOU NOW.

Posted by: Pat Location: Montgomery, Alabama on Oct 1, 2008 at 09:37 PM
Reviews from tripadvisor.com: Days Inn-West Lovell Road, Knoxville TN 1) mboro21 from murfreesboro, tn: “The Filthiest place ever!!!!!!!!!!!!” I have never stayed anywhere that was so nasty! We were visiting a family member at the hospital and wanted to stay really close. When we initally checked in things didn't seem too bad but we didn't take a close enough look around. It was extremely late and that is the only reason that we didn't leave. The matresses stunk, the bedding was stained with what looked like blood and the bathroom...well there are no words that can properly describe it! Since we were traveling with a young child, we had brought extra blankets, pillows, etc. We had to strip the bed of everything but the sheets and slept on top of our own blankets and pillows. Plus we used our son's wash cloths just to wash our faces and decided since were we heading home the next morning. there are 5 more reviews just as bad or worse than this one...Great management, huh?

Posted by: Pat Location: Montgomery, Alabama on Oct 1, 2008 at 09:32 PM
Oh...poor Days Inn management! I hope a day doesn't go by that he doesn't remember this! Yes, he and Days Inn ARE responsible for this...I hope Jennifer's family files a negligent death civil lawsuit on this manager personally. You don't give pass keys to employees without checking them out...mexican or not. This is disgusting and I hope Days Inn gets a million more phone calls! Just look at how "management" runs this flea bag hotel! By the way, MAMA BLUES MANAGEMENT ....what the h*ll were you thinking by putting your employees in such a pig pen? (see reviews below from tripadvisor.com) Seems to me the Days Inn manager hires employees just as poorly as he runs his hotel! SICKENING! Knoxville, you can do better than this! And Mr. Miranda, I'm sure some good ole TN boys are waiting on you in prison!

Posted by: Ben Location: Dandridge on Oct 1, 2008 at 08:54 PM
My sentiments there, the hotel should be fined or shut down and this guy should either face the chair or be hanged. His family should immediated be deported back to Mexico with no chance of ever being granted legal status. My thoughts are out for the family tonight.

Posted by: JC Location: Knoxville on Oct 1, 2008 at 08:30 PM
She was a very beautiful young attractive woman and to think what this scum did to her makes me sick to my stomach! Both criminals should face the death Penalty or public execution and show them here in this Nation we have Justice!

Posted by: Josh Location: Kain on Oct 1, 2008 at 07:10 PM
The hotel should be shut down..owners fined/jailed for hiring illegals...period!! I'm sure they tried real hard to verify that they were legal!!...right..and the punks that were responsible for this girls death should face the chair....or just turn them over to the good folks of Alabama and let them take out their own justice....anyway they see fit!!!....end of discussion

Posted by: Mike Location: Ohio on Oct 1, 2008 at 06:33 PM
"Sandy" is naive to say the least. Places like this regularly hire illegals and work hard to look the other way. I think america is normally to litigous, but in this case I say sue them out of business, as well as the manager personally - personal responsibility in making bad decisions needs to come into play here.

Posted by: Autumn Location: Knoxville on Oct 1, 2008 at 04:22 PM
First of my deepest smypathy to this family, secondly when are they going to clean up Lovell Road, I work off Lovell Road and what walks on Lovell Road makes my skin crawl. Lets clean all of Knoxville

Posted by: Susan Location: Knoxville on Oct 1, 2008 at 03:48 PM
This case was obvious that Days Inn did not check into the background of these guys with them saying they did not know that they were illegal immigrants. They should be at least partially liable for this murder. They should be more careful as to who they give master keys to. This Days Inn just gave other Days Inns a bad name.

Posted by: Lisa Location: tenn on Oct 1, 2008 at 03:34 PM
I feel like if Day's Inn would have helped the way some thinks, then why didn't they foot the other hotel bill or provide financial assistance for this grieving family? Are they going to help in the future when this family returns from burying their loved one? The last thing they need is financial problems. I have been praying for this family and will continue to do so. I have 3 daughters and can't imagine what this family is going through. May Christ the almighty comforter be with them now and in the future.

Posted by: Ray on Oct 1, 2008 at 03:29 PM
It doesn’t seem to matter if it is a Mother from Alabama attempting to support her family, a Police Officer in Houston attempting to safe guard his city, a high school student in Los Angeles standing in front of his home while his mother is half way around the world defending her/our country, or a father and his sons in San Francisco driving home all became targets of ILLEGALS and were murdered because of the greed of "our" Elitist Politicians and their Elitist Contributors in search of "cheap labor" to help their "bottom line"!

Posted by: Ray on Oct 1, 2008 at 03:27 PM
Our FAMILIES are at the mercy of ILLEGALS and their Anchors being murdered, raped, infected with disease, or robbed. We can see the results of the ILLEGAL invasion in our courts every day! But NOT to worry the Chamber of Commerce will get their "cheap labor" increasing "their privatized" PROFITS while socializing the "benefits" for their ILLEGALS on the back of United States Citizens, thanks to Bush, the Congressional Leadership(?), and local elected and appointed officials!!

Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 1, 2008 at 03:23 PM
Days inn is responsible to hire legal employees. They are also reponsible to provide a safe enviroment, and if they give security clearence to employees they should pass a background check. Fact is they may not have directly killed her but rather indirectly. (which means they were neglagent)

Posted by: amanda Location: alabama on Oct 1, 2008 at 03:22 PM
of COURSE Days Inn bears some responsibility. I myself have stayed at a Days Inn or two that appeared to be very shady and crime-ridden (will NEVER EVER go back). Can they not request police surveillance?? And yes, there should have been a through background check before just handing off a master key. If they had done that, this woman would still be alive. I'm not one for throwing around frivolous lawsuits, but this sounds like a pretty good case to me.

Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 1, 2008 at 03:15 PM
Sandy it is Days Inns responsibility to provide a safe enviroment and to ensure the people working for them (and have security clearence) are properly identified. Saying days inn is not responsible and didn't know they were illegal is no excuse. It is their responsibility to verify the employees. I hope they get sued. lol.

Posted by: Sandy Location: Powell, TN on Oct 1, 2008 at 01:16 PM
I just love how people are so quick to pass quick judgment on others. I'm certain Days Inn management didn't know that those two were illegal immigrants. If they had, they wouldn't have been hired. The two men they arrested apparently had several forged social security cards but even the investigators that found them said that they appeared legit to an untrained eye. As I understand it, the Days Inn has done nothing but try to help in this investigation and they will be double-checking all the workers to make sure that they're all legal workers. Those that aren't will undoubtedly be fired. Miss Hampton's death was tragic and I truly feel sorry for her family and friends. However, to say that Days Inn is responsible for her death is asinine. The person responsible for her death is behind bars right now. If it wasn't her, it might have been some other woman staying at the hotel. People have been making hateful phone calls to the Days Inn and it's just unwarranted.

Posted by: jan Location: knoxville on Oct 1, 2008 at 12:34 PM
I think the motel is responsible for this happening..giving master keys to anyone cleaning without a background check. If you can't get a background check don't employee that person and also provide more security..Guess the dollar is more important than a young girls life.

Posted by: Gloria Location: Sevierville on Oct 1, 2008 at 12:20 PM
tHESE MOTELS NEED TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE PEWOPLE THEY HIRE, ESPECIALLY THESE MEXCIANS, HAVE SO MANY HERE ELEAGLE, IT'S A SHAME FOR THIS POOR FAMILY, HAVING THIS HAPPEN TO THIER SWEET LIL GIRL, BECAUSE OF SICK MEXCIAN...

Posted by: vergenya Location: tennessee on Oct 1, 2008 at 11:39 AM
this is really awful that Days Inn does not do background search on employees better, but you better believe if you are an american/former employee and dismissed for sickness,lack of work(not good job skills) you are put into there computer and guess what YOU don't ever work for them again...but look at this!!!! WRONGFUL DEATH AND i hope the parnets of Jennifer sue to the limit, just walk in Jennifer's shoes..asleep and a dead beat enter your room and kills you...MAD, YES AND PRAY THIS MEXICAN SUFFERS LIKE HELL

Posted by: CHERYL on Oct 1, 2008 at 11:04 AM
JUSTICE, YESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!

Posted by: Liz Location: Knoxville on Oct 1, 2008 at 11:00 AM
How horrible!I am so glad they have the person/persons responsible,but this really makes me wonder at the safety of motels.I do not think I will be staying at one anytime soon.Why on earth would someone like this have a master card key to the guest rooms??I believe the family should consider a lawsuit against the owner of the inn.

Posted by: Susan Location: Knoxville on Oct 1, 2008 at 10:41 AM
Maybe they need to strangle him just like what he did. The Days Inn needs to be more careful as to who they hire.

Posted by: Pete Location: Knoxville,Tn. on Oct 1, 2008 at 09:48 AM
I am so glad they have the worthless SCUM and will charge him with murder.

Posted by: Aphrodite Location: Knoxville, TN on Oct 1, 2008 at 09:19 AM
It was fairly obvious that one or both of the Days Inn employees were involved but what a relief that they're off the streets! The news of Jennifer's disappearance and death has haunted me since I first heard about it. I live one exit away from Lovell Road and while I don't spend much time there are night, I never thought of it as an unsafe area. I will definately be more guarded now. May God be with Jennifer's friends and family in the coming days and may justice be served to the people that took her precious life.