Nightmare in Suburbia: Living with the Enemy S1E5 | A True Story 

When I divorced my husband, my daughter was just a kid. However, I made her a promise that she would never have a step-father. Not under my roof. I said to her, from this day forward 'It will be you and me against the world!" I kept that promise to her. She is now 35, graduated 2 colleges, successful, and just wonderful. Always thanking me for having shield her from the horror stories she heard in school. At 25, she had the words' "you and me against the world" tattooed on her shoulder that Mother's Day. Nobody comes before my child!

I can’t stand child abusers. If a dog hurts a child they put the dog down. They need to do the same to sick individuals. Period.! End of story.!!!

This monster violated Jenna, and silence her after she threatened to tell about the abuse, he then silenced her for good😞

The step father was molesting the daughter more than likely that was her secret.😢 such a horrific man I hope he’s in prison for the rest of his life. 😢😢😢

So the neighbour heard her shouting at her stepdad and watched as he dragged her inside but never phoned the police ?

A drastic change in child behaviour, rebellion, wanting to stay away from family & the change in relationship between Jenna & her step father is a sure sign of sexual abuse. Only something that bad would cause this murder to happen

Anyone who says 'she's mature for her age' immediately sets of warning bells, it's usually because someone (in this case her stepdad) is making her do mature things she isn't ready for.

Not only kill and dispose of her Jenna's body, but to torment her mother. Utterly despicable, hope he rots in prison. RIP Jenna 🙏❤️

This narrators voice is just beautiful. So articulate, crisp and lovely.

Pedophiles often groom women to get to their children. Heartbreaking to find out the hard way when you are a loving and trusting person yourself 😢

So many red flags listening to this horrible crime. So sad she didn't feel she was able to share her secret with anyone especially her mum. I think it's obvious what her secret was. Rest in peace beautiful Jenna 😔

Cases like this are why I stayed single to raise my children…. I just made them my priority. Now that they are all grown I’ve met a wonderful man I’ve been with almost 3 years who also has grown children. I regret nothing. I’m glad I made the choices I did.

Ladies and gentlemen, please becareful who you're bringing into your homes among your children. There are a lot of wolves in sheep clothing in this world that we live in. Open your eyes. RIP, Jenna.

Unbelievable, that they didn't investigate the stepfather FULLY when she disappeared....

Being "mature for your age" is not a compliment. It means children, usually girls, are forced to look out for themselves when adults won't do it and they're usually sexual1sed at an early age. It is not normal to have an ex boyfriend at 15, a 13 year old with a 2 year relationship with a 17 year old. I'm hearing adults making a lot of excuses for themselves particularly the parents.

My mum re married when I was just 4. My 'step' dad is the most amazing man on earth. He's cared for myself and my siblings like his own, for over 30 years now 🫶 he's the only man that has never hurt me. He's taught me how to do DIY, basic car mechanics and all sorts of other wierd & wonderful life skills. He's also shown me how to love unconditionaly and he treats my mum like a queen, he is our hero ❤

I was a child protection social worker for over 25 years. That monster was sexually abusing her since a very early age. All of her and his behaviours were indicative of that. Too bad there is no more death penalty because he deserves it. An evil monster.

So horrific that he not only murdered his stepdaughter but to all intent and purposes taunted the family and friends afterwards. Great police work thank goodness, which ensured the monster was imprisoned

I think we all know what he was doing to Jenna to cause the dramatic change in her behaviour. This vile and pathetic excuse for a man is just another abuser in the worst way possible. Red flags are signs like him not accepting her choices, constant criticism and trying to portray her in a bad light. All control issues and shows the true dislike and anger at his ability to control and silence her slipping from his hands. I'm so sorry this happened to Jenna, so sorry for her Mum, siblings and family. Her poor siblings now have a murderer for a father and will have to live with the traumatic realisation their father killed their sister. My heart breaks for them. I hope he rots in this life and the after life. Fly free Jenna, your light will always shine brightly on this world x

When you are a divorced mom, do yourself and your children a favor and raise them on your own. It's not easy, I know, but they don't get molested by someone you brought into the house and it keeps them alive.

The lady says “Its a very close community - everybody knows everybody else - It’s a really nice place to live”. That sounds like a hellish place to live, to me.

The cruelty of this guy’s behaviour with the phone is unforgivable . Whatever the secret she was going to share it led to her death.

Don’t ever trust a stepdad with your daughters. Ever.

Sexual abuse led to her murder, I believe. Rest in peace poor girl.

When I had to leave my daughter’s father, I made a commitment to my two daughters that no man would share our home, so I did not even date. I had had a stepfather and did not want that for them. So much abuse is preventable. Very sad story

Can’t imagine the guilt that mum feels. While it’s not her fault, it just demonstrates how important it is to scrutinise men so willing to take on the role of the father to kin that aren’t his. It’s far too common , where children are hurt at the hands of a man that is not the biological father. While this is such a shame for those genuine men, who step up for kids who aren’t theirs, but pedantic scrutiny is the only way to actually protect the kids.

It's sad that the mom couldn't see the signs that her husband was abusing her daughter. This mom was blinded by her 'love' for the creep of a husband 😢😮

My heart goes out to Desiree, she lost her daughter and was betrayed by her 2nd husband. Hope she has found some peace now. RIP Jenna.

R.I.P.Jenna. 🤗💗 This is one of the saddest True Stories i have ever come across.

to kill a child who was about to spill the beans on a massive secret he must have been abusing her from an early age thats what i believe and he decided to stop her, an evil calculating monster RIP Jenna

Where in the world are these these sick men thinking towards their step daughters.I'll NEVER trust a man with my daughter, NEVER

How cruel this man was to mislead his wife the way he did. It’s clear she is very depressed, her voice is flat. I can’t imagine she will ever get over the murder of her daughter. My support and love go to her and the rest of the family. ❤

He was abusing her, some women don't want to see the truth in front of them, my mum didn't. RIP Jenna, tough lil cookie xxxx

Why would you continue to use his name why would you bury Jenna using his name I would change it completely it's quiet obvious what he did to Jenna

This is the greatest advice. We live in a SICK world.

Stepmoms and stepdads, what a disgrace. And the fast asleep unsuspecting mothers and fathers who are as much to blame for bringing these total strangers into their children's lives. Hats off to all mothers and fathers who stay single for their children's sake. My mother-in-law cared more for her children when her husband passed early in life, by staying single to give her seven children a safe upbringing, putting her own personal needs aside. God bless her soul for that.

Thought straight away he was the one. Never invite men into your home with young kids. Wait til they grow and leave home

I feel so sorry for the mother. She will forever miss her daughter. No grandchildren, No daughter.

Her mother allowed her daughter to date at 13!!!! and then the man is 17!!!!1Things were wrong on all levels !!!

I hope he receive what he deserves in prison.

He wanted the body to decompose so his act of SA WOULD NOT BE FOUND

Did the Mom not see any verbal abuse towards her daughter? The friends saw it!! I believe he sexually abused her, he’s a piece of sh@t that needs to rot in hell!! There was more to that home life that I believe the Mom knew (aka verbal abuse) and ignored….beyond tragic!!

When I was put out on my own at 15 it was with the clothes on my back, bought a thrift store coat for 25¢ so police need to learn to question so-called adults and don't go by what you think is not taken.

Poor Desiree, that monster must have been abusing Jenna, I can't imagine how Desiree must feel....

Why was it deemed okay for a "relationship" between a 17 yr old & a 13yr old child 🤔 That aside I believe the stepfather had been abusing the daughter & that he was also the one who had gotten her onto drugs. It's possible he targeted Jenna's mum to get to her daughter sadly. Sick twisted individual only concerned with himself. R.I.P 🙏💜

Another mother who put a man before her child 😑 how blind do you have to be not to see the signs 🚩🚩 RIP Jenna (sorry all the adults in your life let you down) 😞

Cases like these made me a single mum for 26 yrs.Not easy but peace of mind superseds any of that kind of pain. Build your relationship so your children come to YOU and confide in you. Chemical castration and solitude confinement if you abuse a child. Death penalty if you kill your victim.

Clearly and calmly narrated, with quiet background music. Respectful towards Jenna and her grieving mother.

35:40 👋🏾. Know who you pick up to bring in your home when you have kids! Sleep well Jenna. 🕊🕊🕊

He might’ve pretended from the beginning to be romantically interested in the mother just to get access to her daughter. Unfortunately, there are men like that out there. They pass on ladies with only boys or ladies without children in the home, but if she has a daughter they’ll pour on the charm and attention.

He probably groomed her and was diddling her. But finally she threatened to tell her Mom.

my brothers n i had a most wonderful step father, how dreadful fo those folks😑

I think that there is more to this, possibly sexual but no one will ever know. Very sad

If someone runs away from home and one of the items they take with them is a teddy bear, I don't think they are quite old enough to leave home. I would be fairly sure that they would be back rather soon. We had not been fighting but my husband wanted a break and he jokingly told me he was going to "run away from home" and he actually packed a suitcase and drove away. About two hours later he was back and when I asked him what happened, he rather sheepishly said, "I couldn't think of anywhere to go." And he was significantly older than 15. I haven't watched all of the video yet but I'm finding it rather curious that stepdad is the only one who has seen Jenna after she "ran away" and I am fairly certain that Jenna's mom will never see her again. I think she has made a fatal mistake in bringing this particular man into her daughter's life. We'll see.

Who's to know whether he would have abused the other girls. RIP Jenna ❤

I knew 2 secs into the video what happened to her. Her stepfather 😢😢

The mother must have had some idea of this monster

It's very tragic indeed. However, this mother has a degree of direct responsibility. There was clearly extreme tension in this home, perhaps even abuse and yet the mother sided with her husband. And her negotiation with the murderer about possibly getting manslaughter rather than first degree murder also suggests that there was a side of her that wanted to "forgive" and "minimise" what he had done even though he murdered her biological daughter.

The mothef is in denial. "Something" changed her daughter. How could she not see the wolf eyeing the spring chicken. She did not protect her daughter. Every little negative thing he told he about her flesh and blood, the mother accepted as fact. Those actions are why her daughter could not tell her the secret when she was in danger of a predator. Her mother was weak.

Seems like everyone knows what this was about, he sexually abused his stepdaughter, yet nobody dares to say it out loud

Very impressive detective work.

Utterly sickening & so many lives ruined . RIP Jenna .

This Mother knows more than she is saying

Pure evil, taunting that poor woman when she was desperate to find her much loved daughter. May he rot in hell !

When I was 18yrs old my mom brought a young man home. I was shocked, but was forced to accept it. He became my step dad. He treated me very badly and eventually sexually assaulted me for years. I look back on that and thank God that He took me out of that situation.

The worries that concur my heart and mind sometimes, when I watch and hear things like this happens in real world, I can't live miles away from my x because of our kids. The advice here, it doesn't matter how inlove you think you are with your new partner, when you have kids, put those kids first and make sure you have peace with your x..

The tell tale sign was that he couldn't tolerate her boyfriend... that was his jealousy.

The secret was that he'd been molesting her since she was around 13. He knew that if she told her mom that it was the end of the marriage and the end of him seeing his other 2 children ever again. I hope some big bruiser in prison shows him what's it like to have done to him what he did to her. R.I.P. Jenna.

Mike was a good father at first to Jenna, but when her mom stated earlier the video that Jenna suddenly changed from being a loving daughter to a rebellious girl at the age of 13 - I guess thats when Mike started to abuse his step daughter. Jenna does not know how to keep it to her family as she loves her siblings and her mum.

I guess that 99% of us, having heard the whole story, have the same idea of what caused Jenna to change and what she was about to reveal to her mother. There are several typical details - Jenna's beauty, the fact that she was very mature very early, her stepfather's unnaturally prolonged and explosive jealousy of her boyfriend, her wish to leave the house etc. Men with this type of pathology often choose women with children as partners, to be able to stay close, develop a relationship and groom the child. His own two daughters have at the time still not reached puberty, but they would've very probably been his next targets. Another tiny detail he invented reminded me of the patients I worked with, whose subconscious often spoke in symbols and archetypes, in order to verbally and emotionally distance themselves from their actions. In this case, it is the description of that non-existent mysterious girl who he "saw" with Jenna. She was high on drugs, she was behaving without any inhibitions and she is a redhead. For centuries, red hair was considered a sign of witchcraft, allure, sex appeal, deceit and female promiscuity, so in his description of Jenna's mysterious new friend, the girl's behaviour and her looks depict an unmistakable archetype of young immoral temptress who symbolically takes his step daughter away, never to be seen again. He has literally created a split between two Jennas: on one side is the young, innocent daughter, on the other is what he perceived her new, attractive, irresistible young female self to be - the part he was not able to withstand. I do hope that Desiree and her two daughters have been able to reconstruct their lives and find some closure and peace of mind.

From the beginning of this story I realize that stepfather was abusing this young girl sexually and because she fed up of his abuse was going to tell her mother and he kill her 🤔 shameful dunce Man need to be in jail nasty monster 😢

Dont trust anyone with your children. Definitely use hidden cameras around your children. Protect not neglect

I know the Agony of Losing a Loved One to Murder, but no knowing where they are is even more Heart Shattering!🥀💔🙏🥀💔🙏🥀💔🙏🥀💔🙏🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️

I wonder where her real Dad was in all of this? So sad,

Red flags from the strart sadly 😢

They enjoyed various forms of art 😂 never heard drawing coffins that before

Lovely Police ,so sorry for Jenna and her Mum ,don't let that animal spoil the rest of your life Sinead ,Cornwall

The mother seems proud to say Jenna was 'mature for her age' Well no wonder as Jenna seems to have taken a lot of parenting responsibility for her younger siblings. And why did the mum even allow a 13-year-old child to go anywhere near a 17-year-old young man? I blame the mother entirely, the woman deserves to be held responsible.

That is so cruel to make it seem like she was sending all those text to her mom and getting her hopes up.

Oh come on Mom. Your daughter was showing signs and you just shipped her off the her aunts place? Poor girl.

Allowing your 13 yr old daughter to be in a live in relationship? Wow😮

there must be some give away signs from this man's behaviour. So sorry Jenna endured this abuse I am sure for a long time

I'm wondering where the Mum was living from her daughter's 13 birthday on, became she would have had to deliberately turn a blind eye to her daughter's horrific abuse not to see it. Seems everyone else saw things, they just didn't put it together, no way she didnt know.

Thank goodness for really dumb criminals! Wouldn’t want it any other way . The amount of people who don’t own a shovel & how many are captured on camera buying their ‘ kill kits’ …..shovels etc is just amazing . Wicked tragic thing to do ……..the ultimate evil taking that poor young girls life 😢 Really dreadfully sad 😢

A mother would usually see the signs that something's amiss especially when there's a sudden change in behaviour of her child. Red flag right there! He was probably molesting Jenna from a young age and when she reached puberty, her rebellious beaviour was put down to being a typical teenager.....meanwhile, that monster was the cause! Rest easy Jenna

😱 cor what a shocking story, may she rest in peace 🙏 another interesting video thanks 🖤

Her perants failed her. Her mum by bringing evil to the home and the father by giving up on his daughter😏

Sexual molestation. Had she revealed that information to her Mum, he would be charged and imprisoned. I believe she had kept her secret for quite some time. Held over his head, he knew it was only a matter of time and he would be DONE FOR. Glad he is locked away from Des and never allowed release from prison where he belonged in the first place.

His nonchalance tells it all.

Her REAL father is devastated by this..... I hope you've contacted him before posting this and bringing it all up again!!!

Pretty clear he was sexually abusing the poor girl.

That stepdad would have set my hair on end in that questioning. His first move was trying to discredit her. That's a classic predator stunt. I'll bet he was the one sending in those tips. His objection to that boyfriend was territorial.

From what I gather the secret was probably sexual abuse. No child just changes that quickly in behavior. If she didn't want to come home at all, then that is the secret she would of told. She was scared of him. If he done it to her, then if there was another young girl in the house then he would of done it to her. Predators done stop once they start. I hope the mother can one day find peace and find true happiness once again.

When parenting is weak. Parents want to be their children's friend.

Good evening, and Thank You for the video.

Utterly horrifying. Immensely sad.

Wow ,what a betrayal ,feel so sorry for the mother and the other children

My son never had a stepfather either. He turned 27 today and he never even saw a man stay the night. He met 2 men and that is because I thought things might get serious. I get that a lot of stepparents are great but even in the best case scenarios, chosing the wrong person can be so detrimental to our kids.

You need to be very attentive to your children's emotions and keep a open line of communication, without it everything can callapse

How cruel. That poor mother❤😢