PA - Laura Araujo, 23, robbed and murdered in Philadelphia

I'm almost certain that we've discussed this case before, back in July when Laura's body was found, but I've searched and searched and cannot find a thread about her anywhere.

http://articles.philly.com/2014-07-1...e-investigator

Quote:

Laura Araujo had only lived in the West Philadelphia rooming house for a short time, but it was long enough to convince her housemate that she had money, Philadelphia police say. The man who rented the room next to hers, Jerry Jakson, had seen her car - a 2011 Toyota RAV4 - and took it as an indication of her wealth, Lt. Walt Bell said Wednesday. Police believe Jakson had planned to rob Araujo, a 23-year-old graduate of the Art Institute of Philadelphia who was about to move from the house.

At some point before 5:30 a.m. Monday, police say, Jakson, 22, attacked Araujo at the rooming house on the 800 block of N. 40th Street, strangled and beat her. He wrapped her body in a blanket and stuffed her into a duffel bag, police say.

He then drove her car to North Philadelphia, police say, where he abandoned her body in a lot and left her belongings - packed into the car in anticipation of her move - strewn about her. Then, according to police sources, Jakson drove the car to South Philadelphia and set it on fire around 2:20 a.m. Monday badly burning both his arms in the process, and leaving his cell phone behind.

http://www.phillymag.com/news/2014/0...-philadelphia/

Quote:

At Jakson's preliminary hearing yesterday, police read a transcript of his confession. Jakson blamed a woman who stayed at the house named Shaneka, who he says was responsible for all the heinous acts he's charged with. Cops didn't see her in any security footage, however. "We don't know that a Shaneka exists," homicide detective James Pitts testified.

http://articles.philly.com/2014-09-1...o-laura-araujo

Quote:

Jeremiah Jakson, who was charged with robbing and killing a young woman and leaving her remains in a vacant lot stuffed in a duffel bag in July, came to court yesterday wearing a shirt emblazoned with "Crime Pays."

"That's an interesting choice of shirt you wore to court," Municipal Judge Teresa Carr Deni said, sarcastically... But Deni wasn't finished, and later told Jalon he needed to follow up with the jail to find out why his client was allowed to appear in court wearing such a shirt, which she denounced as "unacceptable."

Generally, the preliminary hearing did not go well for Jakson, who was ordered held for trial for murder, robbery, abuse of a corpse, and related counts.