He was abducted and forced into a deadly scheme to extort marijuana from his father
CAMDEN, N.J. – One of the city's most shocking crimes in recent memory began with an order of takeout.
On the night of Sunday, June 30, authorities say, Curtis Jenkins III – a young entrepreneur from a well-known Camden family – drove to the city's Fairview neighborhood.
Jenkins, who ran a meals-to-go business, thought he was making a delivery, according to a police record.
Instead, the 20-year-old was reportedly forced into a van and abducted in a deadly scheme to extort a large amount of marijuana from his father, Curtis Jenkins Jr.
Here's an account of the crime, based on police statements and court records:
Sunday, June 30:
Jenkins and an associate drive around 11 p.m. to the 2700 block of North Congress Street. Jenkins parks and leaves the vehicle to make a delivery.
He never returns.
Police allege 32-year-old Brandon Beverly and unknown accomplices forced Jenkins into a van, where he was bound, blindfolded and driven away.
Monday, July 1:
Two armed men commit a home-invasion robbery "in the early morning hours," taking cellphones from people inside a residence near Third Street and Kaighn Avenue.
At 2 a.m., Camden County police respond to the 1000 block of Mechanic Street for a report that Jenkins is missing.
At 4 a.m., a phone call to the family demands "10 to 15" pounds of marijuana from the victim's father, Curtis Jenkins Jr.
A text message then shows a photo of Jenkins blindfolded with his hands tied behind his back.
Police later learn the phone used to make the call and send the text was taken during the home-invasion robbery.
Within hours, about 100 law enforcement officers - from local, county, state and federal agencies - are investigating the disappearance. Family members and others launch a parallel search for the missing man, who was the grandson of Camden City Council President Curtis Jenkins Sr.
Tuesday, July 2
Investigators arrest Beverly at his home on an unrelated warrant.
A search of the residence finds a wallet taken in the home-invasion robbery and a gun on a child's bunk bed.
Beverly is charged with kidnapping and aggravated assault in connection with Jenkins' disappearance. A search continues for the missing man.
Investigators stop the Uplander, which had been seen earlier in the day outside Beverly's home.
A person in the vehicle describes hearing an account of the abduction from Beverly.
The person, who has not been identified, also tells investigators Beverly recounted shooting Jenkins and leaving him in a garage on the 1100 block of Liberty Street.
The person is taken to Liberty Street, where he or she identifies the garage.
Jenkins' body is found wrapped in a sheet, his hands and feet bound together. A plastic bag is covering his head.
He is pronounced dead at 10:10 p.m, about three hours after some 100 people had gathered at a Farnham Park vigil to pray for Jenkins' safe return.
Wednesday, July 3:
A post-mortem examination determines Jenkins died from asphyxia, or being deprived of oxygen.
At a pess conference, authorities say Jenkins' death has been ruled a homicide. Beverly faces an additional charge of murder.
Thursday, July 4
Authorities release surveillance images of a man sought in connection with the home-invasion robbery.
Friday, July 5
Beverly is to appear at a pretrial detention hearing in Superior Court, Camden.
Follow Jim Walsh on Twitter @jimwalsh_cp.
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: He was abducted and forced into a deadly scheme to extort marijuana from his father
