SILENT WITNESS

Body of young Mesa woman found 4 years after disappearance

May 4, 2020, 11:00 AM

(Wikipedia Commons Photo)...

(Wikipedia Commons Photo)

(Wikipedia Commons Photo)

Jan. 3, 2009, Jenika Feuerstein disappeared. Phoenix Police Sgt. Derek Elmore said she lived in Mesa at an apartment near Mesa Drive and Brown Road.

“There’s no sign of anything related to a struggle at that apartment,” Elmore said.

“We just know that she was supposed to meet friends in Phoenix. She and the male friend she was with decided not to meet those friends for some reason. They went back home, she was dropped off and never seen or heard from again.”

Her body was found four years later near Apache Lake.

Feuerstein’s mother, Maralyn, said her daughter was working two jobs — one at a day care, the other as a waitress at Denny’s.


“All through high school she wanted to go into forensic science to help solve crime cases, which is kind of ironic,” Maralyn said.

Maralyn said Jenika graduated from Desert Ridge High School, played soccer as a child then got into yoga and dance.

Jenika loved music and she had a huge crush on Johnny Depp. Maralyn described her daughter as having a great laugh and lighting up any room she walked into.


Our next case takes us to the Lifeplan Crematorium near 17th Avenue and Roosevelt Street in Phoenix on Aug. 22, 2014 at about 4:14 a.m.

A couple of guys saw a big, blank wall they couldn’t resist.

“They used spray paint to paint various symbols and signs and letters,” Elmore said.

“Two of the letters we could read were ‘A’ and ‘S.'”

This article originally appeared Sept. 22, 2014.

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Body of young Mesa woman found 4 years after disappearance