Updated 06/19/2007 11:59 AM

Police still investigating murder of pregnant woman

By: Cassie Safrit

Nielsen
Nielsen
RALEIGH -- Police are still searching for answers in the gruesome murder of a pregnant woman.

Jennifer Kathleen Nielsen, known as Jenna to friends and family, was delivering newspapers at the AmeriKing Food Mart and Exxon gas station the morning of her murder.

The USA Today newspaper stand remains empty in front of the store, a grim reminder of Nielsen's murder.

"This person killed two people," said Jenna’s husband Tim Nielsen.

The focus of the investigation now is to find one man. Police aren't calling him a suspect, but they do think he has valuable information.

Nielsen, 22, was pregnant with her third son and due in just a few weeks.

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Police found her body behind the convenience store early Thursday morning, and police said they still don't have autopsy results about her exact cause of death.

The biggest lead so far is a composite of someone they think was in the area at the time of Nielsen's murder.

Police said the man is in his late teens or early 20s, about five feet, three inches tall, weighs about 120 lbs., and has black hair.

"We've been getting a lot of phone calls about the composite, and we are following up on those phone calls," said Captain Chris Bertram with the Raleigh Police Department.

Police said they're checking leads on nearly 30 calls, but they want information about a specific location.

"We're really concentrated on the Lake Wheeler downtown area," said Bertram.

Detectives continue to collect surveillance tapes from the store, hoping to catch a glimpse of something or someone that might lead to some answers.

Composite sketch
Composite sketch
These are answers that police need to solve the crime and answers that Jenna's family is grasping for.

"There have been multiple cases broken by just the tiny tiniest little shred of evidence. So, if you think you have anything, if you know anything, please, please help out," pleaded Nielsen.

Police are working around the clock.

In a statement released Monday, USA Today said: "We are shocked and deeply saddened by the death of Jennifer Kathleen Nielsen. In the short time she worked with USA Today, Jennifer was well-liked and an admired carrier. Our staff will be fully cooperating with Raleigh police in the investigation of this heinous crime."

Funeral services for Nielsen are set. The family will have a private service at the Thomas Funeral Home in Fuquay-Varina, N.C.

Friends and family have set up a fund for Jenna's husband and two sons in lieu of flowers.

If you would like to contribute, you can go to First Flight Credit Union at 1156 North Main Street in Fuquay-Varina.