Series to focus on murder of former C. Falls woman
By CHERY SABOL
The Daily Inter Lake
Four years after the unsolved murder of Jennifer Olson Servo, her death is not being forgotten in Abilene, Texas, where she died.
A promising young television reporter from Columbia Falls, she was beaten and strangled to death in her apartment. She was 22 when she died on Sept. 16, 2002. She was the daughter of Norm Olson and Sherry Servo Abel. She graduated from Columbia Falls High School and the University of Montana and had moved to Abilene shortly before her death.
The crime was featured on the FOX network's "America's Most Wanted" show.
Now, it is about to become the subject of an eight-part series in the Abilene Reporter News, beginning Sunday. The series is written by true-crime author Carlton Stowers.
Olson said he was disappointed to learn that the cold-case squad in Abilene was disbanded because of budget restraints. Stowers' work, though, gives him hope that attention on the case may keep his daughter's story alive.
Stowers' bestsellers include "To The Last Breath" and "Careless Whispers." His book, "Innocence Lost," was nominated for a Pulitzer.
The author has been gathering information and interviewing people who knew Servo.
In a Web site at www.justiceforjennifer.org, Olson hopes that people with information about her murder will help solve the crime.
He says there were no signs of forced entry or struggle and all DNA results were accountable to friends and acquaintances.
"Jennifer apparently knew the killer and the degree of violence indicates rage. It is a matter of time until more sophisticated forensic technologies, along with determined police work, will result in charges against the killer. Until then, we ask that anyone with any information regarding this unsolved crime or the articles taken from Jennifer's apartment, submit the information through the Web site and it will be forwarded to the Abilene Police Department. The Tips Form can be sent anonymously if you prefer. The Abilene Police and Jennifer Olson's family are making every effort to bring the dirtbag to justice."
Anonymous tips may also be made directly to Abilene Police Crimestoppers at 676-TIPS (8477) or 1-800-868-8477.
The series of stories in the Abilene newspaper may be read online at www.reporternews.com.
"It helps to know that everyone continues to keep thoughts of Jennifer," her father said. "I feel that justice will happen, it just hasn't been as quickly as one would hope."