Campus Walk Rebuilt but not Janet
My friend, Bruce, and I were driving back to the office this morning when we decided to take a short detour to look at the new Josephine's restaurant under construction nearby. We chanced to take a turn at Howard Street and I said something like "oh, look the Campus Walk Apartments have been rebuilt."
Bruce, who remembers next to nothing (sorry Bruce) didn't remember the fire there that claimed the lives of four young people and sent young Janet Danahey to prison for life, eight years ago last month. I didn't know any of these people but it always seemed to me that Janet Danahey had little or no legal defense and that her attorney probably should have been disbarred--but like the commercial goes, that's more like an opinion. I wanted to name this attorney but in all the stories about the fire and its aftermath, he is never named. I wonder why.At the heart of this injustice is what's known as the "Felony Murder Rule" which, not being an attorney, I wouldn't even dream of trying to explain. I just hope somebody, somewhere is trying to get Janet out of prison. One tragic but ultimately stupid act doesn't warrant a life sentence.
You can write to Janet here:
Janet Danahey #0774159
C/O NCCIW
1034 Bragg St.
Raleigh, NC 27610
posted by Unknown at 7:43 AM
38 Comments:
Her attorney was Jim Kimmel (sic), not sure of the spelling. My understanding is he was at one time the DA in Guilford County. Her family didn't want to pay for an attorney. Her father was against it. They sold her few belongings to pay for an attorney to appear with her in court. She would have been better off with a court appointed attorney. I don't know her and had only been living in Greensboro since October 2001. But I will never forget that fire as long as I have my mind.
I',m sorry to bust everones bubble. But for nine years I have been holding a terrible secret about two of the victims. I wanted to come forward as soon as I heard about the fire. I thought about carrying this secret to the grave with me. But since i am sick with less than six months left I will share my secret. Donna and Rachael used to work parttime for an escort service. I knew them, and had used them several times. Donna about five times, Rachael 17 times. Almost all college girls and struggling young women need money. They worked for a couple on Gentry Street. I can't remember the name of the escort service. But, I am glad that is now out.
This post goes out to "Anonymous" in reference to his claims concerning the Llewellyn sisters. Let's just say that your claim about them is true. I honestly don't know because I never met either of them. To be honest, it sounds like you're just playing a cruel joke by viciously slandering two people and therefore causing their grieving families more injury. You say you wanted to come forward? Then why are you posting this anonymously? If you really feel the need to "come clean" with something, then post your name. Otherwise, what you're doing is disrespectful and cowardly.
J Marie - thank you for saying what I was too angry and dumbfounded to say. I DID know Donna and Rachel, both since childhood. Donna was one of my closest friends for a time, and though I hadn't spoken to either of them for a few months prior to the fire, I think it is abhorrent for you, "Anonymous," to malign those girls in such a way.
As to the issue of Janet Danahey, maybe life in prison IS a harsh sentence for a person who didn't intend for anyone to die when she acted out in such a stupid and immature way. But four people died as a result of her stupidity. And it was stupidity - setting fire to something and realizing that other things would get set on fire as well is common sense. This was an apartment complex, so logically, other people lived there besides her boyfriend. The Llewellyn's lost both of their children, and Ryan and Beth's family lost children, too. I knew the victims and so can't be terribly impartial.
maybe one is not a murderer when they set a box of christmas decorations on fire on her ex boyfriends porch. But when she decided not to warn the people in the house after seeing it go up in flames, she officially graduated to murderer.
and as far as the moron who goes by anonymous #2 ... what difference would it make whether the girls were escorts or not. (not that i believe they were). does that mean that prostitutes are fair game to burn and kill?
Janet initially told police that she had only lit a small box of Christmas decorations on fire, but later admitted to WFMY News2's Rosemary Plybon that she had lied to police, and in fact poured lighter fluid on the porch futon and lit it on fire. In an interview with the Washington Post reported that Janet had later admitted (in a meeting with one victims father) that she had seen the porch go up in flames, and could hear the screams of people coming from inside, but did not call 911, claiming that she "could not find her cell phone" and instead went with the other two girls to hide the evidence in a friends dumpster.
Hey! with any luck, maybe one of her cell mates will accidently set her cell on fire and give her a little taste of that warm and fuzzy death by fire feeling... my favorite part of the whole story is how she was asking God, then night she found out she killed those people, for a sign and for help. and of course, nothing. as always. next time she should try writing a letter to Santa. He's just as real, and you'll get the same response.
thats what she gets for hiring Jimmy kimmell as her attorney. I heard she pleaded guilty as soon as she found out she'd be tried by Judge Jay Leno.
I am amazed that people find and return to this post. One of you has returned many times. I am thinking today of another young woman, Amanda Sperduti, who was sentenced to 7 -12 years in prison for killing three people one drunken evening. Like Janet, she didn't intend to kill anyone but with a blood alcohol level over .20, other unnamed drugs in her system and speeds in excess of 90 mph, three people died when Amanda lost control and hit a tree. Unlike Janet, she will get out of jail while still young enough to have a life because the D.A. saw fit NOT to charge Amanda with other crimes that would have qualified her for the felony murder conviction. that sent Janet away for life. Somebody ought to give Janet the same break they gave Amanda and let the girl out while she can still have a life.
Melissa Marvin of Kill Devil Hills, NC got plastered and sped through an intersection. She killed four young women and almost succeeded in killing a fifth friend. She received 60 years in prison. She MUST serve 60 years as it was 15 years for each death. Missy was 29 at the time of the sentencing, so essentially, she was given a deserved life sentence. Stupidity or drunkeness is not an excuse to take a life.
It has been a long time since I visited this site. I am the second poster about the sisters working for the escort service on Gentry Street. It was called Genteleman's Choice. It was owned by a couple named Cris and Marilyn. That is not their real names, just a stage name. I know their real names as I have been a guest in their home. They did work as escorts.
Lee, in your original post, you claimed that you had only six months to live. Apparently you have outlived your prognosis, congratulations. However, it does taint your veracity just a tad.
Well sir, I have prostate cancer. I guess the doctors really don't know how much longer i will live. If you would like proof that I have cancer, I will be glad to personally show you documentation or you can go with me to my next doctors appointment.
No, thanks.
I grew up with janet in kernersville. she was a sweet girl. i feel terrible that she is going through this. i also feel terrible for the families of the deceased. I hope that janets family is supporting her.
"god grant me the serenity to accept the things i cannot change, the courage to change the things i can and the wosdom to know the difference." i hope she is freed soon. She will carry the burden of her mistake for the rest of her life. she is a good person.why arent we locking up real criminals? pedophiles, child abusers, elderly abusers, domestic assaulters?
Lots of moral superiority on this board here. I feel like I should remove my shoes while standing on holy ground.
Better watch what u say on here,Lee, this blog is being monitored by the Greensboro Police Department. Onomatopeyote or one of Rachael or Donna's friends or family has reported it to the police. Detective Sargeant JD Slone is on the case. You can't even blog in Greensboro without the crooked cops trying to make something out of nothing. Lee, I know them also, u don't want to be associated with the Gentry clan.
No one is perfect. Janet did something terrible and unforgettable but she lives with this guilt every day. She apologizes and honors these four people, but nothing is good enough in the eyes of society. A sin is a sin no matter what the extent of it and if God can forgive her than we should be able to also. This woman has lost so many valuable years. Why destroy a woman's life over an action that many people would do not thinking of the consequences. There are millions of ways that people deal with a stressful situation and no one reacts the same. Our mind can play dirty tricks on us and lead us in the wrong direction. When we are hit with something like this we don't always react the way we should. Until you are actually put in a situation such as this you cannot act as if you would of done anything differently when the fire started to spread. I was a little girl when this tragedy forced its way into our house. I grew up hating Janet for what she had done to those families without their children. But deep down I couldn't erase the memories of her kind and gentle spirit that would come to see me. My family still deals with the anger and guilt. But, everyone deserves a second chance when they are willing to admit to their mistakes and prove that they are a good person at heart.
These pranks happen all of the time and the perpetrators are released with little more than a slap on the wrist. This little girl was railroaded by the prosecutor, her own lawyer, and her own family into pleading guilty for a foolish prank. Whether the victims were Rhodes scholars or street walkers is of no consequence. They were innocent victims of an ACCIDENT. Janet needs to be PARDONED. She's suffered enough and at least one dad of the deceased has befriended and forgiven her. Why can't the rest of us do the same.
I was there the morning after the fire, before the sun came up. My name is Jami Turner, I was the reporter who covered the aftermath. I was there when Beth Harris' father walked up. I was standing next to the Fire Department's Public Information Officer who was a friend of mine. This frightened man who whad just driven what must have been the longest hour of his life from Cary was about to be told his daughter was dead. I will never get over the guilt of having this knowledge before he did. My own daughter was only 3 months old at the time, it was my fourth day back at work after maternity leave. What this woman did took away 4 children. She made a decision that took lives. It may have been a prank in her eyes at 2 in the morning. But it RUINED lives-- not four, but countless. You can be forgiven for stumbling home drunk after pouring clam juice in a car's intake--- not for "accidently" killing four children.
SHE MURDERED FOUR PEOPLE AND SHOULD SPEND HER DISFUNCTIONAL LIFE BEHIND BARS
She was given her chance by copping a plea to avoid the death penalty, which is what she deserved ,let her rot in prison
Maybe you should learn to spell or quit being too emotional. It is spelled dysfunctional. Maybe, she has changed in prison and no longer has urges to stalk and retaliate against former lovers. I think she should serve more time, at least twenty to twenty-five years, ten is not enough to kill two innocent people and two known escorts.
Dear God in heaven, how could the Governor of NC remotely think about giving Janet Danahey clemency. How can any citizen of NC think there is no intent when someone who has the degree of intelligence perpetrated on this woman agree she had no intent. She left the scene of the fire, she watched the building go up in flames, she dashes off to home in another city to hide. She had “no intent” is mindboggling to someone who does know that you can’t do that as a joke or prank. It’s just not in the lists of jokes and pranks I’ve seen people play by. Pranks aren’t played to kill people therefore, you don’t use deadly weapons like fire, guns or poison. I could never believe Janet did not know this. She’s to intelligent. Mad at boyfriend, yes, hurt by him, yes, intent, yes. No intent, used only as defence. She would have been better off to plead “insanity” that would be more believable since that’s what most would call someone who did what she did. She is now begging for clemency on the no intent issue while she does not have the guts or intelligence to speak up and tell the real truth of her thinking that night.
Janet did a very bad thing and whatever her intentions were, 4 people died and that is unforgivable. What is also unforgivable was that Janet got NO LEGAL DEFENSE. Her attorney sold her out and allowed her to plead guilty to a felony murder charge. No one should ever be tried by public opinion and that's what's happened to Janet. I hope the governor understands how the justice system failed Janet completely and utterly and grants her clemency.
I agree with you Bob 100%. Her defense attorneys were terrible and did not represnt her well. They should have been disbarred, and Janet has served enough time.
http://www.change.org/petitions/the-governor-of-nc-grant-clemency-petition-for-janet-danahey?utm_medium=email&utm_source=signature_receipt
For those of you who might see this petition and can support Janet's Effort and those of us who believe she has served enough time for the accident which turned deadly....I hope you will go to the above link and add your name and perhaps also a comment.
Janet should have NEVER been given a life sentence....but this is how CORRUPT attorneys and DAs are....someone should have been disbarred over the way all of this was conducted.
There are people in Guilford COunty though who still *sweep a lot of crimes right under the rug*...and never look back.
500 supporters anc counting*****please sign the petition for JANET and for those of us who believe the TIME DID NOT FIT THE CRIME....it is time to allow Janet to return to society...she served over 10 years...which is much more than DRUNK DRIVERS WHO KILL GET...
http://janetdanahey.org/
600 plus and counting.....are the names now on the PETITION FOR JANET....just a few more days left....as it must go over to the Governor's Office soon. http://janetdanahey.org (this is the new F/B page) and you can find the link to the petition on it....it is time to LET GO, LET GOD....and IF you feel like you can not sign it....that is OK also....but then ask yourself this question: WHAT WOULD JESUS DO???????
C'mon Folks, let's be honest here. Ms. Danahey's actions were NOT an accident. A lightning strike would have been an accident; IF she had been trying to light a scented candle, THAT would have been an accident. But neither of those scenarios is true; Ms. Danahey was trying to get even with a former Lover for dumping her!!! PERHAPS she didn't intend for anyone to die as a result of her actions, but they died just the same. NC Women's prisons have dozens of women in the same boat. The bigger question is: Will Governor Perdue yield to a small number of Ms. Danahey's vocal supporters and grant clemency, or stand by the decision made by a jury that heard ALL the evidence and keep Ms. Danahey locked away?
You're absolutely right; I was in error when I said "Jury". However; that does not change the fact that Janet was and still remains, a manipulative, deceitful murderer. Ask those that live with her on a daily basis and you'll find that she regularly breaks the rules and shifts blame to others.
"I think she should serve more time, at least twenty to twenty-five years, ten is not enough to kill two innocent people and two known escorts."
WOW, that is offensive crazy-talk. (1) "Known" escorts? That is an unsubstantiated rumor. (2) Even if it's true, it's irrelevant to anything in the world. Escorts don't need to be put into a different category than innocent people.
And to the above poster, which honest, upright people, specifically, who live with her on a daily basis, do I need to be sending letters to? Which rules does she break regularly, and to whom, specifically, has she shifted blame?
Imagine this... Dead asleep and you get woken up by a phone call at 4 in the morning. The caller is your girlfriend's mom telling you that your girlfriend had been in a fire and had to jump out of a third story window at her apartment complex. So I drove from Raleigh to Greensboro scared out of my mind worrying about my girlfriend and her roommates who were very close friends of mine also. I get to the hospital but I cannot see her because she is in surgery. I go to the apartment complex and see the devestation of what used to be Campus Walk apartments. My girlfriends truck was basically destroyed, part of the side had melted that is how hot the fire had gotten. Fast forward ten years- Janet Danahey: the woman that set the fire is trying to get clemency. So I guess 4 lives equals 10 years then? Thats 2 and a half years per person. Really?? And I hate to disappoint people on this page, but Janet had 2 very good lawyers. They DID NOT want her to take a plea deal. Janet was the one that took the plea deal. Why? She knew that if she went to court she could get the death penalty. This was not an accident. She set a futon on fire and she added an accelerant to it. The arson inspector reported that it turned into a blaze in under a minute. And what did Janet do? She went to her apartment. She said that she did not have her cell with her. She could have banged on the doors in the hallway. She could have went to the bar next door to call the fire department. But what did she do? NOTHING!! She planned and plotted on how to stay out of trouble. She told her friends to destroy the clothes she was wearing and other evidence. Then she went to her parents house to hide. The police had to drag her out of her room. She hadnt even told her parents about what had happened. If it wasnt for her friends coming forward and turning in the evidence, they probably would have never found out who started the fire. But here is the thing that so many people keep harping on. She was so young when she did this, it was a prank. I could maybe believe that if she was a minor under the age of 18. But she was over 18 and she was a college graduate so she knew exactly what she was doing. I know that I have written a lot here and it somewhat rambled but here is my last thought. Her family and friends say how much work she has done with other criminals in the women's prison. Maybe thats where she needs to be to help other people out.
Well today is January 4, 2013. It appears Governor Perdue will not be granting Janet Danahey any Pardon, no reduction of sentence or chance of parole. If McCory serves eight years as governor then another Republican gets in after that it may be a long time before we have another liberal democrat in office.It may be another 16 years before janet can pull this stunt again.
What I want to know is "How do her friends live with themselves?" I do believe J.D. should be given clemency someday and I hope she will not die in prison. She was stupid and immature and she took lives and she ruined lives. She was a fool. She was a kid. Just because she had graduated from college doesn't mean she would always use good judgement. (I matured at about thirty-five) She was stupid and horrible and had no foresight, but she didn't mean to kill. She is paying for her lack of judgement, as she should. Shouldn't "her friends" have paid for not trying to help those people? Something is rotten in Denmark.
sure, lets all help another white person get away with murder.
Janet's sentence has been commuted to life with the possibility of parole. She might get out of prison in 2029 if she's a good girl. With almost thirty years in prison she'll be in her fifties hen she gets out. What will she do, where would she go? Maybe she would be better off staying in prison. I really miss Donna and Rachael.
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