20-year-old cold case gets fresh look in Florida

Case of 12-year-old Jennifer Odom, who was found dead 20 years ago, gets fresh look

Published On: Feb 13 2013 09:57:43 AM EST
DADE CITY, Fla. -

Hernando County Sheriff's Office officials say they will assign a full-time detective to the unsolved, 20-year-old case of a slain girl.

Jennifer Odom was 12 when she was last seen getting off a school bus near her home. Six days after she disappeared, her body was found in an orange grove.

Sheriff Al Neinhuis said Tuesday that more than 1,000 investigators have been involved in trying to solve the high-profile case, and the sheriff's office will utilize federal forfeiture funds to dedicate the additional manpower.

Because of the volume of documents and false leads they have received, Nienhuis said it could take at least a year to review the reports, interviews and evidence.

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