From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Chanel Petro-Nixon was an American murder
victim.
Life
Chanel Petro-Nixon was born in 1989 and had lived in the Bedford
Styvesant section of Brooklyn, New York. She was a member of the Mt. of
Olives Seventh-day Adventist
Church on Bushwick Avenue and was considered devout by her
family in regards to her church and prayer attendance. She was also a 10th grader at
Boys and Girls High School
and was known as a straight-A student who spent her after-school
hours in the library.
According to Nancy
Grace of CNN "She wanted to
become a nurse to help other
people".
Murder
On Sunday, June 18, 2006, which was a 'Father's Day', Petro-Nixon had left her
home, which family included Garvin, her father; Lucita Nixon, her
mother; Marcus and Giovanni, her brothers; and decided to walk to a
nearby Applebee's restaurant to fill out a job application. She had not been seen or
heard from again for four days. Later, her body was discovered in a
trash
bag in front of 212 Kingston Avenue. It was determined that
Petro-Nixon had been strangled.[1]
Other clues: her cell
phone and sneakers
A later article in the New York Daily News focused on her white
sneakers, with the hope that someone would have recognized her
shoes.[2]
- "Cops hope a photo of 16-year-old Chanel Petro-Nixon's white
sneakers will jog a witness' memory and help investigators track
down the Brooklyn girl's killer."[2]
To further quote the same article:
- "But the white sneakers she had been wearing when she left home
were missing as was her cell phone. Detectives hope someone will
call with information when they see photos of the missing Nike Air Jordan Retro 14
sneakers. The size 6 1/2 shoes have green trim. "AMW" will also
show photos of her Sanyo Sprint 8200 phone.[3]
"Maybe soneone remembers seeing the shoes on a rooftop or the
cell phone in someone's home," (Jon) Lieberman (producer of
America's Most Wanted) said. "The family is looking for
justice."[2]
Burial
Petro-Nixon was buried at Rosedale and Rosehill Cemetery,
located in Linden Union County, New Jersey.[4]
The reaction of the
family and friends
It was reported that Petro-Nixon's father, Garvin, is alienated
from his neighborhood. He is quoted as saying:
"I don't trust anybody," and "That person shaking your
hand, smiling in your face, could be the one who did
this".[5]
Petro-Nixon's mother, Lucita, takes a different viewpoint stating "I won't let anger
poison me".[5]
Petro-Nixon's parents made a plea to the public asking for help
in finding her killer. They also visited the site where she was
found in a bag.[6]
Her cousin, Errol Wilson, was quoted in a New York Daily News article as saying "She
was beautiful inside and out" and that "She had an inner beauty you
rarely find".[7]
A teen friend of Petro-Nixon's had said: "She would never do
anything wrong", and then further added that they had read the
book, The Da Vinci Code, together.
"She had good grades. I would call her the 'little nerd.'"[7]
Letter to Police Commissioner from N.A.A.C.P., and reward
information
On July 7, 2006, the Brooklyn Branch of the N.A.A.C.P.
sent a letter to Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly requesting a
meeting. The letter mentioned "increasing rates of crime",
"inadequate police response" and the murder of Petro-Nixon.[8]
Initial reward
information
An initial reward of $12,000 was offered by police.[9] It was
reported in the August 11, 2006 edition of the New York Daily News
that:
- "The Daily News has joined with the city and several private
organizations to offer nearly $30,000 in reward money for
information leading to the arrest and conviction of Chanel's
killer. The News also has paid to print hundreds of posters calling
for the public to help catch the killer. Cops asked anyone with
information to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls
will be kept confidential."[2]
Further
information
At a later date, the reward amount was increased.[10] The New York City Police
Department interviewed all of Petro-Nixon's friends and
collected hundreds of tips. A
$38,000 reward for useful
information was given. There was a poster featuring Petro-Nixon's face peering out
from a window of a McDonald's restaurant on Fulton Street,
offering a $22,000 reward. The fund represents contributions by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, The New York Daily News, The Reverend Al Sharpton and the
Police Department. There has been no claim to the reward.
Detective work and the
neighborhood
David Stein, head of the detective squad, was quoted as saying,
"You see a case like this maybe once in a career."[11]
Part of that article read:
- "Now. Stein has assigned the case to "the two Bobs" - Robert
Carboine, who has 17 years on the job and is working on the case
full time, and Bobby Rivera, a veteran with 20 years on the job, 16
of them as a detective in the 77th, who's working part time on the
murder. When more manpower is needed - to canvass a block, for
instance, talking to people for clues - the brass at 1 Police Plaza
gives it to them. "We've spent thousands of hours on this," says
Stein, who was working the case on July 4, wandering into backyard
barbecues asking questions. "This case has taken us all over the
tristate area and beyond."[11]
Comparison to other
murder victims of 2006
The death of Petro-Nixon was highlighted in a July 29, 2006
article titled, "It's open season on young gals", where
her death was compared with the murders of Imette St. Guillen and Jennifer Moore.[12][13]
Another related comparison of a 'close-to-home' murder was the
murder of Tiesha Sargeant.[14]
Aftermath
Murder statistics conducted by the NYPD and obtained by the
Daily News had mention of Petro-Nixon.[15] Also
this same day, another murder which occurred was mentioned and
there was speculation that this murder may be related to
Petro-Nixon's.[16] New
York Daily News columnist Errol Louis, who tried to keep the story
'alive' in the press,[17]
provided this information that there was a spike in murder, which
was up in Crown Heights by 122%, and that community meetings were
being held by Assemblyman Karim Camara.[18] Her
mother was quoted in a New York Times story as stating: "We try
our best to keep it alive, she said of the case. We really
don't want her death to be in vain."[19]
In January 2007, CNN had a video featuring Nancy Grace,
discussing unsolved murders.[20]
As of June 24, 2007, the case had still not been solved. There
were currently no witnesses known to have seen her murdered,
nor any suspects that had been identified.[21]. The
Reverend Al Sharpton has joined with the television show, America's Most Wanted, in trying
to solve the mystery of her murder. He has used strong language
directed to the Black Community in presenting the case of
Petro-Nixon's murder.[22][23]
Her mother, Lucita Petro-Nixon, had been scheduled to receive a
"survivor's" award during January, 2008.[24] More
than two years have passed and there have been no further
revelations in Petro-Nixon's murder.
Notes
- ^
""Unknown Chanel Petro-Nixon
Killer"". Americas Most Wanted. June 18, 2006. http://www.amw.com/fugitives/case.cfm?id=39853. Retrieved
2007-11-14.
- ^ a
b
c
d
Alison Gendar (August 11, 2006). ""Hoping Sneakers Track
Killer. Cops show pic of slain B'klyn Girl's footwear; case to be
on TV's 'Most Wanted'"". New York Daily News. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2006/08/11/2006-08-11_hoping_sneakers_track_killer_cops_show_p.html. Retrieved
2007-11-14.
- ^
"Sanyo 8200". http://www.latiendamia.com/images/sanyo%208200%20450x550.jpg. Retrieved
2009-03-11.
- ^
"Chanel Petro Nixon - Brutal
Murder of "Perfect" Kid". Find A Grave. August 2, 2006. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=15125143. Retrieved
2007-11-14.
- ^ a
b
"Year Of Tears For Slain
Teen". The New York Post. June 18, 2007. http://www.nypost.com/seven/06182007/news/columnists/year_of_tears_for_slain_teen_columnists_andrea_peyser.htm. Retrieved
2007-11-13.
- ^
"Chanel's Parents: Get Her
Murderer Visit B'klyn Site Where Daughter Found In Bag". New
York Daily News. July 10, 2006. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2006/07/10/2006-07-10_chanels_parents_get_her_murderer_visit_b.html. Retrieved
2007-11-14.
- ^ a
b
"Body found in bag ID'd as
studious B'klyn girl". New York Daily News. June 24, 2006. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2006/06/24/2006-06-24_body_found_in_bag_idd_as_studious_bklyn_.html. Retrieved
2007-11-14.
- ^
"Urgent Request for
Meeting". NAACP. July 7, 2006. http://naacp.moonfruit.com/. Retrieved
2007-11-14.
- ^
"Reward in Girl's Slay".
July 28, 2006. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2006/06/28/2006-06-28_reward_in_girls_slay.html. Retrieved
2007-11-14.
- ^
"Reward Grows For Info In
B'klyn Teen Slay". New York Daily News. July 7, 2006. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2006/07/07/2006-07-07_reward_grows_for_info_in_bklyn_teen_slay-1.html. Retrieved
2007-11-14.
- ^ a
b
"It's Time To Speak Up".
New York Daily News. October 10, 2006. http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2006/10/10/2006-10-10_its_time_to_speak_up.html. Retrieved
2007-11-14.
- ^
"It's open season on young
gals". The New York Post. July 29, 2006. http://pqarchiver.nypost.com/nypost/access/1086287641.html?dids=1086287641:1086287641&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jul+29%2C+2006&author=Andrea+Peyser&pub=New+York+Post&edition=&startpage=005&desc=IT%27S+OPEN+SEASON+ON+YOUNG+GALS. Retrieved
2007-11-13.
- ^
""Today in Pretty White Girls
in Jeopardy"". Gawker.com. July 29, 2006. http://gawker.com/news/crime/today-in-pretty-white-girls-in-jeopardy-191584.php. Retrieved
2007-11-13.
- ^
"Nine Blocks From Home". New York Magazine
Holdings LLC - News and Features section. July 17, 2006. http://nymag.com/news/features/17571/. Retrieved
2007-11-13.
- ^
"Our War On Murder. NYPD
Commish Kelly Tells Of New Crackdown On Killings In The City".
New York Daily News. November 20, 2006. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2006/11/20/2006-11-20_our_war_on_murder_nypd_commish_kelly_tel.html. Retrieved
2007-11-14.
- ^
"COP GROUP ASKS IF SLAYS ARE
TIED". New York Daily News. November 20, 2006. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2006/11/20/2006-11-20_cop_group_asks_if_slays_are_tied.html. Retrieved
2007-11-14.
- ^
""Crime and Justice", U.S.
section". Invision Power Board-Crime and Justice. July 5,
2006. http://www.crimeandjustice.us/forums/index.php?showtopic=8905. Retrieved
2007-11-14.
- ^
"It's Time To Tame The Beast.
Chanel's Killer is still free. There's a spike in Murder. Now,
Crown Heights must speak up.". New York Daily News. November
24, 2006. http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2006/11/24/2006-11-24_its_time_to_tame_the_beast_chanels_kille.html. Retrieved
2007-11-14.
- ^
"The Neediest Cases; After a
Daughter's Death, Seeking Answers and the Strength to Go On".
The New York Times. November 28, 2006. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9802E0D7103EF93BA15752C1A9609C8B63. Retrieved
2007-11-14.
- ^ CNN Transcripts, article by Nancy Grace
(January 1, 2007). ""Murder of Brooklyn
16-year-old still Unsolved" (NOTE: Rush Transcript notice)". CNN. http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0701/01/ng.01.html. Retrieved
2007-11-13.
- ^
Errol Louis (June 24, 2007). ""Follow every single lead",
subtitled: "'Runaways' may be murder victims. Cops & neighbors
must step it up"". New York Daily News.
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2007/06/24/2007-06-24_follow_every_single_lead.html. Retrieved
2007-11-13.
- ^
"Rev. Sharpton to Appeal to
the Public to not forget two Black Women from Brooklyn: Chanel
Petro-Nixon whose murder is unsolved, and Steph Henry who vanished
last month". The National Action Network. June 23, 2007. http://www.nationalactionnetwork.net/html/press_releases.html. Retrieved
2007-11-13.
- ^
"Chanel Petro-Nixon
Murdered". Websleuths.com. July 31, 2006. http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1546954. Retrieved
2007-11-13.
- ^
"Annual "Survivors" Awards
Benefit Gala (January 2008)". "4 Real Women International. May
17, 2007. http://international.4realwomen.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20&Itemid=34. Retrieved
2007-11-13.
Other
references
External
links