Pennellville man is missing

11-26-2007 New York:

A 52-year-old man who left his Pennellville home early Sunday has not returned.

State police in Fulton are investigating the disappearance of John J. Jennings, of 631 county Route 54. He left home around 5 a.m. yesterday to go for a walk, troopers said.

Jennings' family called the Oswego County E-911 center shortly before 3 p.m. Sunday when he still had not returned home, and state police in Fulton were then notified, Trooper Alex Kurilovitch said.

Troopers said Jennings told family members over the Thanksgiving weekend that he was depressed because of "personal issues" he was having.

"As far as we know, he was in good health," Kurilovitch said.

Jennings is 5-feet-7-inches tall and weighs approximately 170 pounds. He has brown hair and hazel eyes, Kurilovitch said, and a "normal build."

He was wearing a blue baseball cap, brown Carhartt jacket, blue jeans and Nautica sneakers. Anyone with information on Jennings' whereabouts should call troopers in the Fulton barracks at 593-6194. ..more.. by Suzanne M. Ellis

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Missing Man's Past

11-27-2007 New York:

When New York State Police officials alerted the public to be on the lookout for a missing Pennellville man, they did not mention that he is a registered level three sex offender, CBS 5 News has learned.

John Jennings, 52, has been missing since early Sunday morning. In 1998, he was convicted of third-degree rape, stemming from allegations that he had had sex with one or more teenage girls. He was sentenced to prison and later requied to enroll in the sex offender registry.

The State Police barracks that issued the press release announcing Jennings' disappearance was aware of his sex offender status, but -- by law -- was not required to mention it.

"Even though the public has the right to know, criminal history records are confidential," said Sgt. Edwin Croucher, of the Fulton barracks.

Sgt. Croucher added that Jennings' disappearance is not believed to be related to any criminal activity.

Regardless of the circumstances, many people who spoke to CBS 5 News said they would prefer that an individual's sex offender status be included in missing person alerts.

"I don't really care about their privacy," said Gretchen Mulvihill, of Syracuse. "Honestly, if they're out there and they're a registered sex offender, then I think they've blown their opportunity to have their privacy."

Others argued the opposite point.

"If somebody found out that he was a registered sex offender, they could have gone out and...killed him," said Tamica Lockwood, of Syracuse.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of John Jennings should call the State Police at 593-6194. ..more.. by WTVH

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Missing Pennellville man found dead

11-28-2007 New York:

John J. Jennings, a level 3 sex offender from Pennellville who had been missing since early Sunday, was found dead today in a heavily wooded area along county Route 54 in Schroeppel, state police said.

Troopers said they believe Jennings, who would have turned 52 next month, committed suicide.

State police and Department of Environmental Conservation officers helped in the search. Members of the Pennellville Volunteer Fire Department assisted after the officers found Jennings' body. ..Source.. by Catie O'Toole / The Post-Standard