Megan's Law: The Megan Kanka Murder Megan Kanka was a young, blonde, girl living in Hamilton Township, New Jersey. She was only seven years old when she was raped and murdered by her neighbor, Jesse Timmendequas. He was pictured as a monster to all of America, and his horrific act made headlines across the country. This tragic case is what changed the way registered sex offenders were viewed in the United States, and possibly saved many childrens lives. On July 29th, 1994 Megan was lured into Timmendequas house under the false pretenses that he had a puppy for her to play with. Once inside he brought her into his bedroom and began to fondle her. Megan screamed for help, causing a physical dispute between the two. Megan eventually fell, smacked
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Timmendequas had originally left out the fact he had slapped, raped, and sodomized the young girl, and had just admitted to touching the girls dead body. He also showed little remorse during the interview, complaining of a wound on his hand that he blamed on Megan; he showed no emotion as he told the investigators the torture he had inflicted on her. He also expressed to the investigators that “...he felt he had been slipping just before the assault because he said he was getting these feelings for little girls.” (Qtd. In 'Megan' Prosecution Rests After Rape is Described) Assistant prosecutor, Lewis Korngut, even “vowed in an opening statement to show that Timmendequas without a doubt deserved the death sentence.” (Qtd. In Defense Describes Tortured Childhood). The case was thought to be short and simple, he had admitted to being the monster the media portrayed him as and almost everyone in America thought he deserved the death …show more content…
Megan’s mother stated in an interview with people magazine that had she known she “would never have allowed her to cross the street.” (Qtd. In When Megan's Law Became Federal Law) On May 17th, 1996, things changed for the better for the Kanka family and all families across the United States. President Bill Clinton signed the legislation requiring police officers to make information about registered sex offenders public knowledge, and allow citizens the right to know when one is living in close proximity to them. This was named the Megan Law, after the horrible tragedy that happened to Megan Kanka. The law was given different names throughout each state, but all basically entailed the same thing. This law would now allow families to know if a registered sex offender was moving into their community, and help prevent young children from being a risk of the same fate as
Timmendequas had originally left out the fact he had slapped, raped, and sodomized the young girl, and had just admitted to touching the girls dead body. He also showed little remorse during the interview, complaining of a wound on his hand that he blamed on Megan; he showed no emotion as he told the investigators the torture he had inflicted on her. He also expressed to the investigators that “...he felt he had been slipping just before the assault because he said he was getting these feelings for little girls.” (Qtd. In 'Megan' Prosecution Rests After Rape is Described) Assistant prosecutor, Lewis Korngut, even “vowed in an opening statement to show that Timmendequas without a doubt deserved the death sentence.” (Qtd. In Defense Describes Tortured Childhood). The case was thought to be short and simple, he had admitted to being the monster the media portrayed him as and almost everyone in America thought he deserved the death …show more content…
Megan’s mother stated in an interview with people magazine that had she known she “would never have allowed her to cross the street.” (Qtd. In When Megan's Law Became Federal Law) On May 17th, 1996, things changed for the better for the Kanka family and all families across the United States. President Bill Clinton signed the legislation requiring police officers to make information about registered sex offenders public knowledge, and allow citizens the right to know when one is living in close proximity to them. This was named the Megan Law, after the horrible tragedy that happened to Megan Kanka. The law was given different names throughout each state, but all basically entailed the same thing. This law would now allow families to know if a registered sex offender was moving into their community, and help prevent young children from being a risk of the same fate as