Imagine coming home early from a work trip, eager to be with your spouse, only to find yourself in a horrifying nightmare. That’s what happened to Rhonda Oakley, a loving wife and stepmom, how was tragically killed by her stepdaughter. This is the story of love, betrayal, and a murder plot that shocked a small town.
Rhonda Denise Reigns was born March 5, 1964, in Liberty, Kentucky. She raised five kids alone and worked 30 years as a customer service manager at RR Donnelly. Her coworkers remember her as kind and fun. Rhonda focused on her kids before dating again at 44.
Finding Love with Philip
Rhonda met Philip Oakley at a golf club bar. She was outgoing, he was quiet, but they clicked. Philip was a production supervisor, divorced, and saw his kids, Jenna and David, every other weekend in Indiana. Rhonda welcomed his children. They married on December 27, 2013, in a small ceremony and settled in with their three dogs: Cinderella, Jonas, and Oliver. Rhonda loved her pets but treasured her four grandkids most, with another on the way.
Rhonda and Philip lived in Junction City, Kentucky, for over 20 years. In 2016, Philip’s 15-year-old daughter Jenna and her younger brother David moved in. Rhonda made their home safe and steady. Jenna did well in school and cheered. David enjoyed his hobbies. Philip said Rhonda was the heart of their family.
The Day the Dream Ended
David got home at 4:00 PM on September 1st. The house was empty. While loading the dishwasher, he heard dogs barking in the basement and found them near the spare bedroom door. Inside, he found Rhonda unconscious. He ran to a neighbor for help, who called 911. Officers found Rhonda stabbed in the neck, with a trash bag over her face and duct tape on her mouth. A vomit-filled trash can was in Jenna’s room. No weapon turned up, but a kitchen knife was missing.
Philip came home after David called, saying, “Daddy, Rhonda’s gone.” Police told him she was dead. He was devastated, losing not just his wife, but his best friend.
An Investigation Begins
The crime scene looked suspicious, with no forced entry. Rhonda’s white 2014 Honda Civic was missing, so police issued a BOLO. They soon learned 15-year-old Jenna was also gone. Police cleared David and Philip since David was at school and Philip was at work. Philip shared that the school had sent a notice—Jenna hadn’t shown up that day. At first, he thought she was sick, but now everyone feared she’d witnessed the crime and been taken.
Hours went by with no sign of Jenna. Philip told police about her ex-boyfriend, Kenneth Nye, 20, from Arlington, Indiana. Kenneth and Jenna started dating years ago when she was 12 and he was 17. After Jenna moved to Kentucky, her parents ended it fast. They took her phone, blocked Kenneth, and warned him to stay away. Police then turned their search to Jenna and Kenny.
Kenny’s Past Unravels
Police checked Kenny’s background. After high school, he joined the army and served at Fort Carson, Colorado. Detective Frank Thrawberry spoke with Fort Carson, who said Kenny had just filed to leave as a conscientious objector. Instead of waiting, Kenny failed his fitness test on purpose and got a dishonorable discharge on August 31st, the day before Rhonda died. The army bought him a ticket to Indiana and took him to the airport, but his ticket changed last minute. At 3:30 PM, Kenny arrived at Bluegrass Airport in Lexington, Kentucky, about 50 miles from Danville.
Security cameras caught Kenny leaving his gate and heading to the ride-share area. Police followed his path on video and saw him take an Uber, not a cab. They confirmed he was in Kentucky and had a recent airport photo. Detectives shared Jenna’s case with the media. There was no Amber Alert, but news coverage brought in a lead. An Uber driver called in, saying he picked up “Kenny” at the airport. Kenny said he was just out of the army and visiting friends. The driver thought it was odd Kenny dropped off down the street, not at the house, claiming it was a surprise. That street was Old Houstonville Road, where the Oakleys lived. It was August 31st, the night before Rhonda’s murder.
Detectives traced Kenny’s phone, hoping it would lead to Jenna. The phone first showed up in Glasgow, then near Nashville, but tracking was tough since Kenny kept turning it off. The next day, a Walmart manager in Danville said he saw Jenna on September 1st. Security footage confirmed this. Jenna was with Kenny, calm and not showing signs of distress. She wore the same shirt he had at the airport. After shopping, they left in a car that looked like Rhonda’s missing Honda. Jenna’s calm look on camera left everyone with more questions.
Secrets Unveiled: The Chilling Journal Entries
Looking for answers, officers searched Jenna’s room and found her journal. One entry, dated July 7th, read: “I just got done talking to him a few moments ago and I feel so much better than what I did. The latest we will be together is August the 20th. I really can’t wait. Every doubt is gone. I love him so much and I know he loves me too.” The “he” she mentioned was Kenneth Nye. They had never stopped communicating, and their relationship had never ended.
Another chilling journal entry read: “They’ll be dead soon, thankfully.”
Then, they found a detailed list outlining a murder plan:
- “Kill Philip first between 4:00 a.m and 5:00 a.m. Two knives prepared with me.”
- “Kill Rhonda second between 6:00 a.m and 8:00 a.m.”
- “Kill David last. Kill David in his room.”
- “Ask Philip to go downstairs real quick. Then as we’re going down, slice his neck in the front.”
- “Walk into Rhonda’s bedroom and stab her.”
- “Stab David in his bed.”
- “Let him know about my plan. Have a backpacked and prepared. Have a knife prepared. Stab them.”
This intricate plan revealed that Jenna was not only planning to kill Rhonda but also her father and brother. “Let him know about my plan” suggested she was involving Kenneth Nye.
Philip was shocked and heartbroken, unable to believe his daughter could be involved.
The Chase and Capture
On September 2, investigators followed Kenny and Jenna’s route west through Tennessee, Arkansas, and into Oklahoma. By September 3, they stopped in Tucumcari, New Mexico. Police traced Kenny’s phone to a truck stop. Corporal Cody Burch spotted Rhonda’s Honda near a Motel 6 and saw the two asleep inside. Jenna woke up, tried to start the car, but stopped when Burch ordered her to lower the window. Both were arrested without trouble.
Kenny looked resigned. Jenna cried and told police, “Please tell Kenny I love him. Make sure he knows I love him.” Kenny was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and both faced charges for stolen property. Jenna went to a juvenile center; Kenny went to jail.
Confessions and Consequences
On September 5th, Philip was shocked t hear Kenny had posted bail. He soon learned Kenny hadn’t posted bail but was moved to a Texas hospital in critical condition after trying to hang himself in jail. Police found a note in Kenny’s cell admitting he killed Rhonda and clearing Jenna. The note didn’t match Jenna’s journal, so detectives chose not to tell her about Kenny’s suicide attempt.
On September 12th, Jenna was sent back to Kentucky, read her rights, and interviewed. She admitted she and Kenny never broke up and kept in touch at school. Kenny took an Uber to her place and stayed the night before Rhonda died. Jenna got the knife from the kitchen the next day.
While Philip worked and David was at school, Kenny hid in Jenna’s room. They hung out in the basement all day. At 3 PM, Rhonda came home early and caught them. Kenny hid in the closet. Rhonda asked Jenna why she skipped school, and they fought. Jenna said she attacked her stepmother on impulse and needed help, so Kenny came out of the closet.
They took Rhonda’s car, stopped for gas, and got rid of the weapon. Jenna cried a little, apologized to the detective, then went cold. Philip pressed her about Rhonda, but she gave vague answers. When he asked if she meant to kill him too, she said yes, and admitted she planned to kill David as well.
Rhonda was buried on September 7th. Her obituary listed her husband, children, stepson David, grandchildren, and dogs, but not Jenna.
The Quest for Justice
On October 20th, a grand jury charged Jenna as an adult for complicity to murder and theft. Kenneth Nye died days before her indictment, but she didn’t know. At her December arraignment, Jenna pleaded not guilty and learned Kenny had died. Her scream echoed down the hall.
Jenna spent two years in a juvenile facility getting mental health care while her lawyers looked into her past. The case was complicated by Kenny’s confession and Jenna’s journal. The judge decided to try Jenna as an adult. Prosecutors, unsure a jury would see her as guilty, offered a plea deal. Jenna took it, pleading guilty to first-degree manslaughter and theft on January 14, 2019, days before she turned 18. She got 10 years for manslaughter and 5 years for theft.
At her pre-sentencing hearing, she said, “My incarceration has struck me with so many losses…” and “I’m also sorry for all the pain, hurt, and frustration that it has caused.” Philip said it was the first time he’d heard her apologize. She still denied killing Rhonda, saying Kenny did, but admitted she should have stopped him.
Jenna faced up to 15 years in prison. Her lawyer wanted treatment, but her dad disagreed, saying she’d had enough chances. At her March sentencing, Philip and Rhonda shared how worried they were about Jenna. At school she was polite but acted out at home. Philip told Jenna, “I want to know why you did what you did… You are not a victim. You’re a victimizer.” The judge gave Jenna 15 years on each count, with credit for time served.
A Life Taken, Justice Served?
The case of Rhonda Oakley is a tragic story of a stepmom killed by stepdaughter fueled by manipulation and a twisted relationship. Now, Jenna is serving her sentence at the Kentucky Correctional Institute for Women and is eligible for release as early as April 2027, when she will be 26 years old. Some believe her sentence is too harsh, given her age, while others, including her father, believe it’s not enough. What do you think?
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