Jenna Farrey Arrives In El Paso, Booked Into County Jail
Jenna Farrey, the 20-year-old mother who’s made headlines in recent weeks following the disappearance and apparent death of her baby son, Jackson, has been extradited from Michigan to El Paso.
Farrey arrived at the El Paso International Airport at about 8:15 p.m. Tuesday. Deputies booked her into the El Paso County Jail Downtown shortly before 9 p.m.
When asked by reporters what happened to baby Jackson, Farrey would only say, “no comment.”
Jenna was arrested in Michigan on a probation violation after she left El Paso without notice. The probation stems from a guilty plea to child endangerment for leaving her toddler, Blake, home alone last year.
Officials have yet to confirm if the body of an infant found in Orogrande, New Mexico is that of her younger son, Jackson. Investigators said they have reason to believe it is.
Tuesday, Jackson’s father, Jeffrey Farrey, was in court. Magistrate judge James Carter denied the army specialist’s request to have his $1.5 million bond lowered to $50,000.
Attorney Joe Spencer is representing the 22-year-old father. He says his client is still on suicide watch, distraught and very emotional. Farrey, a Fort Bliss soldier, wore an orange jumpsuit and only spoke to his attorney during the hearing.
During Tuesday’s hearing, prosecutors also shed more light on the status of the Farreys’ older son, Blake. Prosecutor Penny Hamilton said the toddler is “grossly underweight” and was taken by Child Protective Services in Michigan because of significant medical issues.
Prosecutors also said Jeffrey Farrey’s family is fighting for custody of the boy. His defense attorney told ABC-7 the child neglect did not happen under Jeffrey’s watch because he was deployed at that time.
The story first broke on Friday, November 15 when Farrey failed to show up for duty at Fort Bliss.
What began as the concerned search for a missing family of four quickly turned tragic as more information came to light in the following days.
Saturday, November 16, ABC-7 learned police in El Paso had charged Jenna Farrey with child endangerment in 2012, and that she pleaded guilty.
Sunday, November 17, the family was found in a motel in Escanaba, Michigan. Five-month-old Jackson was still missing.
Monday, November 18, a warrant was issued for Jenna, and Jeffrey was detained on military hold.
ABC-7’s cameras were rolling Tuesday, November 19, as detectives searched and removed belongings from the Farrey home in Northeast El Paso. A white sports car at the property was towed away.
Wednesday, November 20, authorities found the body of a baby in the desert outside Orogrande, New Mexico. The town is about 40 miles north of El Paso.
Thursday, November 21, Jenna Farrey waived her extradition hearing in Delta County, Michigan, making it easier for El Paso sheriff’s deputies to bring her back to El Paso.
Deputies took custody of the young mother December 3rd and brought her to El Paso.
The baby’s body, believed by investigators to be that of Jackson Farrey, was taken to Albuquerque. An autopsy report is pending.
Jeffrey Farrey’s next hearing is December 12, when a judge will reconsider his request for bond reduction once the autopsy report for the body found near Orogrande is released.
