SUSPECT IN LEMON GROVE MURDER CASE ARRESTED IN OREGON

By Miriam Raftery

January 5, 2013 (Lemon Grove) – Casey Tschida, 32, has been arrested by Portland, Oregon police for the murder of Jennifer Rene Krajnak on January 3. 

“Ms. Krajank and Tschida were acquaintances and were at a bar in Lemon Grove prior to the murder,” Lt. Glenn Giannantonio with the Sheriff’s Homicide Unit said.  “The two left the bar at separate times and Tschida approved Ms. Krajnak as she was walking home. Tschida shot her once in the head and left her lying in the street.”

Sheriff’s patrol deputies found her, still alive, beside the road at 7600 Pacific Avenue near Olive in Lemon Grove, but she died a short time later at a local hospital.  

Tschida fled the scene in his truck and drove to his mother’s home in Happy Valley, Oregon, where he was taken into custody today by Oregon authorities.  San Diego Sheriff homicide investigators are on their way to Oregon to continue the investigation.

“We are taking steps to get Tschida returned to San Diego,” Lt. Giannantonio said. He added that there is no clear motive for the murder at this time.

 Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Homicide Detail at (858) 974-2321/after hours at (858) 565-5200 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-TIPS(8477).

A resume for Jennifer R. Krajnak onJobing.com lists residency in Spring Valley and until recently, El Cajon.  According to Classmates.com and Jobing.com, Krajnak attended Mount Miguel and Chaparral High Schools, graduating in 2000.  10 News reports she also attended Helix High School.  In addition, she studied at Southwestern College.

Jobing.com lists her employment at Chinaberry Inc. in Spring Valley, where she worked as a customer service representative since 2008.  She has also worked in customer service at Valvoline in El Cajon and at Pro Flowers in San Diego.  In addition, she has been a loan processor at First American Realty/Home Loans in Lemon Grove , a quality assurance representative at Neighborhood Loan San Diego, and a caregiver at the East County Homecare in Spring Valley.

She also worked at two bars in Lemon Grove, as a bartender at KC’s Good Guys in 2006 and as a server at Dirk’s Nightclub from 2004-2006.  Other employment has included SunCoast Motion Picture Company as a floor manager, sales associate at Gary’s Tux Shop in Chula Vista, and cashier at Pasta Bravo in San Diego.

“She was my friend and she was a wonderful person, Kendra Hayes-Pearson posted on ECM’s Facebook page.  “So full of light and love. She was truly a shining star and now the world is dimmer without her here.”