The life and death of Kimberly Jacobs

News

The life and death of Kimberly Jacobs

Kimberly Jacobs was 26, 5 feet tall, 130 pounds and a bundle of smiles. But the Easter Seals worker's life was cut short on Sept. 26, 2006 when she was found dead, face down in her bathtub.

Kimberly Jacobs was 26, 5 feet tall, 103 pounds and a bundle of smiles. But the Easter Seals worker's life was cut short on Sept. 26, 2006, when she was found dead, face down in her bathtub.

A single mother and U.S. Army veteran, Linda Jacobs, 52, raised her two daughters -- Kimberly and Janese -- to be independent. "[Kimberly] was fun and carefree and strong spirited. She knew what she wanted," said Kimberly Jacobs' college sweetheart Odaine Hudson. "She was not going to take any crap from anybody."

Kimberly's sister Janese (left), followed in her mother's footsteps and joined the military. The last time they were all together was June 2006 when the three gathered for Janese's basic training graduation in San Antonio.

Three months later, authorities say, Jacobs' upstairs neighbor Leroy Mitchell Knox was released from his latest jail stint for domestic violence. What happened next is unclear. There was no signs of forced entry at Jacobs' apartment. A medical examiner ruled that Jacobs died of strangulation about 5 p.m., hours after Knox was released.

"It looked as though the killer was behind her, pulling her shirt from behind, ripping the buttons off as she ran through her apartment," said Det. Charles Dan Blissitt Jr. during a preliminary hearing. In charging Knox with necrophilia, police also believe that he had sex with Jacobs after he killed her. "What occurred is truly a tragedy," said Clayton County District Attorney Jewel Scott.

"It was unbelievable," said Hudson (seen here with Kimberly). He still places flowers on Kimberly's grave twice a month. "Everything just stopped moving for me," he added.

Knox, 23, has yet to stand trial for murder. He is being held in the Clayton County Jail on a $275,000 bond. His trial date has been set for May 5, in Clayton County superior court. But Jacobs is skeptical after so many other dates have been postponed. In court papers, Knox's attorney, Robert Mack, said he is seeking a mental evaluation of his client, who has pleaded not guilty.

Knox's "girlfriend knew what he was capable of. My daughter did not know what he was capable of," Linda Jacobs said. "He beat and raped and assaulted her. He had been out of jail less than two hours. I blame the justice system. He should not have been out of jail."

In her Columbus apartment Linda Jacobs holds up a photo of her daughter and a tiny red sweater that belonged to Kimberly. "My baby was 5'0, 103 pounds soaking wet," Jacobs said, holding the sweater up against her chest. "I just felt like I let her down. She trusted me to find a safe place for her and I didn't do it."

1/9

Kimberly Jacobs was 26, 5 feet tall, 103 pounds and a bundle of smiles. But the Easter Seals worker's life was cut short on Sept. 26, 2006, when she was found dead, face down in her bathtub.

Today's Gallery Headlines

Allyson Phillips (center), Laken Riley’s mother, prays at UGA’s Tate Plaza on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, during a memorial service for her daughter. Riley was attacked on Feb. 22, 2024 while running in Oconee Forest Park on the UGA campus and killed. (C.J. Bartunek for the AJC)

PHOTOS: Hundreds honor Laken Riley with 5K, memorial on UGA campus

52m ago

Region 5AA Championship : Holy Innocents vs. KIPP Atlanta

PHOTOS: Holy Innocents’ wins Region 5AA championship in basketball

aajc 021926 state vs. georgia southern hoops

PHOTOS: Georgia State gets by Georgia Southern

Trump visits North Georgia today but has eyes on Atlanta

PHOTOS: Trump visits Georgia, revisits 2020 election

More Galleries

As storm inches closer to Georgia, metro Atlanta braces for ice threat

PHOTOS: Georgia readies for incoming ice storm

01202026 day of protests

PHOTOS: Metro Atlanta ICE protest join national effort

PHOTOS: Georgia's first snowfall of the year

PHOTOS: Georgia's first snowfall of the year

Macon High School Restaurant

PHOTOS: The Compass Rose Cafe serves up quality food with heaping side dishes of life skills