Teen Arrested in Deaths of 5 Family Members

A 15-year-old boy seen driving a Mercedes-Benz away from a gated community was arrested Sunday in the deaths of his parents, grandparents and 10-year-old sister, whose bodies were found inside a burning condominium.

Authorities said the rampage may have started after the youth argued with his mother. The boy and his family, from Las Vegas, were weekend visitors at the grandparents’ condo in the tree-lined, tranquil community called The Terraces.

After flames were seen coming from the condo Saturday afternoon, firefighters entered and discovered the beaten, stabbed bodies of Megan Jenkins, 10, her grandparents, Bill Grossman, 78, and Eileen Grossman, 74, and Megan’s parents, George Jenkins, 50, and Lynn Jenkins, 48.

Shortly before smoke started billowing from the condo, neighbors said they saw the Jenkinses’ son driving away in the family’s 1990 silver, four-door Mercedes-Benz. The scene was also captured by the security camera at the condominium project in this suburb north of San Diego.

About 7 a.m. Sunday, the youth was arrested near an AM/PM minimarket off California 78 a few miles from the crime scene.

At the market, he had inquired about how to get to Interstate 15, the route to Las Vegas, and had glanced at local papers, where news of the killings was the top story. He put air into the tires of the Mercedes and was driving away when arrested.

A clerk had recognized the youth and car from descriptions in a local paper and called 911.

“He was very pale and had a big scratch on his face,” said clerk Jason Johnson. “His eyes were dopey and dark. If I didn’t know better, I’d have thought he was just another teenager who’d been up all night partying.”

Johnson said he was ready to use a can of Mace he keeps under the counter if there had been trouble. “I was very scared,” he said.

Lt. Jerry Lipscomb of the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department homicide squad said the unarmed teenager was “verbally aggressive but not physically threatening” when arrested.

In the Mercedes with the youth was the grandparents’ small white poodle, which was unharmed.

Lipscomb said that investigators believe the killings took place between Friday night and early Saturday morning, which would be six or more hours before the fires were set.

The victims had all been stabbed and clubbed and then dragged into a bedroom, he said, adding that investigators believe they have recovered the murder weapons.

Neighbors of the Grossmans described the arrested youth as medium in height--5-feet, 4-inches--and husky in build--140 to 160 pounds--and said he sometimes displayed a quick temper. He attended a private school in Southern California for students needing academic help and discipline, neighbors and police said.

Lipscomb said the parents had picked their son up at school before going to the grandparents’ condominium for a weekend stay. He said the youth and his mother had an argument, although the reason for the conflict was unknown.

The Jenkins family made frequent visits to the Grossmans’ condo.

A young neighbor, 10-year-old Phaedra Bell, had been delighted Saturday to hear that her good friend Megan Jenkins was visiting her grandparents down the block. Phaedra repeatedly telephoned to see if the two pals could get together.

But instead of getting Megan, Phaedra kept getting Megan’s teenage brother. With each call Saturday, the 15-year-old was more emphatic that Phaedra could not see or talk to Megan.

During one call, Phaedra said, the youth told her she “wouldn’t be seeing Megan the rest of the day and probably not for the rest of their visit.”

During her last call, about 4 p.m. Saturday, Phaedra said the brother told her “something has come up. Megan’s really busy right now and can’t talk” and then abruptly hung up the phone.

Minutes later, the smoke started pouring from the condo.

Maura Bell, Phaedra’s mother, said the arrested youth “is a nice boy but rebellious against rules and sometimes he threatens people.”

The Grossmans were retired. Bill Grossman was a volunteer with the Sheriff’s Department. George and Lynn Jenkins worked in real estate sales and lived in the exclusive Desert Shores Racquet Club in Las Vegas.

Their son--whose name was being withheld by The Times because of his age--was in custody at San Diego County Juvenile Hall, awaiting arraignment. The decision on whether to file charges against him as a juvenile or as an adult will be up to Dist. Atty. Paul Pfingst, who ran for office on a platform of getting tough on juvenile offenders.

On Sunday, neighbors expressed shock about the killings. “This is the last place anything like this would ever happen,” said one.

Special correspondent Paul Levikow contributed to this story.