The brutal murder of Jessica Padgett shocked Northampton County, Pennsylvania, in November 2014.
Jessica’s life was tragically cut short by someone she trusted most—her stepfather, Gregory Graf.
What began as a missing person case quickly unraveled into one of the most heartbreaking criminal cases Pennsylvania has ever witnessed.
Let's get into it.
Background of Jessica Padgett
At the time of her death, Jessica Padgett was a loving mother of three and a dedicated daycare worker.
She lived in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, and worked at Duck Duck Goose Daycare.
She had just gotten married before her life was tragically taken by someone she trusted, her stepfather.
Jessica’s stepfather, Gregory Graf, had been in her life for nearly 20 years.
He has been married to her mother since 1997.
Gregory Graf presented himself as a supportive stepfather all those years.
Little did anyone know that he harbored disturbing motives that would lead to Jessica’s untimely death.
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| Jessica Padgett on her wedding day |
The Crime: What Happened to Jessica Padgett?
Gregory Graf was a local businessman and operated a company called Distinctive Fence.
The company was located on the same property where Jessica’s mother and Graf resided.
On November 21, 2014, Jessica left work during her lunch break, as reported by ABC 7 Chicago News.
She told her colleagues that she needed to use the fax machine at her stepfather's business.
Tragically, she never returned.
Her car, a white Subaru Outback, was later found abandoned in a Dollar General parking lot.
Her cell phone and keys were still inside the car but Jessica was nowhere in sight.
After an extensive criminal investigation by the local police department, Jessica’s body was found five days later.
It was buried behind a shed on her stepfather's property.
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| Jessica Padgett |
Investigation: Piecing Together the Truth
Jessica Padgett’s disappearance initially sparked a massive search effort.
However, the search came to a devastating end when detectives located her body on November 26, 2014.
After the horrific discovery, crime scene investigators combed through the parking lot where her car was found, and soon, key evidence was uncovered.
Surveillance footage from the Dollar General parking lot showed Graf dropping off Jessica’s car and driving away in his truck, raising suspicions.
As a result, investigators executed a search warrant for Graf’s property, leading to the heartbreaking discovery of Jessica’s remains.
During questioning, Gregory Graf confessed to the murder, admitting he had planned the crime and acted deliberately.
Graf said he shot Jessica in the back of the head at his home before he raped her corpse.
After he was done, he buried her lifeless body in a shed in his compound, according to CBS News.
According to the District Attorney’s Office, Gregory Graf had a chilling motive for killing Jessica.
He wanted to have sex with Jessica’s corpse, and that was why he killed the innocent mother.
“His possible motive was to have a sexual relationship with the body,” stated District Attorney Morganelli
Shockingly, he also videotaped the assault, and a video found on Graf’s computer, confirmed this horrific act.
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| Gregory Graf |
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| Gregory Graf |
Gregory Graf’s Trial and Sentencing
In May 2015, Gregory Graf stood trial for the murder of Jessica Padgett.
During the trial, it was revealed that Graf had no prior inappropriate relationship with Jessica, making his actions even more incomprehensible.
The defense attorney John McMahon argued that Graf had “snapped,” suggesting the killing wasn’t premeditated.
However, Northampton County District Attorney, John Morganelli disagreed, providing compelling evidence that Graf had planned the murder
He argued that Graf killed Jessica to fulfill his disturbing desire to abuse her corpse, citing evidence from the forensic investigations.
The prosecution emphasized the planning involved—Graf lured Jessica to his property, staged her disappearance, and tried to mislead investigators.
After a lengthy trial, the jury found Gregory Graf guilty of first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse.
Ultimately, he was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
The tragic loss of Jessica Padgett devastated her family and community, leaving an enduring scar.
Her case serves as a chilling reminder that the greatest betrayals often come from those closest to us.
As family friend Jim Wilkins poignantly said, “The fact that this person was right under our noses...it’s unbearable.”
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