KRBC-TV reporter Servo is murdered

Abstract

The death of a 22-year-old Abilene, Texas, reporter is being investigated as a homicide. Police have been spare with details but have revealed that Jennifer Servo of KRBC-TV suffered trauma to the head. Her body was discovered a manager and maintenance man at her apartment complex, who had been alerted by station staff that she had not returned more than a dozen messages on her cell phone.

The death of a 22-year-old Abilene, Texas, reporter is being investigated as a homicide. Police have been spare with details but have revealed that Jennifer Servo of KRBC-TV suffered trauma to the head.

Her body was discovered Wednesday by a manager and maintenance man at her apartment complex, who had been alerted by station staff that she had not returned more than a dozen messages on her cell phone. News Director Toby Dagenhart said friends at the station noted that her car had not been moved for a few days and that her shades, usually raised a bit so that her cat could look out, were completely down.

Servo would have had her 23rd birthday today.

The station canceled its 5 p.m. newscast and devoted its 6 p.m. program to Servo's death, including several moments when a photo of the young woman filled the screen. On its 10 p.m. newscast, "we did no sports or fluff pieces," Dagenhart said.

Coincidentally, the only other homicide in the area took place in June-on the other side of a wall shared by Servo's apartment. The confessed killer in that case, in fact, turned himself in at KRBC-TV. The cases have not been linked, though. "He came to our back door to confess," Dagenhart said.

Servo began studying journalism while in the Army Reserves, where she became a sergeant and earned numerous commendations.

She continued her studies at the University of Montana in Missoula and earlier this year won a regional Edward R. Murrow award for radio reporting. In Montana, she worked for both Montana PBS and Montana Public Radio, for CBS affiliate KPAX-TV Missoula's morning show, and as a weekend reporter at KECI-TV Missoula.