Suvechha Sarkar
In spring 1989, 9-year-old Jessica Palley’s life was turned upside down when her stepfather, Reverend Robert Lee Pelley, AKA Bob, her mother, Dawn Marie Hayes Pelley, and her sisters, Janel Marie and Jolene Meghan Pelley, were brutally killed at their home in Lakeville, Indiana. The horrific crime left her alone in this world, waiting for justice to be served after almost two decades. CBS’ ’48 Hours: Live to Tell: Murder on Prom Night’ revisits the haunting case with investigation details and interviews with the officials. It primarily revolves around Jessi Toronjo, who shares the deeply personal journey of navigating grief, trauma, and the weight of her family being shattered.
Jessi Toronjo Lost Her Family Overnight When She Was at a Sleepover
Jessica Palley (now Jessi Toronjo) was just 5 years old when her father, Edward John Huber, passed away in 1985. Her mother, Dawn Marie Hayes, also had two other daughters, Janel Marie and Jolene Meghan. In 1985, Dawn married Reverend Robert Lee Pelley, who already had a son, Robert Jeffrey AKA Jeff, and a daughter, Jacque. Together, they lived at their home in St. Joseph County in Lakeville, Indiana. However, her life changed within a day on April 29, 1989. While Jacque was away at a summer camp, Jeff was supposed to attend his high school senior prom. Jessi decided to go to her friend’s house for a sleepover. However, when she returned the following day, she was horrified to discover that Bob, Dawn, Janel, and Jolene had been shot dead in their home. Jessi informed the officials about her suspicions regarding Bob.
However, detectives found that it was not a suicide because there was no murder weapon nearby. They set up the timeline of the murders between 5 pm and 5:30 pm based on witness testimonies. They discovered Jeff’s car was parked outside the house after 5 pm, even though he claimed otherwise. Upon questioning his prom date, it was confirmed that he had reached his friend’s house at 5:30 pm without his prom outfit. Investigators uncovered that Bob and Jeff had a strenuous relationship, and he was recently grounded. It meant that he would not be able to attend the prom activities without his father. Jessi informed officials that she had noticed a bow and a shotgun on the rack before leaving for her friend’s house. However, only a bow was spotted on the crime scene.
Due to insufficient evidence, Jeff was not charged. When the case reopened in 2002, the prosecutors charged him with four counts of first-degree murder. He was arrested in August 2002. Jeff’s trial began on July 11, 2006, and the jury finally convicted him on all four counts on July 21, 2006. Ultimately, he was sentenced to 40 years in prison for each count to be served consecutively, amounting to 160 years on October 17, 2006. In April 2008, his conviction was overturned at the Appeals Court, but it was again upheld in February 2009. Despite filing for a post-conviction relief motion in 2019, Jeff’s request for a retrial was denied on April 28, 2024. He is serving at Indiana State Prison in Michigan City, Indiana.
Jessi Toronjo Tried to Bury Her Pain Until the Trial Forced Her to Confront It
When Jessi was just 9, she was swept away from the only life she had known. After her tragic loss, she found herself in Michigan, living with her grandfather. However, instead of bringing healing, she felt everyone around her wanted her to forget about the incident. This led Jessi to feel isolated and hurt. By age 13, she had decided to take control of her life. Hence, she expressed, “I actually pushed down all the feelings that I was feeling.” Unable to bear the burden any longer, Jessi revealed how she ran away and ended up in a foster home. Years passed for her, and she felt everyone had forgotten her. However, something changed completely in 1998 when Jessi took a leap of faith and used her inheritance to buy her own house. She finally felt that she had a home of her own.
Gradually, Jessi reconnected with an old acquaintance, Tyson. Their relationship blossomed into something more, and they soon tied the knot. Shortly after, she built a family, welcoming her son and daughter, Dakota, into this world. However, Jessi’s happy bubble did not last long. In 2002, the case that had shattered her childhood was reopened. Memories that she had worked hard to suppress started flooding back. She was called to testify in court and had to return to Indiana after 17 long and painful years. When the jury found Jeff guilty in 2006, she expressed, “I felt a sense of justice when I heard the verdict was guilty. My family’s killer was put away.” Jessi had never told her children about the tragedy. With the trial behind her, she finally took them to the graves of her loved ones.
Jessi Toronjo Has Found Her Voice After Years of Silence and Survival
In 2009, Jessi was surprised when her childhood friend, Stephanie Fagan, contacted her. They reconnected, and their friendship blossomed into a sisterhood. She also grew close to her cousin, Jamie Collins, who suggested that she write a book about her life. Although Jessi hesitated to speak about her experience to a stranger, she agreed when Jamie came forward to be the one. Meanwhile, she had already changed her name to “Jessi.” However, tragedy struck again when she lost a family friend to Cystic Fibrosis. The grief cracked open an old wound and triggered memories Jessi had thought she had left behind. In a downward spiral, she opened up about how she collapsed after taking an entire bottle of pills.
When Jessi woke up in a hospital, she realized she needed help. She was diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), which she explained, “I am part Jessica and part Jessi.” Although she had lost many childhood memories, she decided to fight for the future. On April 29, 2019, Jessi and Jamie published ‘I am Jessi,’ which became a powerful memoir of her trauma and survival. At the book signings, she received immense support from people who finally heard her voice. As of writing, Jessi continues to move forward with courage and live a quiet life with her family by her side. The young woman lives with the memories of the loved ones who passed on in her heart and is determined to rewrite her life on her own terms.
Read More: Where is Jeff Pelley Now? Update on the Family Killer
