Suvechha Sarkar
Kasi Alane Peek was a kind woman described by her friends as someone who always had an infectious smile. She was brutally killed in October 2005 in her home in Smyrna, Georgia, leaving her family and friends completely grief-stricken. Her father, William Donald Devenport, her sister, Jaquidon Devenport Kruger, and her brother-in-law, David Kruger, all continued to push for the truth until the killer was identified. The circumstances surrounding the murder are explored in NBC’s ‘Dateline: Deadly Omission.’ It also features an emotional interview with Kasi’s friends and her beloved sister.
The Civil Suit Filed by Kasi Peek’s Family Brought Her Killer to Justice
William Donald and Betty Louise Devenport were overjoyed when they welcomed their daughter, Kasi Alane, and Jaquidon Devenport in Wichita County, Texas. William and Betty always gave it their best to raise their daughter in a house filled with love and laughter. They cheered for their daughters every step of the way, paving the way for them to make a professional trajectory of their own. Unfortunately, the family experienced a significant tragedy when Betty passed away from colon cancer on January 11, 1993. As William tried to move on, he received a second chance at love when he met Jeanette Nixon. It didn’t take them much time as they began coming closer to one another, and they eventually tied the knot in the presence of their loved ones. They gradually settled down at their home in Texas.
The family had been slowly moving forward at their own pace when their lives again turned upside down on October 2, 2005. Kasi was at her home in Smyrna when she was brutally shot in the back. Reports state that, as the investigation began, Kasi’s husband, John Peek, came under the detectives’ scrutiny. According to official records, Jaquidon informed officials that John’s first wife, Carol Marlin, and her friend, Margaret L. Ginn, were killed on June 13, 1996. It was soon discovered that John was the beneficiary of Carol’s $700,000 life insurance policy. As per court records, Jaquidon reportedly filed a no-value civil lawsuit against John on November 3, 2005, to prevent him from making any financial gains following the death of Kasi.
Reports state that the civil suit led to the uncovering of some of John’s financial records. Further investigative records suggest that it revealed that Kasi had a life insurance policy. Still, during the time Kasi and John were estranged, there were double payments of the insurance premiums to keep the policy active. Ultimately, that led to the discovery of a surprising pattern in Carol, Margaret, and Kasi’s murders. It consequently resulted in the arrest of John in October 2005 and his being charged with three counts of first-degree murder. He eventually pleaded guilty to all three counts and was convicted. John was sentenced to three terms of life in prison without the possibility of parole, to be served consecutively.
William and Jeanette Devenport Passed Away in 2015 and 2019, Respectively
The untimely demise of his daughter left William completely heartbroken following the loss of Kasi. However, before that, his life had begun with quiet determination as he set out on his academic journey at Texas Tech University. Near the end of World War II, he stepped forward to serve his country and was drafted into the Army Signal Corps. Once he returned to Texas, he began his professional journey with Snyder, Roscoe, and Pacific Railroad, all the while balancing his studies alongside his sister, Mary Lou. Eventually, William completed his degree in Electrical Engineering at Texas Tech University. Around 1963, he began working for the predecessor of E-Systems, and he officially retired from the organization’s Greenville Division in 1986.
Besides his profession, William was a man of faith, which led him to meet his second wife, Jeanette Nixon, who was also a widow. Following their beautiful marriage, they spent their time attending several Vocal Majority events and contests. It was often fueled by William’s love and passion for singing, which even led him to sing barbershop harmony for several years with the Vocal Majority and Town North Tigers, among other quartets. For several years, William faced late-onset Alzheimer’s. Ultimately, in 2011, he and Jeanette moved into a memory care facility together. Sadly, William passed away on April 7, 2015, at the age of 88, leaving behind his beloved wife and surviving daughter, Jaquidon. Unfortunately, on November 8, 2019, Jeanette took her last breath at 94 years of age.
Jaquidon Kruger is a Systems Engineer and Finds Strength in Her Partner
After the loss of her beloved sister, Kasi, Jaquidon was completely heartbroken. Hence, she reportedly became determined to find the person responsible for her sister’s death. To prevent anyone from taking any unwanted advantage of the situation, she then filed a civil lawsuit against John. After it led to his arrest and conviction, she said, “I was adamant that John would not profit from Kasi’s murder, but we found out that with the civil suit, we had more discovery power than the police did.” Before facing the profound loss, Jaquidon had been working diligently to build a unique life for herself. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Geology from Wichita State University, she completed a Master’s in Geology from Southern Methodist University.
Jaquidon continued her academic journey by earning a Master’s in Engineering from Texas Tech University. Her career finally began in October 1992 as a Digital Cartographer at the Defense Mapping Agency (NGA). After working there until December 1995, she joined as a Systems Engineer at Raytheon Technologies, RI&S in June 1996, and has been working there ever since. In her personal life, Jaquidon’s world became fulfilled when she met the love of her life, David Kruger. Following their marriage, they became each other’s most significant source of support through every thick and thin. Whenever Jaquidon gets the chance, she steps back from the rush of her daily life to enjoy the serenity of nature and its creations. Yet, despite the busy schedule, she never forgets about Kasi and continues to carry her memories close to her heart. Aside from that, Jaquidon has chosen to keep further details of her private life out of the spotlight.
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