GUILTY MD - Jayna Murray, 30, found murdered, Bethesda, 11 March 2011

[jjenny]

:thud:
Were these ladies on the same level, like...supervisory-wise? Is it normal for a manager to ask someone to do that? I wouldn't be remotely comfortable checking my co-worker's bag and would refuse if I wasn't in a supervisory role already...was Murray the assistant manager? Was this already mentioned? :waitasec: Gotta go read back.

I've not seen the info that Jayna was in a manager position.
Maybe Jayna was up for a promotion? Or maybe she worked there for a long time and the manager really trusted her?

 

[Truthful Lies]

The manager should have

1. Never asked Jayna to do it - why didn't she do it herself?

2. Never should have asked Jayna to do so without anyone else present (it would be she said vs. she said, especially with no video recording).

3. Um...called back to check on Jayna after reporting that she did believe there was stealing going on. I'm guessing the manager may have called the suspect after work to tell her not to return (already out of the store, etc. She didn't have keys if I understand correctly)

How else would the suspect have known she had been reported? They had already left and she asked Jayna to let her back in...so something happened between them locking up and going back - why wouldn't she have just gone ahead and killed Jayna without leaving if she already knew? Weird. Doesn't add up. Why wouldn't she just say the men took them back in as they were locking up - makes a lot more sense (they would know what time the store closed, how many and who was in there, etc.)

Also, if the suspect WAS tipped off, they should have alerted Jayna for safety reasons...geeze.
MOO.

 

[Sonya610]

The manager should have

1. Never asked Jayna to do it - why didn't she do it herself?

2. Never should have asked Jayna to do so without anyone else present (it would be she said vs. she said, especially with no video recording).

I think it was probably a company culture thing. The company was very female focused, positive thinking, etc... and no doubt most of the staff was female so no one really expects someone to go psycho and stab another to death. They live in a positive thinking women are empowered mindset where no one expects this could happen to them in this sort of setting. I would bet the manager would have been there if asked, and maybe the manager offered to be there but was told it wasn't necessary.

Regarding validating the act of theft, not sure that would have mattered. Georgia is a right to work state which means any employee can be let go at will, the worst that happens is they might file unemployment. If the company did not plan to file criminal charges (and they likely didn't) they might not even have had to worry about unemployment benefits if she hadn't worked there long, which meant the theft was a mute point, they could let her go without giving cause (don't know about the laws in MD though).

(PS I work in an industry related to retail theft and a lot of companies don't even confront an employee when they have been caught stealing...they simply post the evidence on the bulletin board and the employees quite....some will file charges others don't bother).

 

[belimom]

Here's a little bit more news today from the Washington Post:

Prosecutor in Bethesda slaying describes wild cover-up story

For 90 minutes, authorities say, Brittany Norwood sat in her victim’s parked car, concocting a plan to cover up the horrendous crime scene she had just created in the yoga apparel store where they worked.

More at http://www.washingtonpost.com/local...p-story/2011/03/21/ABZkfW9_story.html?hpid=z4

 

[Truthful Lies]

I think it was probably a company culture thing. The company was very female focused, positive thinking, etc... and no doubt most of the staff was female so no one really expects someone to go psycho and stab another to death. They live in a positive thinking women are empowered mindset where no one expects this could happen to them in this sort of setting. I would bet the manager would have been there if asked, and maybe the manager offered to be there but was told it wasn't necessary.

Regarding validating the act of theft, not sure that would have mattered. Georgia is a right to work state which means any employee can be let go at will, the worst that happens is they might file unemployment. If the company did not plan to file criminal charges (and they likely didn't) they might not even have had to worry about unemployment benefits if she hadn't worked there long, which meant the theft was a mute point, they could let her go without giving cause (don't know about the laws in MD though).

(PS I work in an industry related to retail theft and a lot of companies don't even confront an employee when they have been caught stealing...they simply post the evidence on the bulletin board and the employees quite....some will file charges others don't bother).

Thank you for the information about GA work laws, etc. I'm grateful for your experience! I'll do a little sleuthing, but it's hard for me to believe that a company on that level does not have a CSO or Corporate Compliance, etc. that would include those rules to prevent possible problems. At the very least, I would think their Legal Department (or counsel) would be aware of those needs - especially with liability insurance, etc. Companies that are very lax on those things have a very hard time getting insured (I have the most knowledge of contingent liability insurance).

I'll do some sleuthing later on their corporate status, climate, etc.

I cannot imagine that a company could/would get away with completely ignoring the possibility of violence - if they are so focused on uplifting, etc., then why wouldn't they have been precautious? They're can't be an entire company full of people that say "Oh, no need!".

Just my opinion. Not trying to be offensive at all. Really irks me when policies/procedures are not in place to protect workplace violence.

Sounds like Jayna's family may be able to sue since it's absolutely a work-related fatality and the company may have demonstrated gross negligence if any history of violence/major confrontations anywhere in their corporation, in that store, with BN, etc.

 

[flourish]

The manager should have

1. Never asked Jayna to do it - why didn't she do it herself?

2. Never should have asked Jayna to do so without anyone else present (it would be she said vs. she said, especially with no video recording).

3. Um...called back to check on Jayna after reporting that she did believe there was stealing going on. I'm guessing the manager may have called the suspect after work to tell her not to return (already out of the store, etc. She didn't have keys if I understand correctly)

How else would the suspect have known she had been reported? They had already left and she asked Jayna to let her back in...so something happened between them locking up and going back - why wouldn't she have just gone ahead and killed Jayna without leaving if she already knew? Weird. Doesn't add up. Why wouldn't she just say the men took them back in as they were locking up - makes a lot more sense (they would know what time the store closed, how many and who was in there, etc.)

Also, if the suspect WAS tipped off, they should have alerted Jayna for safety reasons...geeze.
MOO.

(Cool, after all this time I just figured out to multi-quote--I've been cutting and pasting it all together for an embarrassing amount of time)

ITA--I'm not saying anyone it to blame here besides the perp, but it seems like an unwise choice to ask one co-worker to confront another worker without having someone else there as back-up. Of course no one expected that murder was going to come into play, but at the same time, what did they think would happen? The thief would just fess up, give back the merch, and everyone would go home all hunky-dory?

So sad

Sounds like Jayna's family may be able to sue since it's absolutely a work-related fatality and the company may have demonstrated gross negligence if any history of violence/major confrontations anywhere in their corporation, in that store, with BN, etc.

Most respectfully snipped, for space and emphasis.
ITA that there is a need to investigate this possible negligence. It just doesn't seem appropriate or "right" to ask an employee to take on the job of confronting another employee like that EVER--even if Murray was in a supervisory role, I would expect that no one would expect her to confront BN all by herself--sounds like poor unsafe practice.

 

[belimom]

This is absolutely irrelevant to Jayna being killed, but it's bugging me: WHY move her car? Anyone have a guess?

Okay, I've found the answer my question:

Norwood left the store to move Murray’s car, which might have been parked illegally because Murray thought the return trip to the store would be brief.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local...p-story/2011/03/21/ABZkfW9_story.html?hpid=z4

The above article also says she is being held without bond. Sounds good to me.

 

[Sonya610]

Corporate Compliance, etc. that would include those rules to prevent possible problems. At the very least, I would think their Legal Department (or counsel) would be aware of those needs - especially with liability insurance, etc. Companies that are very lax on those things have a very hard time getting insured (I have the most knowledge of contingent liability insurance).

My opinion comes from their corporate website and motto, one of which was "We treat our employees like company owners" or some such thing. I also thought perhaps these stores were run by franchisees (which make up their own corporate policies or lack thereof) however they are actually a pretty darn big company with hundreds of locations (all corporate owned).

This is suprising, they should have had policies in place and now I think one of the managers messed up and violated corporate policy. A company that big has surely had lawsuits and problem employees fired before. Their legal/risk management people are going to be very unhappy (unless they say that Jayna chose to act alone when confronting the employee over theft and the management was unaware of her actions). They are likely going to get sued.

 

[jjenny]

I don't believe Jayna was asked to confront BN by herself. It's not like manager arranged for the two of them to be alone. From what's been reported BN claimed she forgot her wallet so Jayna had to go and let her into the store. I do find it strange if Jayna was asked to check BN's bag.

 

[flourish]

I don't believe Jayna was asked to confront BN by herself. It's not like manager arranged for the two of them to be alone. From what's been reported BN claimed she forgot her wallet so Jayna had to go and let her into the store. I do find it strange if Jayna was asked to check BN's bag.

Thank you for clarification So "[Murray] had been asked by a store manager to check Norwood's bag for stolen merchandise. Murray called the manager that night to say she believed Norwood had been stealing." (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42201204/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/)

So do we know more about if Murray actually did search the bag or if she had other reasons to believe BN was stealing? I'm wondering exactly how the initial confrontation regarding the theft happened, like, who was there, was this just after closing, etc.? Was the confrontation not so bad as to dissuade Murray from returning alone later, knowing the store was closed and BN was angry? I'm just thinking out loud here because it's not all coming together for me yet...curious...:waitasec:

 

[jjenny]

Thank you for clarification So "[Murray] had been asked by a store manager to check Norwood's bag for stolen merchandise. Murray called the manager that night to say she believed Norwood had been stealing." (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42201204/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/)

So do we know more about if Murray actually did search the bag or if she had other reasons to believe BN was stealing? I'm wondering exactly how the initial confrontation regarding the theft happened, like, who was there, was this just after closing, etc.? Was the confrontation not so bad as to dissuade Murray from returning alone later, knowing the store was closed and BN was angry? I'm just thinking out loud here because it's not all coming together for me yet...curious...:waitasec:

I don't think we have the answers to these questions yet. Did she check BN's bag in front of BN? Or when BN was not looking? Did she check it at all? A lot of stores now days have video. Could they have looked at the video to see what BN was up to?

 

[girlinblue]

As someone who wasted away in retail for while, I can tell you that bag checks are protocol. When an associate leaves the store at the end of their shift, or at closing, the manager on duty is supposed to check any bag or purse the associate has. This is done at closing too. (For most companies I've worked for, it's a dismissable offense if management is caught NOT doing bag checks.) An associate is not allowed to do this on their own accord. It has to be someone in a supervisory position. Jayna had keys, so she was probably an assistant manager, as associates are, again, not leveled to be keyholders (which is why Norwood would have to call her to get back in). It's all a Loss Prevention issue.

Seems like they suspected Norwood of stealing. The store manager didn't ask Jayna to do anything out of the ordinary. It was most likely one of her regular duties anyway, but they probably had a manager meeting about it, or a conversation where it came up that she needed to extra diligent in checking.

Just wanted to offer a little perspective there.

One thing that I haven't seen mentioned is the alarm. ALL stores have an alarm. If this store didn't, I'd be really shocked. Once the alarm is set (like it would be at closing at night), you have 30-60 seconds to get out of the store and lock the doors. The next time someone unlocks the store, like the opening manager the next morning, that someone has to run to the keypad to punch in the numbers in 30-60 seconds so that the alarm company knows it's not a break in and automatically send police. Usually any excessive turning on or off of the alarm after closing hours (which are kept on file) are suspect, and the company will flag it and call the store or keyholders personal numbers to verify everything is okay. This is also done, say, if closing hours have come and gone and the alarm hasn't been set yet, and the alarm company hasn't been notfiied of any extended hours for inventory or whatever reason.

If the alarm was set for closing in the first place and they did leave an come back, Jayna would've had to shut it off upon re-entering the store. So it would have remained disarmed all night. Why didn't the alarm company follow up on that?!

I haven't had the chance to catch up on all the articles you guys have been so great at posting...so I could be late to the party on this, but I've been wondering all along if they made it out of the store in the first place. Which is my point with all the alarm stuff. And it would also provide a timeline.

Also, what about anti-theft cameras? Last store I worked at had some on the floor, but none in the backroom (used for stock, employee breaks, etc). I can't imagine this store didn't have any. One article states that Norwood started beating Jayna and went through the store. Wondering how much of this was caught on tape.

 

[jjenny]

This was reportedly an upscale area. Maybe they didn't have an alarm?

 

[Sonya610]

girlinblue the police were checking the camera footage from OTHER stores to see if they could catch the "rapists" and of course they couldn't find anything.

A lot of small retail stores don't have camera systems, but yes most all do have alarms. Big retail places have extensive camera systems and often loss control people that monitor them to watch for shoplifting and such, but small places check video for suspicious events and many don't even have that.

This place couldn't have had cameras as this girl would have had to dispose of the DVR itself to get rid of the footage (which is standard for most small retail places, the video is captured right on a PC in the building and if that is stolen it is simply gone).

 

[belimom]

Saw this a few moments ago. Bless her family, friends, and fellow employees:

Bethesda Lululemon shop reopens after death of employee

More than three months after the killing of Lululemon Athletica employee Jayna Murray in the store’s Bethesda location, the athletic apparel shop reopened Friday and unveiled a stained glass mosaic emblazoned with the word “love” above the entrance.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...on-shop-reopens/2011/06/24/AGEeY5iH_blog.html

 

[Kat]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...lemon-killing/2011/07/08/gIQAX0Yx3H_blog.html

Posted at 03:17 PM ET, 07/08/2011
October trial set in Lululemon killing

By Dan Morse

I didn't see the exact day in OCT but I only scanned the article because I had not read about this case until just now.

 

[joe jones]

Oct 24 trial expected to start, and to last 8 days according to Judge, not sure if he includes jury selection in those 8 days

 

[Kat]

http://www.wjla.com/articles/2011/0...ison-for-norwood-in-lululemon-case-64731.html

August 5, 2011 - 11:50 am
AP, ABC7

Brittany Norwood: Prosecutors seek life in prison for Norwood in Lululemon case

Prosecutors in Montgomery County plan to seek a sentence of life without parole if a woman charged with killing a co-worker at an upscale yoga clothing shop is convicted of first-degree murder.

 

[joe jones]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/natio...JfxJ_story.html?tid=sm_twitter_washingtonpost

all statements made by Norwood wil be heard at trial

 

[joe jones]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs.../09/03/gIQAEDUozJ_blog.html?wprss=crime-scene

more of what she said to LE