Oregon man admits killing fiance in New York hotel

Published 9:00 pm Thursday, January 29, 2004

NEW YORK — An Oregon man pleaded guilty Thursday to fatally shooting his fiance last year, saying he became suspicious when she kept postponing their wedding and borrowing money from him.

Richard Jenkins, 49, admitted he fatally shot Elizabeth Forman, 45, in their hotel room on Jan. 13, 2003. Jenkins and Forman, met at a 2001 festival for the vampire soap opera "Dark Shadows."

He is expected to get 25 years in prison when he is sentenced Feb. 26.

Jenkins told police he and Forman were engaged after meeting at the "Dark Shadows" festival. During their engagement, Forman borrowed nearly $100,000 and kept putting off their wedding. Jenkins said he became suspicious and hired an investigator, who found Forman had tens of thousands of dollars in her bank accounts.

Jenkins, armed with a .357 magnum, came to New York to confront Forman. After shooting her, he went to the hotel lobby, where he announced he had shot someone and turned over the gun to the desk clerk.