Murder Defendant Wears “Crime Pays” T-Shirt to Court

Jeremiah Jakson, accused of strangling his West Philadelphia housemate for her belongings, arrived in court Wednesday wearing a shirt that says “Crime Pays.” Jakson told the judge he received the shirt in jail because he didn’t have anything else to wear. The Inquirer reports Judge Teresa Carr Deni sarcastically said, “That’s a very interesting choice of shirt” to Jakson.

Prosecutors say Laura Araujo, 23, was murdered by Jakson because he wanted her laptop, camcorder and ATM card. He allegedly stuffed her body in a duffel bag and abandoned it in an empty lot, then set his arms on fire attempting to burn her SUV.

At Jakson’s preliminary hearing yesterday, police read a transcript of his confession. Jakson blamed a woman who stayed at the house named Shaneka, who he says was responsible for all the heinous acts he’s charged with. Cops didn’t see her in any security footage, however. “We don’t know that a Shaneka exists,” homicide detective James Pitts testified.

Jakson remains in jail, awaiting trial.

[Inquirer]