Jennifer Leigh Day, 14, vanished from Preston Donuts in Dallas on June 23, 1985, and was found dead three days later in Plano. Her body showed fatal stab wounds to the neck, and personal items were left behind in the shop. The case went cold, but investigators and a nonprofit launched a renewed review around 2024 using modern DNA techniques and public appeals to identify the killer. Tips can be sent to policetips@plano.gov; the case page was updated July 8, 2025.
Who Killed Jennifer Leigh Day? 14-Year-Old Vanished From Donut Shop in 1985 — Case Reopened
Plano Police DepartmentJennifer Leigh Day, 14
Jennifer Leigh Day, 14, arrived for her part-time weekend shift at Preston Donuts in Dallas, Texas, just after 5:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 23, 1985. What began as an ordinary early-morning job ended in tragedy: Jennifer disappeared from the shop and was found dead three days later. Authorities have reopened the investigation and are using modern forensic methods and public outreach to try to identify her killer.
Timeline Of Events
June 23, 1985 — Early Morning: Jennifer confirmed her arrival at 5:35 a.m. with the shop owner by phone and spoke with a customer until about 6:20 a.m. At approximately 6:35 a.m., a customer found the shop empty. Jennifer’s purse and jewelry remained on the counter and no cash was reported missing from the register.
June 26, 1985 — Body Discovered: An excavation crew near Preston Road and White Road in Plano, roughly 11 miles from the donut shop, found Jennifer’s body. She was discovered naked and with fatal stab wounds to the neck, according to police.
Investigation And Leads
Investigators treated the disappearance as an abduction. One key witness who had parked across the street around 6:32 a.m. reported seeing a man and a woman enter a large, dark-colored car in front of the shop and drive away shortly before Jennifer was noticed missing. Despite early leads, the case eventually went cold.
“Instantly, I was thinking something's wrong,” said Jennifer’s brother, Jeff Day, reflecting on the day police arrived at the shop. “In my mind, she had probably been abducted... I have a hard time even talking about it now.”
Renewed Review And Forensic Options
Around 2024, Jeff Day contacted the Plano police chief seeking help to revisit the case. Detective Aaron Benzick responded and began a renewed review as part of a department initiative and through the nonprofit he founded, Solve The Case (SolveTheCase.org), launched in 2023.
Benzick and investigators say the reexamination focuses on two paths: applying advanced DNA and forensic testing methods to preserved evidence, and publicly promoting the case to solicit new tips and identify witnesses who may now be willing to come forward. The family has expressed appreciation for renewed attention to Jennifer’s story.
How To Help
Anyone with information is asked to contact Plano Police Department tips at policetips@plano.gov. The official case page was last updated on July 8, 2025.
Remembering Jennifer
Jennifer Leigh Day was described by her family as a bright, life-loving teenager taken far too soon. The renewed investigation aims to bring answers and justice for her family after nearly four decades.
