New York Daily News

DEAD BODY FOUND IN HOME OF GIANTS’ JENKINS

- BY JOHN HEALY, ANDY MAI, JANON FISHER

A body was found Tuesday morning at the New Jersey home of Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins in what authoritie­s are investigat­ing as a homicide, according to the Bergen County Prosecutor's office.

The body, identified as Roosevelt Rene 25, a family friend of the football player, was found in the basement of his Fair Lawn home by a worker, NBC News reported. Police are developing a theory that strangulat­ion or suffocatio­n was the cause of death, according to the NFL Network.

Authoritie­s would not say if Jenkins, 29, was a suspect, but it is believed that the gridder has been in Florida for the last few weeks after attending the team's minicamp that ended June 14.

On Tuesday evening, detectives combed through Jenkins' garage, which was stacked with Nike shoe boxes.

A white Lexus sedan with Florida plates and a black Land Rover SUV with New Jersey plates were parked in the driveway in the sleepy suburban home.

Neighbor Patti Golick, 47, said that Jenkins lives a quiet, unassuming life when he's in town. She's never seen any wild parties.

“He's a very nice family man. He plays football in the backyard. It's all fun and games," she said. "He's just a nice guy. He's a good neighbor. Very to himself."

A 14-year-old boy, Kenny, said Jenkins has invited him to play catch with him in the yard.

"It is mind blowing that I moved here knowing there wouldn't be crime and having been in this house before, it really makes you question," he said.

Jenkins' brother also lives in the two-story, tan brick house, Kenny said.

On Monday night, someone claiming to be Jenkins' brother boarded a Fort Lauderdale­bound flight from Newark Airport but got off the plane after causing delays in takeoff because “he was too scared to fly,” eyewitness­es told ESPN.

Jenkins, who finished up his college football career at North Alabama University, was the St. Louis Rams' second-round draft pick in 2012. In 2016, the cornerback signed a $62.5 million contract with the Giants.

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