Police in Rochester have arrested two people and charged them in connection with the death of an RIT adjunct professor. The parents of one of the suspects spoke to YNN.
Effie Henry has lived in her Hazelwood Terrace home since the 1970s. Many of those years, next door to Edline Chun or "Eddie" as she called her. She says they looked out for each other.
"If she didn't get home in time and I'd get suspicious, I'd call her," said Effie. "Me and her, we're close. "
That's what makes it so much harder for Effie to accept who's been arrested for murder in Chun's death.
"We adopted him, raised him from little baby."Effie and Calentha Henry's son, Jerrell Henry, 28, is charged with second degree murder. Effie says Jerrell no longer lived at her house, but says he had been there the day police say Chun was killed. She and her husband were at church. They say they don't know what happened and are devastated to learn their son may have been involved.
"That's terrible. That's what hurts," said Effie.
"He'd been here ever since he was five years old and she was over there. It's kind of a hurting thing," said Calentha.
Effie admitted her son, had problems. "He was in prison all his life. Jerrell was a person that was... abused."
Rochester Police say February 3rd, Jerrell and his girlfriend, Natalie Johnson, 26, went into Chun's home on Hazelwood Terrace, robbed her, and shot her twice in the head. Police say they then dumped Chun's body in a ravine in Tryon Park, where she was found three days later by a maintenance worker.
On February 7th, police say they found Jerrell with Chun's car and he was taken into custody on a parole violation. The Monroe County District Attorney's office says in 2003, Jerrell was sentenced to eight years in prison for robbery, grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property. He'd just been released in December.
"We do anticipate that perhaps the grand jury will be asked to consider additional charges. At this time, I will not tell you what those charges would be. It's an ongoing investigation," explained Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley.
Chun was involved with various neighborhood and community groups. Many of those who knew her through those groups came to a morning news conference at the Public Safety Building Friday learn more about what happened to their friend.
"Edline was savvy, she was streetwise," said friend Sharon Orienter. "She wouldn't have been someone who would've been taken at the grocery store or on the street. In our hearts, I think we knew it was someone who knew her and had access to her and imposed on her good grace. She was a tremendously giving and caring and thoughtful person and she wouldn't have refused a neighbor in need."
Jerrell and Johnson pleaded not guilty in Rochester City Court and are being held without bail.
Meanwhile, Chun's friends, including Effie Henry who turns out to be closer to this case than she'd ever hoped, still mourn her death and wait for the upcoming trial.
"It was rough for me when the detective told me it was our son. My heart almost stopped," she explained. "I'm so sad..."