Suspect Identified In Prince George's Cold Case, Linked To Another Murder: Police

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — After 20 years, police have solved a cold case. In 2002, 19-year-old Jennifer Landry of Massachusetts was found dead in a wooded area in Mount Rainier with trauma to her neck area.

An autopsy determined she died of asphyxia and cutting wounds to the neck. Landry remained unidentified until July of 2005, when she was identified through a fingerprint match.

In 2010, Charles Helem sent a letter to the Mount Rainier Police Department claiming to have knowledge about Landry’s unsolved murder. He is currently in custody in Virginia for an unrelated 2002 murder. He was arrested in Fairfax County in 2002 and convicted in 2003 for that case.

Prince George's County Police detectives attempted to speak to Helem who was in prison at the time, but he refused an interview. In 2017, Helem sent another letter, but he again refused an interview. PGPD Cold Case Unit detectives attempted to interview him again in September of 2021 and this time he agreed.

Detectives traveled to a Massachusetts prison where he had been transferred. Helem confessed to Landry’s murder during that interview and provided information only the suspect would know. He told investigators he picked up Landry in Washington, D.C., while he was soliciting sex for money. They drove to Oak Lane in Mount Rainier where he murdered Landry, leaving her body in a nearby wooded area.

While communicating with Helem about Landry’s murder, he provided information regarding an unsolved murder in Fairfax County. PGPD then contacted Fairfax County Police. On Tuesday, Helem was indicted in Fairfax County for a 1987 murder.

Helem, now 52, has been charged in connection with Landry's murder.

If anyone has information about Helem, they are asked to call detectives at 301-516-2512. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477) or go online at www.pgcrimesolvers.com or use the “P3 Tips” mobile app (search “P3 Tips” in the Apple Store or Google Play to download the app onto your mobile device.) Reference case number 21-0059659.