He’s loving, hard-working, compassionate and never criticizes his wife.
But Jerry Nemnich is also a convicted serial rapist accused of fatally slashing a 5-year-old Grand Junction girl and her 24-year-old mother.
The picture family and neighbors paint of Jerry Nemnich, 64, who is being held on a $3 million bond in Grand Junction in the murders of Linda Benson and her daughter Kelley, doesn’t square with the violent rapist/killer portrayed by law enforcement.
“I can’t believe this,” said Nemnich’s mother-in-law Kitty Kingsley, 76, of Seattle. “I think this is some sort of terrible mistake. It’s just absolutely impossible.”
Authorities arrested Nemnich, a long-haul trucker, when he crossed the Utah-Colorado border at the port of entry station near Loma.
He has a long history of violent sex crimes dating to 1960 when he was 16. He was arrested in 1962, 1968, 1974 and 1978 for a succession of rapes. In the latest case he served a prison term until 1992 for a Denver rape.
Two years after his release from prison, he met Kingsley’s daughter Paula in Denver. At the time, he was managing a computer shop.
“I knew that he had been in jail but I swear he is completely rehabilitated,” Paula Nemnich said today. “He has never been disrespectful. I consider him my best friend.”
Kingsley said Jerry Nemnich is a caring, compassionate, loving person.
“I think the world of him,” she said. “I never ever heard him say one thing critical about my daughter. He is a gentleman.”
Paula Nemnich said he has always loved to cook but started learning new recipes for healthy food after he had open-heart surgery two years ago.
“He needs to take these medications,” she said today.
Paula Nemnich said since his release from prison in 1992 her husband had not committed any crimes. She said she could not comment on the latest allegations.
Sabine Amend, a neighbor of the Nemniches in Longmont, said they are a nice couple.
“They were low-key people,” she said. “I have absolutely no issues with them. This is very surprising.”
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com
