’Worst case we’ve seen’: Police look for connected cases after woman murdered in west Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Authorities are looking into other cases to see if they are connected to a gruesome murder of a woman whose body was discovered on Oct. 16 in the woods by the Shoe Warehouse on Freedom Drive.

Capt. Rob Dance said the killing of 61-year-old Jennifer Banner was “the worst case we’ve ever seen.”

According to Dance, Banner was involved in a “high-risk lifestyle” and had been arrested on prostitution charges in the past.

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Police said Banner could have still been engaged in prostitution at the time of her death and there could be a possibility she was a target because of her lifestyle.

Authorities said they are doing operations in areas where that has been problems with prostitution.

Officers have also reached out to human trafficking officers to spread information to other people involved in a similar lifestyle.

“We want to make sure that everyone in the community knows that the person responsible for her death is still out there and could be targeting people who live a similar high-risk lifestyle,” Dance said.

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Police said they have not found a motive or her killer.

Channel 9′s Glenn Counts asked police if there could be a serial killer and authorities said while it’s possible, they have not processed any information linking banner’s death to any other cases at this point.

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Officials said they are working with regional and federal officers to determine whether there are ties to any other cases.

No other details have been released.

Check back with wsoctv.com for updates on this ongoing investigation.

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