Jeanna Berg-Leslie
Jeanna Berg-Leslie
Image of Jeanna Berg-Leslie.
Jeanna Berg-Leslie was an American Educator known for being a free spirit who was murdered inside of her apartment by suspect and Homeless man, Terry Dunford. [undefined] [undefined] She had just moved to the city of Denver and had been doing work with the homeless when she was discovered dead inside of her studio apartment. [undefined]
Biography
Early Life
Jeanna was born and raised in the state of California where she lived for most of her life. [undefined] She grew up in the town of Yorba Linda near Orange County. [undefined] [1] She is a graduate of Esperanza High School. [1]
Education
After high school, she moved to the city of San Antonio where she attended
University of Texas San Antonio and attained her Bachelor's degree. [1]
Career
Jeanna Berg-Leslie when she was younger.
After college, Leslie remained in the city of San Antonio and began teaching. For 15 years, she taught in the area and was the English instructor at Harmony
Science Academy.
Denver
After going through a divorce, Leslie moved to the city of Denver to be closer with her youngest children.
She lived in a studio apartment at the Rio Grande Lofts on 1531 Stout Street.
[undefined] [undefined] She enjoyed living in the city from the start and began documenting her experience on her Facebook. [1]
While living in Denver, she worked as an Uber and Lyft driver and also dedicated time to helping out the Homeless on 16th Street. [undefined] [undefined]
Death
Selfie of Jeanna Berg-Leslie.
On February 16th, 2018, after Denver police received a tip they tracked down Dunford and arrested him on charges of first-degree murder over the death of Jeanna Leslie.
[undefined] On the night of February 13th, the police were called to do a welfare check on Leslie and found a decomposing body inside of her bathroom.
After attaining a Warrant, the police further inspected the apartment and found several items that belonged to Dunford.
The police found Dunford had left his wallet inside of a shopping bag near the crime scene which contains his Department of Veterans Affairs ID, a Denver Rescue Mission card and a Hawaii driver's license - all of which under the name of Dunford.
The initial items the police found were multiple knives, a number of which appeared to have been marked by blood.
Also located were a cardboard carrier for a six-pack of Corona and a receipt from Champa Fine Wine & Liquor, as well as a pair of tan, green and black camouflage cargo pants and a large, light-tan sweatshirt with a fish logo on it.
Both garments were bloodied.
The police found surveillance footage from the Champa Fine Wine & Liquor store that dates back to February 7th, 2018.
In the footage, Dunford can be seen with Leslie and was the same night she sent her last text and phone call that [undefined]
Leslie had made the effort of helping homeless people stay at her place as a way to help them get back on their feet.
Leslie had been associating with the homeless on 16th Street, and began helping two men get back up on their feet.
There's speculation that Leslie must've bumped into Dunford when she was present in the area.
When the police found her, she was stabbed to death inside her third floor unit at the Rio Grande Lofts on Stout near 15th Streets.
Quotes from her students
After her death, many of her friends, family, and past students offered their condolences on social media.
The following are quotes from her past students that have been shared on her GoFundMe: [undefined]
“I always wanted to be a writer, similar to Edgar Allan Poe.
A few teachers helped me become a better writer, and she was one of them.
Even after I had her for a teacher, I was writing a novel and ask if she could help me edit it, which she kindly did.
Not only was she a great teacher, but a good friend and I loved spending time with her, and her class did change the course of my life.
I wanted to try acting again, but I wasn't sure if I was going to like it.
We performed Romeo & Juliet and she let me be Juliet, which is where I first got the spark to make me say "I want to be an actor."
Without that spark, I probably won't be where I am right now or would have found out about my love for theatre much later in life.
Thank you, Ms. Leslie, I'm going to miss you.
RIP.”
–Melissa Wale “One of my favorite teachers from hsa has been taken too early.
Ms. Leslie will always have a place in my heart.
She made English more fun than it ever could be.
She was so full of energy and love you just couldn't help but love her.
My heart goes out to her family and I hope they find peace in these difficult times” Kami Hernandez “Those of you that knew where I went to school know that it was a small close group.
Ms.Leslie
was such a high spirited person and I enjoyed having her as my teacher for three years. It
makes my heart ache knowing you were starting your new life in Denver only for it to end there. I
am content knowing that you at least got to see the world and travel with your kids.” Alejandra
Ashlyn C [undefined]