Investigative journalist Chapman tells story of Carol Jenkins’ murder in documentary

Early in her career in journalism, investigative reporter, author, and documentarian Sandra Chapman was told to stay away from Martinsville, Indiana. It wasn’t until Chapman began to research the town’s history that she found the story of Carol Jenkins, to whom she would dedicate over 20 years of her career.
On Sept. 16, 1968, 21-year-old Black woman Carol Jenkins left home for a day of selling encyclopedias in Martinsville. That evening, she was stabbed and killed while on her way back home. While the police were called, Jenkins’ case was left unsolved for three decades.
These events were the catalyst for Martinsville’s reputation as a “sundown town” to rise. Sundown towns are typically described as all-white communities that exclude Black people or other minorities using discriminatory laws, harassment, or violence.
This reputation eventually reached Chapman in the form of a warning, but she sought an explanation. Chapman saw Jenkins’ story and knew it had to be investigated. At the time, she was working at WISH-TV in Indianapolis, and she fought for the right to cover it.
“It’s a story with a lot of twists and turns,” she said.
In 2001, a series of Chapman’s reports on the story aired, and a few days later, Chapman received a voice message that she would never forget. It came from a woman claiming to have witnessed Jenkins’ murder.
“It was honestly chilling. She said, ‘If the girl had a yellow scarf and was killed with a screwdriver, my father could be the killer,’” Chapman said.

This message would be a breakthrough for the case, leading to the unveiling and arrest of a suspect after years of silence. From then on, Chapman dedicated her time to telling the story to its fullest and finding justice for Jenkins’ family. In 2012, she released a book, “The Girl in the Yellow Scarf: One of Indiana’s Most Notorious Cold Case Murders Solved, As a Town Tries to Leave Behind Its Past,” on the case, which eventually inspired a documentary to be produced in 2023.
To Chapman, the story has more than one message to tell the public.
“Carol’s life was important. Her life mattered. She should have been able to live her life, but she couldn’t simply because of the color of her skin,” she said.
Chapman believes that Jenkins’ story is an example of how important the voices of people are in inspiring change. The witness’ sister-in-law saw Chapman’s series on WISH-TV and reached out, prompting the witness herself to send the message. If not for them recognizing the power of their voices, the case would have remained cold forever.
The named suspect, Kenneth Richmond, died shortly after being taken into custody and before going to court. If the witness had not known her voice could be heard, Chapman isn’t certain she would have said anything after her father had died. She believes that voices can do so much work in cases like these.
“If you don’t like how your community is represented, you have a voice and can speak out about it,” Chapman said.
Jenkins’ story has been monumental to Chapman in spreading not only a message of justice, but also of the power of journalism. She is proud that journalism was able to lead Jenkins’ family to some closure, and it means a lot to her that they have trusted her and her team with telling this story. She is grateful for the trust of those like Paul Davis, Jenkins’ stepfather, who fought for justice for years after her death and worked alongside Chapman to bring about Richmond’s arrest.
“Other media outlets tried to get on this story,” Chapman said. “The witness has only ever told two people about what happened—her sister-in-law and me.
Chapman believes investigative reporting is essential today for discovering the truth in an age when things like artificial intelligence might blur the lines. She encourages aspiring investigative journalists to keep at it, even if it means having to compromise by doing other journalistic work for a while.

“Set time aside to grow and build your skills. You might not get to do investigating all the time. Don’t be discouraged,” Chapman said.
Chapman’s documentary on Jenkins’ story is titled “The Girl in the Yellow Scarf,” and it covers the process of investigating the case, who was involved, and the journey of finding out the mysteries and reveals of it. The film was produced by Prince Media Group, which Chapman is the president of, with support and sponsorship from the International Women’s Media Foundation, the Fund for Investigative Journalism, and Indiana Landmarks’ Black Heritage Preservation Program.
“The Girl in the Yellow Scarf” is screening at IU Cinema at 7 p.m. on March 18 with free admission and no ticket required. A Q&A segment with Chapman will follow the screening. The event is in collaboration with The Media School, the National Association of Black Journalists, Alpha Kappa Alpha, and the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center at IU.