Introduction
This blog is a tracking of the murder case of Brittney Gregory by Jack Fuller Jr. for those looking for information.
I had planned to cover the facts as they unfolded, piece together as much of the press and information as I can, since many of the sources of information are
either poorly linked, or disappear to archives (some paid).
At some point I still hope to get some, interviews with some of the players in this case,as well as Brittney's family and friends. I have opted not to even try up until now as I felt there were other places their attention needed to be focused.
While I tried to remain unbiased, once Fuller admitted to killing Brittney, it became impossible for me as a father of a young girl to be COMPLETELY "fair and balanced".
But despite that, all information that I uncover will be found here.
Please feel free to comment, but remain civil. (especially towards each other).
Wednesday, August 04, 2004
Brittney's dad: How could he?
BY NANCY DILLON in Brick, N.J.,
and BILL HUTCHINSONin New York
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS
A heartbroken New Jersey father is haunted by thoughts of how his 16-year-old daughter was murdered, and prays that she is now at peace.
Joe Dunn, 45, said in an interview yesterday that his "baby girl," Brittney Gregory, was his biggest concern in life, and that it torments him that he couldn't save her.
"All I could think about was my daughter, what she must have gone through," said Dunn, staring at photos of his blond, blue-eyed girl. "It just hasn't sunk in yet. This is every father's worst nightmare. I can't even believe it's true."
A day after the high school honors student's funeral, Dunn poured out his heart about the fear, anger and agonizing heartache he and his family endured over the past three weeks.
He said he is still aghast that Jack Fuller, the father of Brittney's good friend Cassie Fuller, has been charged with the killing.
"How could he do such a thing when he's got his own daughter?" Dunn said of Fuller, an ex-con with a history of drug abuse.
"I just wish I could see her still in her bedroom, studying for a test on her bed," the father said. "I just hope she's in a better place."
He held a Father's Day card Brittney gave him in June, and shook his head as he read over and over the note she penned.
"I love you. Don't ever forget it," Brittney wrote.
"She was a beautiful kid," said Dunn, who works as a maintenance man. "When she was stretched out across the bed doing her homework, that was my proudest moment. I was never any good at school. I knew she was going to go far. She would have made it to college."
As he looked at snapshots of Brittney as a 12-year-old, playing on the front lawn, Dunn's thoughts again turned to how she died.
Dunn said he believes Brittney was walking to her boyfriend's house on July 11 when Fuller offered her a ride.
"She only knew the good side of people," he said, explaining why Brittney would get into the car with Fuller. "She was young and always sheltered."
He believes that his daughter was knocked out, but must have regained consciousness as she was being assaulted.
"Maybe she woke up and she didn't like what he was doing," Dunn said. "She would have been one to fight back."
An autopsy showed that Brittney suffered blunt trauma to the head, but cops believe her death was caused either by strangulation or suffocation.
Detectives are still awaiting the results of tests to determine if Brittney was raped before she was killed.
After an intense two-week search, police found her nude body July 27 in a shallow grave just 2 miles from her home.
"I actually still had hope until they found her," Dunn said.
He said Brittney's death had made him draw closer to his other daughter, Bobbijoe, 18.
He said he is in constant touch with Bobbiejoe because he's terrified something bad will happen to her. "I want to know where she's at every night," he said.
Even in his deepest sorrow, Dunn offered thanks to the police who handled the investigation, especially Detectives Michael Moel and Thomas Hayes of the Ocean County prosecutor's office. He also expressed his appreciation to Correction Officers Joseph Nicholas and Bruce Myers and State Trooper Brian Trexler, who discovered the body.
He also found solace in the words of a minister who likened Brittney to a butterfly. He said that as he stood behind the hearse that carried Brittney's body on Monday, a butterfly fluttered past him.
"I haven't noticed a butterfly all spring," he said. "I think God wanted to let me know that Brittney was all right, that she was at ease and she's going to heaven."
