'What Jennifer Did': How 24-year-old Jennifer Pan's deadly revenge against parents inspired Netflix show
Warning: Graphic content, this article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised
ONTARIO, CANADA: Netflix's new documentary series, 'What Jennifer Did', delves into the disturbing case of Jennifer Pan, a Canadian woman who hired a hitman to murder her parents.
Directed by Jenny Popplewell, the docuseries reveals the chilling series of events in Jennifer's life, exposing a story of deception and betrayal within her own family.
With gripping storytelling and compelling insights, 'What Jennifer Did' offers a profound exploration of one of the most shocking criminal cases in Canadian history.
Who is Jennifer Pan?
Jennifer Pan was born to Bich Ha Pan and Huei Hann Pan on June 17, 1986, in Markham, Ontario, Canada. Her parents were employed at Magna International, a Canadian automotive supplier.
Through years of hard work, Jennifer's parents achieved financial success, enabling them to purchase a large home and luxury cars, as reported by All That's Interesting.
In high school, Jennifer's hopes of pursuing a career as a professional figure skater were dashed when a knee injury reportedly sidelined her, forcing her to abandon her dreams. Later on, Jennifer began engaging in self-harming behavior.
In class 11, Jennifer reportedly dated Daniel Wong, but their relationship faced a setback when he was forced to leave school due to a drug-related incident. This event deeply affected Jennifer, leading to sadness and a noticeable decline in her academic performance.
To cover up her academic failures, Jennifer resorted to forging her report cards, falsely indicating that she had been accepted to Ryerson University for the fall of 2004, as reported by The Washington Post.
However, she spent her days commuting to cafes or Daniel's dorm, allegedly pretending to attend classes. Later on, she deceived her parents by falsely claiming that she had successfully transferred to the University of Toronto in 2006.
After falsely claiming she had graduated, she told her parents she was volunteering at a children's hospital in Toronto. However, her lack of a uniform or ID badge raised suspicion, prompting her parents to follow her to work to verify her claims.
When her parents discovered the truth, Jennifer had her phone and laptop confiscated and was forbidden from seeing Daniel.
What happened to Jennifer Pan’s parents?
On the night of November 8, 2010, three armed hitmen reportedly entered the Pan family home in Markham. In what appeared to be a botched robbery, they shot Jennifer's father and mother.
Jennifer's mother died instantly, while her father was left critically injured. With her father left in a coma, Jennifer became the sole witness to the tragic events of November 8. When her father woke up from the coma on November 10, he told the police that Jennifer seemed to know the intruders, as reported by CBC.
This information complicated the investigation and raised suspicions about Jennifer's role in the incident. In her third interview with local officials, Jennifer eventually confessed to hiring the assailants and admitted to leaving the house unlocked.
According to the police, Daniel and Jennifer came up with a plan to hire a professional hitman for $10,000 to kill her parents. Daniel introduced Jennifer to Lenford Roy Crawford to kill her parents. Crawford then contacted Eric Shawn 'Sniper' Carty, who in turn contacted David Mylvaganam.
Authorities later found out that Jennifer had previously tried to arrange a murder-for-hire when she asked another acquaintance to kill her parents.
Where is Jennifer Pan now?
During the 2014 trial, Jennifer's father, Huei Hann Pan, provided testimony against her. The court ultimately sentenced Jennifer to life in prison, with the chance of parole after serving 25 years.
Daniel, David, and Lenford were also convicted and received the same sentence. Currently, Jennifer is serving her sentence at the Grand Valley Institution for Women in Kitchener, Ontario.
In May 2023, the Ontario Court of Appeal ruled that Jennifer, Daniel, David, and Lenford should face new trials for the murder, as reported by CBC. The court believed that the jury should have been given the option to convict them on charges of second-degree murder or manslaughter as well.
The Supreme Court of Canada is currently considering whether to uphold the ruling made by the Court of Appeal.
How to stream 'What Jennifer Did'?
'What Jennifer Did' will be available on Netflix from Wednesday, April 10.
Don't have Netflix? Worry not! Access to 'What Jennifer Did' requires a Netflix membership, available starting from $6.99/month for the standard plan with ads.
The standard plan without ads is priced at $15.49/month, while the Premium plan costs $22.99/month.
'What Jennifer Did' trailer