Reality Star on the Run in Model Murder

Law enforcement tells us they now have a person of interest in the murder of a Playboy representative who was found dead and stuffed in a suitcase in Orange County. The man is Ryan Alexander Jenkins, who was a contestant on a VH1 reality show.



Jasmine Fiore was found in a trash bin in Buena Park last Saturday morning. She was first reported missing by Jenkins on Saturday night. We're told the Buena Park PD has been trying unsuccessfully to contact him and fear he may be on the run. A police official told us they fear the 32-year-old Jenkins, a resident of Calgary, may be fleeing to Canada. As the official put it, "It's suspicious."

Ryan Jenkins was a contestant on "Megan Wants a Millionaire," which airs on VH1. We're told he was among the final contestants. The winner has not been announced on the show, which is currently airing.



Person of Interest in Model Murder Married Victim

We've just learned Ryan Alexander Jenkins -- the "person of interest" in the murder of Jasmine Fiore -- married the victim earlier this year.



Jenkins was a contestant on "Megan Wants a Millionaire." The star, Megan Hauserman, told TMZ Jenkins met Fiore at a strip club in Las Vegas where she worked as a dancer. Megan says Jenkins married Fiore two days later.

We're told Jenkins -- who was a finalist on the show -- went right to Vegas after getting booted from the show and met Fiore.

We spoke with Megan by phone, who told us Jenkins was smart, nice and she is shocked by the turn of events.

UPDATE: 9:39 PM ET We just spoke with Jenkins' publicist, who tells us, "Ryan is currently speaking to his attorney and will fully cooperate with the police in this matter. He is planning on meeting with them in the near future."


Reality Star and Murdered Wife -- On Rocks

A close friend of Jasmine Fiore's tells us Jasmine and Ryan Alexander Jenkins' marriage was on the rocks, and that Jasmine was planning to go to Vegas to "reunite" with an ex-boyfriend.

The friend says Jasmine was planning to take her Vegas trip the day before her body was found.

And, the woman who was the roommate of Fiore and Jenkins tells TMZ Jenkins told her last Sunday -- the day after Jasmine's body was discovered -- he was "done with the relationship," that "he couldn't take it anymore" and he was going to Vegas.

The roommate also says Jenkins -- who appeared on the VH1 reality show "Megan Wants a Millionaire" -- called her last Saturday night and said, "I should have known something was up when she said she was going to run errands and left with all of our packed suitcases in our car."

Jasmine's body was found stuffed in a suitcase and thrown in a dumpster in Orange County, CA last Saturday.

Both the roommate and the friend say Fiore was not a stripper and that Fiore and Jenkins met at a Hawaiian Tropic event in Vegas. And Playboy says Fiore worked as a promo model for a "Girls of Golf" event one time 4 years ago and hasn't worked for Playboy since.





Murdered Model's Husband Brags About $$$

The "person of interest" in the model murder case bragged to friends he won a boatload of money on a reality show he appeared on after his stint on VH-1's "Megan Wants a Millionaire."

Ryan Alexander Jenkins appeared on "I Love Money" Season 3, just after marrying Jasmine Fiore last March. Ryan told several people who have spoken with us that he was the show's winner, pulling in $250,000, though we have not confirmed this with the show.

We're told Jenkins traveled to Mexico for the taping of the reality show, which wrapped around 4 weeks ago.

During the taping, we're told Jenkins constantly talked about Jasmine and how "she was the love of my life."

Producers of "I Love Money" did not return our calls.

UPDATE: VH1 has issued the following statement:

"Ryan Jenkins was a contestant on 'Megan Wants A Millionaire', an outside production, produced and owned by 51 Minds, that is licensed to VH1. The show completed production at the end of March. Given the unfortunate circumstances, VH1 has postponed any future airings. This is a tragic situation and our thoughts go out to the victim's family."





Text Message -- Key Clue in Model Murder

Sources tell TMZ cops have spoken with a man who was involved with the murdered model -- and a text message he received the last night of her life may be the key to unlocking this mystery.

Here's what multiple sources tell TMZ. The victim, Jasmine Fiore, and her husband, Ryan Jenkins (the "person of interest") were in San Diego for a poker tournament last Friday. At some point in the evening, Fiore texted Robert Hasman, a former boyfriend with whom she was involved before meeting Jenkins.

We're told Jenkins not only knew of Hasman, he was upset Hasman had been communicating with his wife while Jenkins was in Mexico shooting a reality show.

We're told Fiore texted Hasman on Friday night, saying she was going to travel to Las Vegas to see him.

Later that same evening, we're told Hasman received another text from Fiore's phone that just said, "suck it."

Police are exploring a theory that Jenkins may have seen the text Fiore sent to Hasman and then fired off the "suck it" message out of anger.

Fiore's body was stuffed in a suitcase and placed in a dumpster in Orange County, CA. Jenkins was the last person to see her and the one who reported her missing on Saturday night. He is now MIA. Cops say they are "suspicious" of Jenkins but he is not yet a suspect.






Victim's Hubby Convicted of Assaulting GF

The "person of interest" in the murdered model case has a criminal record for assaulting a girlfriend in 2005.

Ryan Alexander Jenkins -- the husband of Jasmine Fiore, who was found last Saturday strangled to death and stuffed in a suitcase -- was convicted in 2007 in Calgary, Canada. The woman he assaulted is Faern Jewell, his girlfriend at the time.

Jenkins' sentence included 15 months probation and mandatory counseling for "psychological/domestic violence/coping skills."

As for the "coping skills," he was ordered to attend outpatient treatment at a hospital for sex addiction.

Message edited 8/19/2009 4:36:28 PM.

Re: Reality Star on the Run in Model Murder

Whoa!! Poor girl!

Re: Reality Star on the Run in Model Murder

how sad

Re: Reality Star on the Run in Model Murder

wow...I guess they don't screen people too well for VH1 shows....

this is nuts!

Re: Reality Star on the Run in Model Murder

That's crazy

Re: Reality Star on the Run in Model Murder

VH1 has issued the following statement:

"Ryan Jenkins was a contestant on 'Megan Wants A Millionaire', an outside production, produced and owned by 51 Minds, that is licensed to VH1. The show completed production at the end of March. Given the unfortunate circumstances, VH1 has postponed any future airings. This is a tragic situation and our thoughts go out to the victim's family."

Re: Reality Star on the Run in Model Murder

Manhunt for Reality Star Focuses on Canadian Border

The police search for reality-TV star Ryan Alexander Jenkins, labeled a "person of interest" in the Los Angeles-area murder of his swimsuit-model wife Jasmine Fiore, has focused on the Washington state-Canadian border, say news reports.

Jenkins, a contestant on Megan Wants a Millionaire and I Love Money 3 (and a successful real-estate developer), "was the last person seen with the victim when she was still alive," said Buena Park, Calif., police Lt. Gary Worrall. Jenkins, 32, was also the one who reported his wife missing.

"That's suspicious to us," said Worrell, noting that after contacting police Jenkins is now nowhere to be found.

Over the weekend, the remains of the 5',3" Fiore, 28, were discovered folded into a suitcase in a dumpster in Buena Park.

Alberta, Canada's Calgary Herald reports that four months ago, Jenkins, a Canadian citizen, was booked on domestic assault charges for allegedly striking his wife.

In its Thursday editions, the Herald also reports that, despite widespread coverage of the case, Jenkins has not stepped forward to speak with police – who have called for the public's help in finding him or a luxury car he may be driving: Fiore's white Mercedes CLS550, with custom black trim including a black logo, or Jenkins's own black BMW X5.

A publicist for Jenkins reportedly told TMZ that Jenkins intended to consult with his attorney and cooperate with police, and is "is planning on meeting with them in the near future."

Worrall said no one has contacted the police, the Herald reports. In addition, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have joined the search.


Prior Assault Charge
Jenkins is due in court on Dec. 18 for a misdemeanor charge of "battery constituting domestic violence" against his wife stemming from an April incident in Las Vegas, according to documents viewed by the Herald. The Orange County Register reported at the time that Jenkins was arrested and charged with allegedly striking Fiore "in the arm with his fist."

The Herald also reports that in January 2007 Jenkins received a conditional discharge and 15 months probation for a July 2005 assault of a woman in Calgary. Court documents reveals that he was ordered to undergo psychological counseling for domestic violence and attend outpatient treatment for sex addiction.

He was also restrained from contacting the victim, who reportedly was his girlfriend.



Reality Star Jenkins Escapes to Canada

Sheriff's deputies in Washington state now tell TMZ that they believe Ryan Alexander Jenkins has ecaped to Canada by foot.

Jenkins is Canadian, and cops in California wanted to talk to him about the death of his wife, model Jasmine Fiore. Her body was found in a suitcase in Orange County last weekend. All along cops have only called Jenkins a "person of interest" in her killing.

Here's what what we know straight from the Whatcom County Sheriff's Dept. in Washington State, which is just over the border from Canada:

- Yesterday evening a witness reported seeing someone matching Jenkins' description driving a black BMW suv (we know he owned own of those) with a boat in tow in the marina of Blaine, Washington which is extremely close to the Canadian border.

- A short time later deputies found the boat and the suv abandonded.

- A manhunt then began for Jenkins by land, sea, and air involving federal agents, deputies, cops, and Canadian authorities.

- They were unable to find Jenkins and now think that he literally made a run for the border -- crossing over by foot.

Story developing...

Message edited 8/20/2009 8:30:11 AM.

Re: Reality Star on the Run in Model Murder

Cop: Jasmine's Teeth and Fingers Were Removed

Officials from the Buena Park Police Department just held a news conference about the death of model Jasmine Fiore and their search for her husband and murder suspect, Ryan Jenkins.

Here's the blow-by-blow of what went down:

UPDATE: Buena Park's Chief of Police Tom Monson is at the podium. Monson promises a "vigorous pursuit of justice."

UPDATE: Monson says he believes Ryan has escaped to Canada on foot.

UPDATE: A US Marshal is at the podium now. He says his agency is cooperating with law enforcement in Canada to find Ryan. He says anyone who helps Ryan in any way would be charged with aiding and abetting a fugitive.

UPDATE: A close family friend named Robert Hasman -- who says he used to date Jasmine -- is speaking. He says Jenkins is an "animal" for what he did to Jasmine.

UPDATE: Lieutenant Holliday just said Jasmine's teeth and fingers had been removed. He said there's a $10 million bail out on Ryan.

UPDATE: Lt. Holliday just said Ryan may be armed with a handgun. It's over now.




'Megan' Producers: If We Knew Then...


We've just received the following statement from the production company behind "Megan Wants a Millionaire" -- the now postponed VH-1 reality show Ryan Jenkins was a part of.

"51Minds was not aware of Ryan Jenkins' record when it cast him on "Megan Wants a Millionaire." Obviously, if the company had been given a full picture of his background, he would never have been allowed on the show.

The company did have in place what it thought was a thorough vetting process that involved complete background checks by an outside company for all contestants on its shows. Clearly, the process did not work properly in this case. "

Jenkins was convicted for assaulting a girlfriend in 2005.






Ryan Jenkins' Getaway Boat Towed Away

We've obtained footage of Ryan Jenkins' boat being towed this morning from Point Roberts -- a U.S. territory about 10 miles off the coast of Washington state that shares a border with Canada

The US Coast Guard towed the boat to Blaine, Washington -- where Ryan's black SUV was found abandoned at a local marina. Police told us they believe Jenkins -- who has been charged with murder over the death of his wife Jasmine Fiore -- towed his boat to Blaine then hit the water over to Point Roberts.

Point Roberts is actually located at the tip of Vancouver, which has a 4-mile border with our northern neighbors. Cops believe Jenkins then crossed the border over to Canada.