WILSON, NC – Just days after celebrating her eldest son’s return from prison, Dana Jenkins, 50, and her youngest son, 15-year-old Daryn Cox, were found murdered inside their home. The person responsible? The very son Dana had so proudly welcomed back—Daron Jenkins.
The shocking crime has left the tight-knit Wilson community reeling, struggling to comprehend how a mother’s love and forgiveness ended in unimaginable betrayal and loss.
A Mother’s Joy Turns to Tragedy
For Dana Jenkins, family meant everything. As a devoted mother, she believed in redemption, second chances, and the power of love to heal wounds.
So, when her eldest son, Daron Jenkins, was released from prison, she saw it as a blessing. She even took to Facebook to express her gratitude, publicly thanking God for bringing her son home safely. It was supposed to be a fresh start, a new chapter for her family.
But that hope was tragically short-lived.
Just days later, on Monday evening, Wilson police were called to Dana’s home on Snowden Drive after receiving a mysterious 911 call. When officers arrived, they made a grisly discovery—Dana and her 15-year-old son, Daryn Cox, were both dead.
The killer was still inside the home—Daron Jenkins himself.
A Crime That Shook the Community
Authorities quickly took Daron Jenkins into custody, charging him with two counts of first-degree murder. He is currently being held at the Wilson County Jail without bond.
Details of what led to the violent outburst remain unclear, but investigators believe the murders were brutal and deliberate. There were no signs of forced entry, indicating that Dana and Daryn were attacked inside what should have been their safe space—by someone they trusted.
Neighbors and friends are struggling to process the horrific betrayal.
“She was so happy to have him home,” one friend shared. “She had so much faith in him, and now… this? It’s just heartbreaking.”
Daryn Cox: A Life Cut Short
At just 15 years old, Daryn Cox had his whole life ahead of him. Described by teachers and friends as kind, funny, and full of potential, Daryn was a bright student with big dreams.
“He was always smiling,” a classmate recalled. “He never had a bad word to say about anyone. To know he’s gone—and in such a horrible way—it’s just not fair.”
Family members are devastated, struggling to come to terms with the loss of both Dana and Daryn in such a tragic and violent manner.
A Community in Mourning
Wilson residents have been gathering outside the family’s home, leaving flowers, candles, and heartfelt messages in memory of Dana and Daryn. The local church Dana attended is planning a candlelight vigil to honor their lives and bring the community together in grief and support.
Many are also expressing outrage and disbelief, questioning how a mother’s act of love and forgiveness could have led to such a horrifying tragedy.
“How do you go from being welcomed home with open arms to taking the very life of the person who believed in you most?” one community member asked.
The Path Forward
As Wilson police continue their investigation, one question remains: Why? What led Daron Jenkins to commit such an unthinkable crime against his own family?
While the legal system will determine his fate, no verdict or sentence can undo the heartbreak and loss suffered by those who loved Dana and Daryn.
For now, the Wilson community is left mourning a mother who only wanted to see the best in her son—and a young boy whose life was taken far too soon.
Dana Jenkins believed in redemption. She believed that love could heal even the deepest wounds. Tragically, her faith in family cost her everything.