A new documentary digs into an unsolved murder in 1968 that was reportedly racially motivated. “The Girl in the Yellow Scarf,” produced by Sandra Chapman with support from the Fund, explores the murder of Carol Jenkins in Martinsville, Indiana. Jenkins, who was Black, was 21 years old when she was murdered while selling encyclopedias door to door. In reporting the documentary, Chapman obtained critical police documents and FBI records – and she identified a witness with a new lead in the cold case. The documentary aired on WNIT, the PBS station in South Bend, this month, and it has been chosen as an “Official Selection” at five film festivals and won three top documentary awards. As a result of Chapman’s reporting, the National Civil Rights Cold Case Record Review Board is now considering the case.
Grantee documentary shines new light on 1968 civil-right case and sparks review by federal agency
