Jury Finds Jacksonville Woman Guilty of Accessory to Murder

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that a Duval County jury found Jessica Rennard guilty of Accessory After the Fact and Tampering with Evidence in the murder of her ex-boyfriend. With the verdict, Rennard faces up to 15 years in Florida State Prison. The Honorable Tatiana Salvador will sentence Rennard at a later date.

On Dec. 31, 2020, Jerome Whitesides and Jessica Rennard — who were in a relationship — were at a St. Johns Bluff Road apartment. Rennard’s ex-boyfriend was also at the apartment, and Whitesides and the victim got into a verbal argument. Whitesides shot the victim in the face; Rennard was outside the apartment with Whitesides when he shot the victim, and she accompanied Whitesides as he hid his gun in the bushes. Whitesides and Rennard then deleted text messages on their phones. The two were detained and interviewed by officers. During her interview, Rennard lied to the police and denied that she knew anything about the murder.

Whitesides previously pleaded guilty on Sept. 25, 2024, to Second-Degree Murder, Possession of a Firearm by a Juvenile Delinquent, and Possession of More than 20 Grams of Cannabis.  A jury found Whitesides guilty of Tampering with Evidence.

The case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Leah Owens and Sheila Loizos.