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John Hollenhorst ReportingAs of 5:00 today, the Jensens are believed to be in the Pocatello area, waiting for the next step in the process. And now, a strange new accusation has emerged about a car crash one of the Jensens’ sons was involved in last month.
Shortly after the Jensens were charged with kidnapping, the father, Darren Jensen, was arrested when he appeared at the scene of a serious car crash. Now witnesses are saying they're certain the driver of that car was actually 12-year old Parker himself, and that his relatives lied to keep it a secret.
The Jensen's have been living in the hilltop home of Parker's grandfather. A steep private road leads down into Pocatello. Two weeks ago, neighbors noticed a huge cloud of dust as a Chevy Blazer rolled over at least once and landed on its side.
Stephanie Warren, Neighbor: "That's when I saw the little boy crawling out of the driver side window.” Question - Little boy, how old? Answer “He looked ten to me."
Pieces of wreckage still litter the scene. The boy limped to a nearby phone. Before a deputy arrived, Barbara Jensen arrived in a separate vehicle and drove her son away. Then Darren Jensen arrived with his father-in-law and they identified the driver as Darren's 15-year old son.
Lt. K.G. Fonnesbeck, Bannock County Sheriff's Dept.: “The father and the grandfather identified him as Garret.”
The grandfather is a prominent chiropractor. He assured the deputy the boy was unhurt and the family refused to allow the deputy to see the boy. Days later the family held a news conference regarding their legal battle over Parker's cancer treatment. The witnesses to the crash were startled. They were certain the driver was not Parker's older brother Garret.
Debe Warren, Neighbor: "When we saw all of the media coverage on it, I realized which child it is. I'm 100 percent sure it was Parker."
Stephanie Warren, Neighbor: "I remember how Parker looks like 100 percent. I was talking to him face to face that day and it was Parker that was driving that vehicle."
Investigators are keeping the case open, still wondering who the driver was.
Lt. K.G. Fonnesbeck, Bannock County Sheriff's Dept.: "We still don't know because we've not able to make contact with anybody."
The witnesses say Darren told them he routinely allowed his son to drive down the road to the mailbox. Now they're wondering about the Jensens’ parenting skills.
Stephanie Warren, Neighbor: "I know in some way they're good parents, but they’re deceiving a lot of people."
KSL asked the Jensen's lawyer for a response to the accusations. He said he would talk to Darren about it, but so far we've heard nothing.
Since the road is private, it is not illegal for a 12-year old to drive, but lying to a deputy is illegal. Investigators hope eventually to talk to the Jensen's about it.
