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| Javontae Green Murder: Where Is Jerrollyn Hunt Now and What Happened to Her? |
The killing of 29-year-old Javontae Green outside his Bakersfield home in August 2021 turned a disagreement over car keys into a case that ended with a lengthy prison sentence. His girlfriend’s mother, Jerrollyn Raye Hunt, was arrested within 12 hours of the incident and eventually convicted of second-degree murder.
Oxygen’s Snapped: Killer Moms, in an episode titled ‘Jerrollyn Hunt’, revisits the case through interviews with Javontae’s loved ones and the officials who investigated his death. Four years after the court proceedings, viewers are still asking the same question: where is Jerrollyn Hunt now, and what happened during the investigation that brought her to justice?
Javontae Tervell Green was born around 1992 and lived in Bakersfield, California. Those who knew him remembered a family-oriented man who enjoyed spending time with his loved ones. He was also a devoted father to two young sons whom he shared with his girlfriend, Kylie. At the time, both children were still attending elementary school, and Javontae looked forward to watching them grow up and build their own futures. Sadly, those plans came to an abrupt end on 10 August 2021.
The incident happened outside his home in the 200 block of Eye Street, between 2nd and 3rd streets. At approximately 11.15 am, the Bakersfield Police Department received a report of a shooting and sent officers to the area. When they arrived, they discovered Javontae lying on the pavement. The 29-year-old had suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators began examining the surrounding area and recovered a shell casing, which became one of the early pieces of evidence in the homicide investigation. They also started speaking with residents and potential witnesses to establish what had happened before the shooting. What initially appeared to be a straightforward investigation soon became more complicated as different accounts of the confrontation emerged.
During their enquiries, detectives identified Kylie and her mother, Jerrollyn Raye Hunt, as important people to question. Police wanted to locate Hunt, while investigators also interviewed Kylie about the events leading up to her boyfriend's death.
According to Kylie's account, she had gone to Javontae's home with her mother and two other women to collect her car keys. When nobody answered the door, someone allegedly broke a window to get their attention. Javontae then came outside and followed Kylie towards her vehicle.
Kylie told investigators that Javontae struck the boot and rear window of her car. Concerned about the possibility of broken glass injuring her, she lowered her head. She then heard a gunshot and realised that Javontae had fallen to the ground. Kylie also claimed that she saw her mother leaving the scene shortly afterwards.
However, another witness provided detectives with a different account of the confrontation. According to the witness, several women attacked Javontae with sticks, prompting him to take one and defend himself. He was reportedly moving backwards when he was shot. The differing accounts gave investigators more details to examine as they worked to establish exactly how the confrontation unfolded.
Jerrollyn Hunt was arrested approximately 12 hours after Javontae's death. Bakersfield police located her and took her into custody, charging her with first-degree murder. Her arrest brought an intense search to an end, although the investigation was far from over.
During questioning, Hunt initially denied shooting Javontae. She later admitted firing the weapon, explaining that she had been worried about her daughter's safety because Javontae was allegedly striking the vehicle with a large stick. According to her version of events, Javontae threw the stick towards her, causing her to flinch before pulling the trigger.
Investigators also alleged that Hunt disposed of the weapon, a 9mm handgun, in a bush outside a local market. Her account and the available witness statements became important elements of the case that prosecutors would eventually present in court.
The investigation also brought attention to Hunt's previous record, which reportedly included misdemeanor convictions for petty theft and spousal battery. However, the central issue remained her involvement in the events that resulted in Javontae's death.
Following her arrest, Hunt pleaded not guilty and chose to fight the charges in court. The case eventually went to trial in September 2022, more than a year after the shooting. Prosecutors presented evidence gathered during the investigation, including witness accounts and other details surrounding the confrontation.
After considering the evidence, the jury reached its verdict on 26 September 2022. Rather than convicting Hunt of the original first-degree murder charge, jurors found her guilty of the lesser offence of second-degree murder. She was also convicted of a firearm enhancement charge, adding further weight to the consequences she would face.
The verdict marked a significant moment for Javontae's family, who had spent more than a year waiting for the case to reach its conclusion. However, the legal proceedings were not quite finished, as Hunt still had to learn how many years she would spend behind bars.
On 3 November 2022, Jerrollyn Raye Hunt was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison for Javontae Green's murder. During the sentencing proceedings, she continued to defend her actions, declaring, "I am a mother, not a murderer."
Hunt also addressed the Green family and asked for their forgiveness. She explained that her heart had been heavy because she felt her side of the story had not been heard, adding that her legal counsel had advised against her taking the witness stand. Her comments offered insight into how she viewed the case, although they could not change the jury's decision or the sentence handed down by the court.
So, where is Jerrollyn Hunt now? According to the available case information, she is serving her sentence at Central California Women's Facility in Chowchilla, California. The facility houses women serving sentences under California's correctional system.
Hunt was reported to be 46 years old around the time of her sentencing, and her earliest scheduled parole eligibility date is August 2041. This means she faces many more years in prison before she can even be considered for release. Her eventual release will depend on the applicable parole process and its outcome, rather than simply reaching the scheduled eligibility date.
The case remains particularly difficult because the original disagreement involved something as ordinary as a set of car keys. What followed was a confrontation involving several people, conflicting accounts and a fatal decision that permanently changed the lives of two families. For Javontae's children, the consequences extend far beyond the courtroom, as they have lost the opportunity to grow up with their father.
In my opinion, this case is a reminder of how quickly a seemingly ordinary disagreement can become something far more serious. A dispute over car keys should never have reached the point where someone lost their life. The conflicting accounts make the investigation interesting to follow, but the jury's decision and the evidence presented in court remain the most important parts of the story.
Hunt's statement about being a mother rather than a murderer also raises an obvious question: does explaining why someone acted differently change the consequences of that decision? Not really. The Green family still has to live with the loss, while two children have grown up without their father. Forty years to life is an enormous sentence, but no prison term can restore what was taken from them. There is no rewind button, and that is perhaps the hardest part of this case.
Oxygen's Snapped: Killer Moms brings renewed attention to Javontae Green's story and the investigation that eventually led to Hunt's conviction. While the court proceedings have concluded, the impact on the people closest to Javontae will undoubtedly remain. What do you think about the jury's decision to convict Hunt of second-degree murder rather than first-degree murder? And do you believe the sentence reflects the seriousness of the case? Share your thoughts and join the discussion.