The chilling Netflix documentary, What Jennifer Did, has quickly climbed to the No. 1 spot on Netflix in the U.S., captivating viewers with its exploration of a disturbing true crime story. Released in April 2024, the film delves into the horrific events of November 8, 2010, a night that exposed a daughter’s shocking betrayal. For those gripped by true crime narratives and seeking to understand the intricacies of this case, What Jennifer Did offers a deep dive into the question: what exactly did Jennifer do?
In January 2015, Jennifer Pan, then 28 years old, received a life sentence for orchestrating a plot to murder her parents. This is the grim reality at the heart of What Jennifer Did, directed by Jenny Popplewell. The documentary meticulously pieces together the events leading up to and following the home invasion, utilizing police interviews and incriminating text messages to reveal how Jennifer Pan transformed from an apparently dutiful daughter into a convicted murderer.
The 911 Call and Initial Investigation
What Jennifer Did. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2024
Courtesy of Netflix
On the evening of November 8, 2010, a frantic 911 call originated from a family residence nestled in a quiet Ontario, Canada neighborhood. Jennifer Pan was on the line, reporting to dispatchers a terrifying home invasion. She claimed to be at home with her parents when armed intruders stormed into their house, demanding money.
According to Jennifer’s initial account to the police, as highlighted in the Netflix documentary, the intruders restrained her, then proceeded to shoot her parents before fleeing the scene. Tragically, her mother, Bich Ha Pan, succumbed to her injuries and died at the scene. Her father, however, miraculously survived a gunshot wound, requiring urgent medical attention.
Initially, the attack appeared to be a random act of violence, a home invasion gone wrong. However, as detectives delved deeper into the details, inconsistencies in Jennifer’s story began to surface, casting suspicion on the sole surviving witness. Adding to the intrigue, a neighbor’s security camera captured footage of three men entering the Pan residence, notably without any signs of forced entry, further complicating the narrative and prompting investigators to question if this was indeed a random invasion.
Unraveling the Lies: Why Jennifer Became a Suspect
As the investigation progressed, law enforcement began to scrutinize Jennifer Pan’s account and her background. It became apparent that Jennifer was living a life built on deception. She had fabricated significant aspects of her life, particularly concerning her education and career aspirations, to appease her demanding parents.
Jennifer had constructed an elaborate web of lies, telling her parents that she had graduated high school and was attending university. This deception went to great lengths, including photoshopping report cards and forging student loan documents. She even pretended to attend classes at Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University), going so far as to have her parents drive her to and from this fictitious academic pursuit.
Jennifer’s parents held high expectations for her future. Her father envisioned her as a pharmacist, while her mother hoped she would become a concert pianist. However, Jennifer harbored different desires. She was secretly involved with Daniel Wong, a man with a criminal record and known to be involved in drug dealing. Her parents strongly disapproved of this relationship, and when they discovered the extent of Jennifer’s lies about her education, they forbade her from seeing Wong, tightening their control over her life.
The Motive: Control and Deception
The documentary What Jennifer Did suggests that Jennifer’s motive stemmed from a desire to escape the suffocating control of her parents and the life of lies she had constructed. Facing the potential exposure of her long-term deceptions and the prohibition of her relationship with Daniel Wong, Jennifer allegedly sought a drastic and irreversible solution.
Driven by a desperate need to break free, Jennifer, according to the investigation, turned to Daniel Wong to help orchestrate a plot to murder her parents. The plan was designed to resemble a robbery gone wrong, with Jennifer positioned as the innocent witness. They enlisted the help of three hitmen – David Mylvaganam, Lenford Crawford, and Eric Carty – to execute the home invasion.
Confession and Conviction
What Jennifer Did. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2024
Courtesy of Netflix
The turning point in the investigation came when Jennifer’s father, Huei Hann Pan, regained consciousness after being in a coma. His testimony proved crucial. He recounted to investigators that he had observed his daughter interacting with the intruders and that they seemed familiar with her, directly contradicting Jennifer’s portrayal of a random home invasion. “He talked to my daughter. I could not hear what was being said, but they were speaking softly,” Huei Hann Pan testified, as reported by the Toronto Star.
Confronted with her father’s account and mounting evidence, Jennifer eventually confessed to her involvement in hiring the killers and intentionally leaving the house unlocked. However, she claimed that she had only intended to have herself killed, not her parents, a claim that investigators found dubious. It was also revealed that this was not the first attempt; Jennifer had allegedly sought to hire someone to kill her parents ten months prior, demonstrating a sustained and calculated intent.
In January 2015, Jennifer Pan was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole for 25 years for first-degree murder, along with a concurrent life sentence for attempted murder. Daniel Wong and the hitmen, Mylvaganam and Crawford, also received life sentences with the possibility of parole after 25 years. Eric Carty, after an initial mistrial, was sentenced to 18 years in prison in December 2015, but subsequently died in jail in 2018.
Where are Jennifer Pan and Her Father Now?
Jennifer Pan is currently incarcerated at the Grand Valley Institution for Women in Kitchener, Ontario, serving her life sentence. However, the legal saga continues. In May 2023, the Court of Appeal for Ontario overturned the first-degree murder conviction for Jennifer and her three co-accused, although the attempted murder convictions were upheld. The court cited that the jury should have been given the option to consider second-degree murder or manslaughter. As of August 2023, the Supreme Court of Canada is considering whether to hear an appeal in this case, leaving the final legal outcome still uncertain.
Huei Hann Pan, Jennifer’s father, now in his 70s, has maintained a low profile since the harrowing trial and the events that irrevocably changed his life. He survived the attack but endures the profound loss of his wife and the devastating betrayal by his daughter.
What Jennifer Did is available for streaming on Netflix, offering viewers a chilling and in-depth exploration of this complex true crime case, prompting reflection on the question that haunts the documentary’s title: what truly drove Jennifer to commit such an act?
