Susan Murphy-Milano...

As the trial continues this week for the murder of Carli Dennis.  Those married to anyone in law enforcement should consider carefully their options when threatened by a trained law enforcement officer to whom they are in a relationship or in a marriage. If you feel threatened or have been told your life is basically in jeapordary because of this cowardly tin badge bozo, please consider leaving the relationship, or it could cost you and possibly others serious harm.  If you do not believe this could happen to you think, again.  The cases posted here on the blog, almost always end up in tragedy.  You must create a safety plan for yourself.  If you are uncomfortable going to anyone in the town or community where you live, consider contacting the national coalition against domestic violence for resources outside your immediate area.  Their toll free number is 1-877-799-SAFE.  The call is free and confidential.    

William Jones says police officer had threatened to ‘blow her head off’ before.

 Jeff Dennis was kneeling at his wife’s casket.

His best friend, William Jones, walked up behind him, and leaned in to whisper something to him.

But Jeff Dennis was already talking. He was whispering something to Carli’s body.

“I told you you wouldn’t get away with it, bitch,” Jones said he heard Jeff Dennis say.

The scene at Carli’s wake led Jones to probe a bit more about the death. He asked Jeff Dennis what happened.

“Bitch was cheating on me again,” Jeff Dennis said, according to Jones. “What do you think happened?”

Jones said he was skeptical that Carli actually shot herself.

“(Jeff Dennis) told me I was always able to see right through him,” Jones testified.

Jones’ sometimes teary testimony came Tuesday in the sixth day of Jeff Dennis’ trial on homicide charges in Carli’s death.

Luzerne County prosecutors Jackie Musto Carroll and David Pedri called Jones and his wife to tell the jury how Jeff Dennis was abusive toward Carli, how he was controlling of her, and about his odd actions at her wake.

But defense attorney William Ruzzo was skeptical of Jones. He wondered how Jones, at a crowded wake, was the only person to have heard Jeff Dennis make the alleged comment.

Prosecutors claim Dennis fired a single shot into Carli’s head because he was angry she was having an affair with a co-worker at the 911 center.

It happened the same way Jeff Dennis once described it to Jones, Jones said.

Jones said Jeff Dennis spoke with him about Carli’s affair. He hoped to reconcile with Carli, but he also said if he heard Carli was cheating again, he had another plan.

He would “blow her head off,” Jones said.

And Jeff Dennis often bragged about how he could kill someone and make it look like a suicide, Jones said.

Carli, on the other hand, told Jones how she wanted to leave Jeff Dennis. Jones told Carli she could stay with Jones and his wife if she needed to.

But Carli wouldn’t do that.

She told Jones that Jeff Dennis would “kill us all” if that happened, Jones said.

His wife, Joyce, couldn’t understand how Carli could live like that. She always saw Carli “nervous and scared,” she said.

And she gave the jury an example.

About 18 months before Carli died, Joyce Jones went to Carli’s home.

Jeff Dennis was working. Carli was finishing some crafts for a show the next day.

But she was in a panic, Joyce Jones said.

Carli said her husband “would kill her,” if she didn’t finish the crafts, Joyce Jones said.

“She was working very fast,” Joyce Jones said. “I tried to help her as much as I could.”

And the phone calls were constant.

Jeff Dennis would call Carli every 10 to 15 minutes, Joyce Jones said.

But then there was a gap. Jeff Dennis didn’t call in 15 minutes.

Carli knew what that meant.

Jeff Dennis would be leaving Dallas Township to drive by the house.

Carli hurried to turn out all the lights, Joyce Jones said. She pushed Joyce Jones behind her so Jeff Dennis wouldn’t be able to see her through the window.

And within two minutes, as Carli peeked out a window, the cruiser drove past, Joyce Jones said.

Slowly.

At some points in the testimony, the words became difficult for William Jones.

He said he became best friends with Jeff Dennis over the years. He cried when he told the jury how he still loves Jeff Dennis like a brother.

Jeff Dennis shook his head, then wiped his eyes.

David Weiss, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 831-7397.

Court Reporter

WILKES-BARRE – Jeff Dennis was kneeling at his wife’s casket.

His best friend, William Jones, walked up behind him, and leaned in to whisper something to him.

But Jeff Dennis was already talking. He was whispering something to Carli’s body.

“I told you you wouldn’t get away with it, bitch,” Jones said he heard Jeff Dennis say.

The scene at Carli’s wake led Jones to probe a bit more about the death. He asked Jeff Dennis what happened.

“Bitch was cheating on me again,” Jeff Dennis said, according to Jones. “What do you think happened?”

Jones said he was skeptical that Carli actually shot herself.

“(Jeff Dennis) told me I was always able to see right through him,” Jones testified.

Jones’ sometimes teary testimony came Tuesday in the sixth day of Jeff Dennis’ trial on homicide charges in Carli’s death.

Luzerne County prosecutors Jackie Musto Carroll and David Pedri called Jones and his wife to tell the jury how Jeff Dennis was abusive toward Carli, how he was controlling of her, and about his odd actions at her wake.

But defense attorney William Ruzzo was skeptical of Jones. He wondered how Jones, at a crowded wake, was the only person to have heard Jeff Dennis make the alleged comment.

Prosecutors claim Dennis fired a single shot into Carli’s head because he was angry she was having an affair with a co-worker at the 911 center.

It happened the same way Jeff Dennis once described it to Jones, Jones said.

Jones said Jeff Dennis spoke with him about Carli’s affair. He hoped to reconcile with Carli, but he also said if he heard Carli was cheating again, he had another plan.

He would “blow her head off,” Jones said.

And Jeff Dennis often bragged about how he could kill someone and make it look like a suicide, Jones said.

Carli, on the other hand, told Jones how she wanted to leave Jeff Dennis. Jones told Carli she could stay with Jones and his wife if she needed to.

But Carli wouldn’t do that.

She told Jones that Jeff Dennis would “kill us all” if that happened, Jones said.

His wife, Joyce, couldn’t understand how Carli could live like that. She always saw Carli “nervous and scared,” she said.

And she gave the jury an example.

About 18 months before Carli died, Joyce Jones went to Carli’s home.

Jeff Dennis was working. Carli was finishing some crafts for a show the next day.

But she was in a panic, Joyce Jones said.

Carli said her husband “would kill her,” if she didn’t finish the crafts, Joyce Jones said.

“She was working very fast,” Joyce Jones said. “I tried to help her as much as I could.”

And the phone calls were constant.

Jeff Dennis would call Carli every 10 to 15 minutes, Joyce Jones said.

But then there was a gap. Jeff Dennis didn’t call in 15 minutes.

Carli knew what that meant.

Jeff Dennis would be leaving Dallas Township to drive by the house.

Carli hurried to turn out all the lights, Joyce Jones said. She pushed Joyce Jones behind her so Jeff Dennis wouldn’t be able to see her through the window.

And within two minutes, as Carli peeked out a window, the cruiser drove past, Joyce Jones said.

Slowly.

At some points in the testimony, the words became difficult for William Jones.

He said he became best friends with Jeff Dennis over the years. He cried when he told the jury how he still loves Jeff Dennis like a brother.

Jeff Dennis shook his head, then wiped his eyes.

(Source:David Weiss, a Times Leader)