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Jesse Timmendequas (born April 15, 1961) was, on May 30, 1997, convicted of murdering his neighbor, seven-year-old Megan Kanka, in 1994. The murder led the Legislature of the U.S. state of New Jersey to pass "Megan's Law", which requires notification when a previously convicted sex offender moves into a neighborhood.

In 1979, Timmendequas had pleaded guilty to the attempted aggravated sexual assault of a 5-year-old girl in Piscataway, New Jersey. He was given a suspended sentence, but, failing to go to counseling, he spent nine months at the Middlesex Adult Correctional Center. In 1981, he pleaded guilty in regards to the sexual assault of a seven-year-old girl and was imprisoned at the Adult Diagnostic & Treatment Center (ADTC) in Avenel, New Jersey for six years.

Timmendequas reportedly participated little in the treatment program offered at the ADTC. He was described by one therapist who treated him at the facility as a "pouter" who spent most of his time sleeping. Another therapist stated that she'd believed that Timmendequas would eventually commit another sex crime (although she didn't think he would commit murder).[1]

Timmendequas raped and murdered seven-year-old Megan Kanka in 1994. Evidence including blood stains, hair, and fiber samples, found outside Timmendequas' home, as well as a bite mark matching Kanka's teeth on Timmendequas' hand, led to Timmendequas being found guilty of kidnapping, four counts of aggravated sexual assault, and two counts of felony murder. Prosecutors argued that Timmendequas lured the girl into his house, across the street from hers, offering to show her a puppy. After raping her, he slammed her head onto a dresser, put a plastic bag over her head, and strangled her with a belt. He raped her post-mortem in his car, then hid her body in a toy box and left it in a nearby county park. A day later, he led police to the site where he deposited the box.

Congressman Dick Zimmer stated, "I believe he is exactly the kind of predator that the legislature had in mind when it enacted the death penalty." The court sentenced Timmendequas to death, and the penalty was upheld by the New Jersey Supreme Court on appeal [2]. He remains on death row.

Timmendequas' defense maintained he was coerced, by police, into confessing. The defense further argued that Timmendequas' roommates, also convicted sex offenders, were involved in the slaying. The three men had met at Avenel, New Jersey.

• The Express Times, "Megan's legacy, A child's death serves as a call to action" February 26, 2004