Popsquire

Now that Jasmine Fiore’s car has been found and reports say that Ryan Jenkins’ half-sister helped him evade authorities in Canada, Jenkins’ ex is starting her media tour…without much to say.

Technorati Tags: interview with ryan jenkins ex, jasmine fiore, jasmine fiore murder, Paulina Chmielecka, ryan jenkins ex-fiancee, ryan jenkins murderer

Lisa Lepore (Fiore’s mom) and Robert Hasman (the ex) discuss their reaction to learning that Ryan Jenkins was found dead on Today.

Technorati Tags: jasmine fiore, lisa lepore, pop culture law, robert hasman, Ryan Jenkins, ryan jenkins dead, ryan jenkins hanged, today show interview

Jasmine Fiore was murdered.  The primary suspect, Ryan Jenkins, hanged himself.  So, what’s the legacy of this story?

It’s a lesson for reality tv producers, at the very least.

Since the outset of this story, many have wondered how Jenkins landed roles on two VH-1 reality shows — “Megan Wants A Millionaire” and “I Love Money 3″ — in light of his violent past.  Meanwhile, executives from both VH-1 and 51 Minds, the production company behind both shows, likely have been thanking their lucky stars that Jenkins did not harm anyone on either show.

That would have been a civil liability disaster…and they barely dodged that bullet.

It turns out that VH-1 and 51 Minds did not conduct a background search on Jenkins before he participated on “I Love Money 3.”  A 51 Minds rep tells Popsquire:

Network policy is that background checks are good for six months, so since Jenkins had been checked just three months earlier for “Megan,” a second check for ILM was not requested.

This makes little sense, given that: (a) three months is enough time for someone to commit a crime; and (b) a background check conducted before “Megan” failed to turn up Jenkins’ 2005 Canadian assault charge. The 51 Minds rep explains that mishap as follows:

The hunt for Jasmine Fiore’s suspected murderer, Ryan Jenkins, is over.

Canadian authorities announced today that they found him dead in a British Columbia hotel.  They believe he hanged himself.

Unless this is a double-murder-conspiracy, this case is closed.

Technorati Tags: jasmine fiore, jasmine fiore murder, pop culture law, ryan jenkins dead, ryan jenkins hanged, ryan jenkins murder suspect

Just like a reality show, the developing (and sad) story surrounding Jasmine Fiore’s death and Ryan Jenkins’ outlaw status is addictive.

Undeniably, this story will be the subject of dinner/cocktail conversations, so Popsquire has assembled the latest headlines to get you through the weekend.

Jasmine Fiore Identified By Breast Implant Serial Numbers

Jasmine Fiore Traveled To Mexico With A Male Companion, Not Husband

Hotel Manager Says Fiore And Jenkins Seemed Like Normal Couple

Jasmine Fiore Lives On In Party Girl Ads. Yikes!

Technorati Tags: fiore party girl ads, i love money 3, jasmine fiore, jasmine fiore identified by breast implants, megan wants a millionaire, pop culture law, ryan jenkins on the run

Ryan Jenkins has gone from reality tv participant to “person of interest” to sole murder suspect in the death of Jasmine Fiore within a matter of days.

But could all of this have been prevented if VH-1 hadn’t cast him on two shows?  Probably not, but it’s a reminder of how important thorough background checks can be.

51 Minds, the production company behind VH-1’s Megan Wants A Millionaire issued this statement:

“Obviously, if the company had been given a full picture of his background, he would never have been allowed on the show.  The company did have in place what it thought was a thorough vetting process that involved complete background checks by an outside company for all contestants on the shows.”

Like Popsquire said yesterday, most reality tv shows run extensive background checks on their participants, especially for dating shows.  Someone messed up here, but is that person / production company / background search service to blame for Jasmine’s death?

Probably not, but what if Jasmine married Ryan for his “fame?”  That might change the answer, at least in the court of public opinion.

Popsquire will keep you posted!

The guy on the right, Ryan Jenkins, may be hiding out in Canada after his wife, Jasmine Fiore, was found dead.

Popsquire followers likely know that Jasmine’s body was discovered folded into a suitcase in a trash can in Buena Park, CA over the weekend.

Since then, police have been looking for Jenkins, who: (a) was a contestant on VH-1’s “I Love Money 3″ and “Megan Wants A Millionaire;” (b) is due in court on Dec. 18 for a misdemeanor charge of “battery constituting domestic violence” against his wife stemming from an April incident in Las Vegas; and (c) received a conditional discharge and 15 months probation for a July 2005 assault of a woman in Canada.

This raises two big questions:

1. Why run if you’re innocent?  Ask O.J. Simpson.
2. Didn’t VH-1 do a background check on this guy before allowing him to participate in any of its shows?  Most reality tv shows run extensive background checks on their participants, especially for dating shows.

UPDATE: TMZ reports that the Buena Park Police Department has obtained an arrest warrant for Jenkins and consider him a “suspect” in his wife’s murder.

No surprise there.