Mother of homicide victim at Wetmore Park: ‘Janet was a beautiful soul’

ROCHESTER N.Y. (WHEC) — The mother of homicide victim Janet S. Jordan released a statement calling her daughter a happy and kind soul. Jordan was found not breathing in Wetmore Park of Rochester and a Rochester Police Department sergeant is a person of interest.

“Janet was a beautiful soul and this shouldn’t have happened," said her mother Kaye Adams. "She never hurt anybody ever and our city lost big. She was a happy soul and if anyone wants to do something for me do something that makes you smile because that’s what she would have wanted.”

Statement: “Janet was a beautiful soul and this shouldn’t have happened. She never hurt anybody ever and our city lost big. She was a happy soul and if anyone wants to do something for me do something that makes you smile because that’s what she would have wanted.” – Kaye Adams

— Raven Tiara Brown (@WHEC_RBrown) March 15, 2022

News10NBC’s Raven Brown spoke with Adams on Tuesday, who share two photos of her daughter. New York State Troopers are investigating the death of Jordan, 35 from Rochester, as a murder. Troopers found the person of interest, 43-year-old Sergeant Melvin A. Williams of Henrietta, dead inside his vehicle at Veterans Memorial Park.

News10NBC spoke with Tony Simmons on Tuesday. He said he was a friend of Janet’s and said she was a faithful member of R&B Wednesdays that is put on by the French Quarter weekly.

Simmons said he broke down in tears when he found out what happened.

“She’s just a sweet person. Such a sweet spirit like an angel. She was just very sweet,” Simmons said.

Simmons said he was shocked when he heard the news of Janet Jordan’s death.

“There was an incident that took place a few months ago where a young lady had a seizure at the event, and Janet was the one who actually brought her back. The lady passed out like, stopped breathing and everything, and Janet gave her CPR and mouth to mouth, and she brought that lady back until the EMTs came back. That’s one of the most things I remember about her. I’m tearing up just thinking about it right now,” Simmons said.

Jordan worked for the city’s 911 center downtown for more than a decade.

Simmons said this is what he wants her to be remembered for.

“The smile,” Simmons said. “She had a very beautiful smile. She had a twinkle in their eye, and she was just very sweet, very nice. She was like an angel. She was just so sweet and so nice. And it’s just tragic what happened to her."

Simmons said they will be holding a performance and tribute in honor of Janet from 7 to 10 Wednesday evening at the French Quarter.

State Police say this is an ongoing investigation and they are still processing the scenes. All updates regarding this case will come from them.