GUILTY GA - Lauren Giddings, 27, Macon, 26 June 2011 #15 *appeals denied*

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Does anyone know if SM's car has been released by LE, or does LE still have it?
 
pearl said:
Does anyone know if SM's car has been released by LE, or does LE still have it?
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pearl, as far as I am recalling, the last time we heard anything specific, LE still had the car -- but that has been a while ago.
 
I am thinking that if LE released the car, it wasn't a source of physical evidence.
 
Much of the (long) linked article has little directly "to do" with Lauren's case, but if you read on, toward the end you will see how it "kind of" connects...

Money missing for years from Macon police safe

A total of $1,510 disappeared from an evidence safe in the Macon Police Department’s crime lab in two incidents between April 2010 and May 2011.

The apparent thefts were possible because of long-standing lapses in security and record-keeping in the crime lab, according to investigative documents. ...

...Maj. Charles Stone, head of the department’s Criminal Investigations Division, said he doesn’t think the thefts will affect the course of any prosecutions.

“This appears to be strictly a money theft,” Stone said. “We have no indication from this entire investigation that any evidence, or any crime scene or anything like that, had been tampered with.” ...


...The officer under heaviest scrutiny but never charged in either case, Sgt. Steve Gatlin, said Thursday that he prizes his reputation for honesty. Being subjected to two lie-detector tests upset him emotionally and physically, causing reactions that appeared to show guilt, he said. ...


...Police sent the file to the city attorney’s office for redaction of personal information May 31, two days after Walker emailed Carswell and Stone urging that results be released quickly. Attorney Frank Hogue subpoenaed the file Aug. 7, and it was released to him and The Telegraph on Sept. 5.

Hogue is defending Stephen McDaniel in his trial for the June 2011 slaying of his neighbor and fellow Mercer University law school graduate Lauren Giddings.


Gatlin had “fairly significant involvement” in collecting evidence for the McDaniel case -- he was the one who found Giddings’ torso -- and Hogue alleges that Gatlin made some evidence-handling mistakes. But the missing money isn’t likely to figure in the McDaniel trial, Hogue said.

He puts little stock in polygraph results and has known Gatlin for years, he said.


“I personally believe that he is a truth-telling person of integrity,” Hogue said.
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read more at: http://www.macon.com/2013/09/28/2691213/money-missing-for-years-from-macon.html
 
Just curious: Anyone know the identity of the younger man appearing to be working with "SM and his legal team" in photos from the recent pre-trial motions hearings ? Example at link below:


http://media.macon.com/smedia/2013/09/16/12/03/xFKrE.AuSt.71.jpeg

I'd wondered if they might not bring in a younger lawyer, possibly a woman, to assist at some point -- not sure this guy IS a lawyer, just wondering...
 
Knox said:
Karen Giddings is such a courageous and gracious woman. She continues to amaze me with her strength.

So much focus has been on local politics, McD and the trial, I wanted to see something about LAUREN.

http://www.myfoxdc.com/video?autoSt...=default&clipId=9308340#.UjWVJZWTtBg.facebook
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Aw, yes, Knox! What a feel-good video, as much as it can be under the circumstances, I mean.

What looks as if it were a gorgeous day, Lauren's family and friends ... for fans of Butterbean he is much in evidence! ... and Lauren's little godchild, who has grown so much! Happy memories of Lauren expressed and lots of happy photos of Lauren interspersed in the footage.
 
I wanted to share this link to photos on macon.com of Sunday's "Second Sunday" concert in Washington Park in Macon -- Percy Sledge was a big draw, and the crowd was huge:

http://www.macon.com/2013/10/13/2718143/spotted-second-sunday-with-percy.html#wgt=rcntmulti

Washington Park is the park Lauren (and probably Butterbean, too!) is reported to have loved -- and I think I've read she loved the concert events there. This is where her pink memorial bench is located.

I would have loved to go and hear Percy belt out "When A Man Loves A Woman"!! But my caregiver role right now means I don't get out to a whole lot of stuff like that. My daughter and her fella, and my niece, though, DID go. My daughter said they sat on the hill just above Lauren's bench. I told her I had looked for Lauren's bench in the pics and couldn't see it and she said that's because it was covered with and surrounded by people!

Somehow I think that would please Lauren!
 
Backwoods said:
The pre-trial hearings wrapped up today -- well, this round of them, anyway -- with the attorneys now to work up their arguments on the motions in briefs to present to the judge.

Testimony in regard to the HRD dog motion was postponed as experts for both sides were unable to schedule for this week -- so that is now tentatively scheduled for Nov 21/22.

From the coverage we have been given, looks as if the most interesting action today may have centered around the master key.



more at: http://www.13wmaz.com/news/local/article/246666/153/McDaniel-Motion-Hearings-Wrap-Up-on-Day-Two


Interesting, to me, the different slants in significance different media outlets gave this:

http://www.macon.com/2013/09/17/2669379/mcdaniel-hearings-conclude-will.html


http://www.13wmaz.com/news/local/article/246666/153/McDaniel-Motion-Hearings-Wrap-Up-on-Day-Two




more at: http://www.41nbc.com/news/local-new...uesday-scheduled-to-pick-up-again-in-november


A few more various interesting bits from The Telegraph/macon.com coverage:

http://www.macon.com/2013/09/17/2669379/mcdaniel-hearings-conclude-will.html
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Traveling back in time a bit, to September, by quoting my own post, to add:

What with the spotty media coverage the pre-trial motions hearings received, I never did hear if the the two separate motions (1) to reconsider bond and (2) to allow, if bond doesn't happen, SM to confer with his lawyers at their offices at certain times were even to be addressed at the Sept. hearings OR whether they were OR whether they were also deferred until the Nov. hearing.

All very quiet on this case on the local media front, at the moment.
 
It looks like I'm playing catch up again. Thanks for keeping us up to date, BW. I'm not finished reading all of the articles about the hearings yet because the issue of whether McD's apartment was properly guarded and/or sealed made me curious enough to do a little review. This is what I've come across so far.

I believe there's close up of that posting on McD's door somewhere.
b516.jpg


July 5, 2011
co6r.jpg


http://www.macon.com/2012/06/20/2064906/a-look-at-the-lauren-giddings.html

This snip is from a Telegraph article dated July 14, 2011.
At the Georgia Avenue apartments that have been the focus of the half-month-long search for clues in Giddings’ death, police continued to keep watch over the comings and goings at the complex.Spencer, McDaniel’s downstairs neighbor, said she is home most of the time and that she welcomes the police presence.
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From the same article, this talks about the vacant downstairs apartment. If that apartment was sealed, surely McD's was, too.
Late Wednesday afternoon, investigators removed a refrigerator from the ground-floor apartment next door to Spencer’s for further forensics testing. That apartment, No. 1, is directly below Giddings’, and police have now sealed it.
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Read more here: http://www.macon.com/2011/07/14/163...om-apartment.html#ixzz1S3AqCFRw#storylink=cpy

July 13, 2011 -- The video of the night search. At about 1:20 in the video we see a detective appear to punch numbers into a keypad next to the front door right before they close up.
The investigators left the scene around midnight and the crime-scene vans pulled away, leaving a lone police cruiser parked in front of the building.
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http://www.13wmaz.com/news/article/135428/175/Investigators-at-Giddings-Apartment-Complex
​
 
More pre-trial coverage from the Telegraph. (Thanks Amy and Joe.)

Perfect murder talk may figure large in Giddings case
Published: October 27, 2013
By AMY LEIGH WOMACK and JOE KOVAC JR. — Telegraph staff

snipped
Prosecutors contend McDaniel’s words are “highly probative of his guilt,” showing “motive, intent, preparation, and plan,” and that he “discussed the killing of human beings without compassion or any outwardly apparent signs of conscience.”

Their motion notes that McDaniel told acquaintances of “cutting up a body, concealing it in plastic bags, and dumping the body parts in different locations.”

snipped
“These conversations were the casual conversations of young college students based on curious musings, not deep criminal confessions,” the attorneys wrote in a motion late last year.

snipped
“I don’t have anything in my memory that’s quite that vivid,” Ingram said, “but I do remember that it was more than quartering (the body).”

He said McDaniel told him, “No, you’d wanna break it up into small pieces and you’ll wanna put it in black plastic bags, and then he said you’d throw the black plastic bags in with your laundry and you’d sneak them out of the building. ... He said then you’d go and you would distribute it ... throw it out for anyone to spread the pieces throughout the surrounding areas.

Read more here: http://www.macon.com/2013/10/27/2740541/perfect-murder-talk-may-figure.html#storylink=cpy
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Read more of McD's "curious musings" at the link.


September 16, 2013

Detective: McDaniel was ‘staring out into space like a zombie’
Published: September 16, 2013
By AMY LEIGH WOMACK — awomack@macon.com

snipped
​
The investigators testified they noticed a change in McDaniel’s demeanor as he talked with the media and then later after he was led to the police mobile command vehicle where he was given water and offered medical attention.

Patterson said he saw McDaniel fall to the ground while talking with the media. He was being told police had found the torso. “I thought he had fainted from the heat,” Patterson said. McDonald said it looked like he was hyperventilating.

Back at the mobile command center, Patterson said McDaniel “wasn’t talking. He was just staring out into space like a zombie.”

Read more here: http://www.macon.com/2013/09/16/2667434/mcdaniel-hearings-set-to-begin.html#storylink=cpy
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September 16, 2013

Detective: McDaniel was ‘staring out into space like a zombie’
Published: September 16, 2013
By AMY LEIGH WOMACK — awomack@macon.com

snipped
Testimony began Monday in pre-trial hearings for 27-year-old McDaniel, who is charged with murder in the slaying of Lauren Giddings, his Mercer University law school classmate and next-door neighbor.
Among the issues being argued in the hearings is whether McDaniel voluntarily talked to police prior to being arrested and whether two searches of his apartment, which preceded multiple searches with warrants, were consensual

snipped
​
The investigators testified they noticed a change in McDaniel’s demeanor as he talked with the media and then later after he was led to the police mobile command vehicle where he was given water and offered medical attention.

Patterson said he saw McDaniel fall to the ground while talking with the media. He was being told police had found the torso. “I thought he had fainted from the heat,” Patterson said. McDonald said it looked like he was hyperventilating.

Back at the mobile command center, Patterson said McDaniel “wasn’t talking. He was just staring out into space like a zombie.”

Read more here: http://www.macon.com/2013/09/16/2667434/mcdaniel-hearings-set-to-begin.html#storylink=cpy
Click to expand...

October 27, 2013

Perfect murder talk may figure large in Giddings case
Published: October 27, 2013
By AMY LEIGH WOMACK and JOE KOVAC JR. — Telegraph staff

snipped
Prosecutors contend McDaniel’s words are “highly probative of his guilt,” showing “motive, intent, preparation, and plan,” and that he “discussed the killing of human beings without compassion or any outwardly apparent signs of conscience.”

Their motion notes that McDaniel told acquaintances of “cutting up a body, concealing it in plastic bags, and dumping the body parts in different locations.”

snipped
“These conversations were the casual conversations of young college students based on curious musings, not deep criminal confessions,” the attorneys wrote in a motion late last year.

snipped
“I don’t have anything in my memory that’s quite that vivid,” Ingram said, “but I do remember that it was more than quartering (the body).”

He said McDaniel told him, “No, you’d wanna break it up into small pieces and you’ll wanna put it in black plastic bags, and then he said you’d throw the black plastic bags in with your laundry and you’d sneak them out of the building. ... He said then you’d go and you would distribute it ... throw it out for anyone to spread the pieces throughout the surrounding areas.

Read more here: http://www.macon.com/2013/10/27/2740541/perfect-murder-talk-may-figure.html#storylink=cpy
Click to expand...
 
...but now here's something that puzzles me:

The new article says the police interviewed Ingram in August 2011:

...In his August 2011 interview with the detective, which The Telegraph obtained a transcript of early this year, Ingram talked about McDaniel for half an hour. ...
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http://www.macon.com/2013/10/27/274...y-figure.html#storylink=omni_popular#wgt=pop]


Then it goes on discuss the defense motion asking that "perfect murder" discussions not be admitted, noting:

...The motion, however, does not refer to Ingram’s statement to police, which had yet to be turned over to McDaniel’s lawyers. McDaniel’s attorneys were responding to similar recollections from McDaniel’s roommate, a man named Thad Money....
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http://www.macon.com/2013/10/27/274...y-figure.html#storylink=omni_popular#wgt=pop]


But why wouldn't it have been turned over to the defense by then? That motion was filed in Dec. 2012, as reported in this older article:
Lawyers want McDaniel’s ‘perfect murder’ discussions kept out of court
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http://www.macon.com/2012/12/14/2285676/lawyers-want-mcdaniels-perfect.html#storylink=misearch



Was the prosecution maybe, at discovery time (April 2012), not planning to use it and so didn't include it when handing stuff over to the defense? :waitasec:

Maybe prosecution later figured more reports from more people would give a better chance of beating that motion and getting the "perfect murder" talk evidence in, I guess.

New article does go on to state that:

...Prosecutors have since agreed to let the defense motion cover Ingram’s statement and those of other college associates of McDaniel’s....
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http://www.macon.com/2013/10/27/274...ay-figure.html#storylink=omni_popular#wgt=pop
 
Backwoods said:
...but now here's something that puzzles me:

The new article says the police interviewed Ingram in August 2011:

http://www.macon.com/2013/10/27/274...y-figure.html#storylink=omni_popular#wgt=pop]


Then it goes on discuss the defense motion asking that "perfect murder" discussions not be admitted, noting:

http://www.macon.com/2013/10/27/274...y-figure.html#storylink=omni_popular#wgt=pop]


But why wouldn't it have been turned over to the defense by then? That motion was filed in Dec. 2012, as reported in this older article:

http://www.macon.com/2012/12/14/2285676/lawyers-want-mcdaniels-perfect.html#storylink=misearch

Was the prosecution maybe, at discovery time (April 2012), not planning to use it and so didn't include it when handing stuff over to the defense? :waitasec:

Maybe prosecution later figured more reports from more people would give a better chance of beating that motion and getting the "perfect murder" talk evidence in, I guess.

New article does go on to state that:

http://www.macon.com/2013/10/27/274...ay-figure.html#storylink=omni_popular#wgt=pop
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I had a different take, BW. Based strictly on what we know so far, WI's testimony would have a higher probative value than the others because the details relate so closely to the circumstances of LG's murder. It should have been the prosecution's first choice, IMO. However, if the prosecution was, in fact, still undecided as late as December 2012, then perhaps it's a question of witness credibility. (Unless, the plan was to hold it up the proverbial sleeve and then slip it in after the motion was decided. ;) )

I'm being facetious, of course, but they certainly knew the DT would fight hard to keep a jury from hearing McD's "musings" about dismembering a corpse in a bathtub, and scattered body parts wrapped in black plastic trash bags. If I recall correctly, that last detail wasn't released to the public until the hearing on August 26 or 27. If this guy was interviewed prior to that date, the fact that he specified "black" plastic trash bags is powerful. IMO That makes me wonder if the late decision was an effort to keep it out of the media as long as possible.

ETA: I'm still bugged about the "issue" of the apartment being secured. I don't remember June 3, specifically, but I do recall the heavy LE presence at BH was a big deal at the time. Anyway, just before the board went down the other night, I had gathered some more links. I'll try to get them posted tomorrow or the next day.
 
McDaniel re-indicted in Giddings slaying


Prosecutors presented a new indictment to grand jurors Tuesday, slightly changing the language in the charges against accused killer Stephen McDaniel.


Had the initial indictment stood until the scheduled January trial, McDaniel might have been acquitted by a directed verdict, said Franklin J. Hogue, one of McDaniel’s lawyers. ...
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read more at: http://www.macon.com/2013/10/29/2744831/mcdaniel-re-indicted-in-giddings.html


ETA: After reading the whole article: I think we can all agree to be glad they got THAT detail cleaned up.
 
Looking at his eyes gives me the creeps. I don't know how Laurens family will be able to watch him in his suit, defending his own life in the courtroom, knowing what he did to their precious girl, knowing it's likely the biggest power trip for him, he won't tell them where the rest of her remains are . It makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck, just thinking of what we know. Grrrrrr
 
Backwoods said:
read more at: http://www.macon.com/2013/10/29/2744831/mcdaniel-re-indicted-in-giddings.html


ETA: After reading the whole article: I think we can all agree to be glad they got THAT detail cleaned up.
Click to expand...

Just thinking on this re-indictment stuff more as I was cleaning up after supper.

It's pretty weird... . I wonder how often something along these lines happens.

Different grand jury members by now, correct? What would have happened if the grand jury had chosen NOT to true bill this one (I know that was probably very unlikely, but WHAT IF ...)? Would they have just proceeded on with the original one?

And what happens to that original indictment -- is it now null and void? It can't be whisked back out later, can it?

And the new indictment -- I would really like to read it! It may do no good to ask, but -- Telegraph/macon.com, please post it.

ETA: And, anybody in the know, what recent Supreme Court decisions was DA Cooke likely referencing?
 
Wondergirl said:
Looking at his eyes gives me the creeps. I don't know how Laurens family will be able to watch him in his suit, defending his own life in the courtroom, knowing what he did to their precious girl, knowing it's likely the biggest power trip for him, he won't tell them where the rest of her remains are . It makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck, just thinking of what we know. Grrrrrr
Click to expand...

(rbbm)

Well, at least, or unfortunately?—I can't decide—he won't quite be doing that, since they took the death penalty off the table per a) Lauren's presumed wishes and b) hasten the trial. Disregard this if I just read into your wording too much.
 
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