MISTRIAL AZ - Isabel Celis, 6, Tucson, 20 April 2012, found deceased in 2017* *Arrest* #27

[Niner]

Tucson child murder trial goes to jury next week

The jury gets the case Tuesday in the child murder trial of Christopher Clements charged with kidnapping and killing 6-year-old Isabel Celis.

www.kgun9.com

Day 10-

Feb. 23, 2024

TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — Testimony is over now in the child murder trial of Christopher Clements. This is a retrial after an earlier jury could not agree whether he kidnapped and killed 6-year-old Isabel Celis.

The judge in the case handles other business on Mondays, so the trial resumes Tuesday [2/27/24] with closing arguments. Then it’s all up to the jury.
[......]
Clements was offered a chance to testify in his own defense. He declined. It’s rare for defendants to testify. Jurors are told they must not hold it against a defendant if they do not testify.

 

[Niner]

Tuesday, February 27th:
*Trial continues (Day 11)-CLOSING ARGUMENTS! (@ 10:30am PT) – AZ – Isabel Mercedes Celis (6) (missing from home April 21, 2012, Tucson, found in a desert area in Marana, located off of Avra Valley & Trico roads on Mar. 3, 2017, Id’ed Mar. 31, 2017) – *Christopher Matthew Clements (30 @ time of 1st crime/36/now 42) aka Damion James Johnson indicted (9/15/18) & arraigned & charged (9/24/18) with 1 count of 1st degree murder, 1 count of kidnapping a minor under 15 & 14 counts of sexual exploitation of minors. Plead not guilty. $2M cash only bond. DA will not seek DP.
Murder trial for Isabel began on with jury selection on 2/9/23 & a jury was selected. Jury: 9 men & 6 women. Only 12 will actively participate in the trial (other 3 will be alternates).
Pima County Superior Court Judge James Marner presiding.
Trial began on Tuesday, 2/14/23 thru 3/3/23. Jury deliberations for a total: ~7 hours. Jury could not come up with a verdict & Judge James Marner declares a mistrial. 11 voted for conviction, one for acquittal.
Trial began on 2/6/24 with jury selection. Done. The jury has only one alternate.
Trial began on 2/7/24. Court in session Tuesdays thru Fridays. 2/27/24, 2/28, 2/29, 3/1 & 3/5/24. Trial will be from 2/6/24 thru 3/5/24. State rested their cases on 2/21/24. Defense began their case on 2/21/24 & rested their case on 2/23/24. Closing arguments on 2/27/24.
Judge James Marner presiding. Prosecutor Tracy Miller & defense attorney Eric Kessler.
Court hearings from 8/23/19 to 12/20/23 & Jury Selection (2/6/24) & Trial Day 1-9 (2/7-2/22/24) reference post #760 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...und-deceased-in-2017-arrest-27.464075/page-38
2/23/24 Friday, Trial Day 10: Clements will not testify. Defense rested their case. No rebuttal from State. The judge in the case handles other business on Mondays, so the trial resumes Tuesday with closing arguments. Then it’s all up to the jury. Trial continues on Tuesday, 2/27/24.
For more info see post #761 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...und-deceased-in-2017-arrest-27.464075/page-39

 

[MzAlexis]

Wish this would have been retagged as I think the trial would have had more member input. Lets hope little Isabel & her family receive their Justice this time around.

 

[Niner]

Jury deliberations begin in child murder trial

It shook Tucson when 6-year-old Isabel Celis was taken from her family home in 2012. Now a jury is left to decide--for a second time--whether Christopher Clements committed the kidnapping and killing.

www.kgun9.com

Feb. 27, 2024

TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — It shook Tucson when someone took 6-year-old Isabel Celis from her family home in 2012. We didn't know if she was dead or alive until her bones were recovered five years later.

Is Christopher Clements guilty of kidnapping and killing Celis? The jury began working to answer that question since mid-afternoon Tuesday, following closing arguments.
[.....]
...........Before deliberations started, each side had its last chance to persuade the jurors.
[.....]
Judge James Marner told jurors circumstantial evidence can be just as valid, and can carry the same weight as any other evidence.

Prosecutor Tracy Miller told jurors an iPad with a secret folder of young girls in seductive poses showed Clements had a fixation on girls the same age as Isabel Celis—and said it showed Clements has searched for the term "Isabel Celis sexy”.

 

[Niner]

Wednesday, February 28th:
*Trial continues (Day 12)-VERDICT WATCH! (Day 2) (@ 10:30am PT) – AZ – Isabel Mercedes Celis (6) (missing from home April 21, 2012, Tucson, found in a desert area in Marana, located off of Avra Valley & Trico roads on Mar. 3, 2017, Id’ed Mar. 31, 2017) – *Christopher Matthew Clements (30 @ time of 1st crime/36/now 42) aka Damion James Johnson indicted (9/15/18) & arraigned & charged (9/24/18) with 1 count of 1st degree murder, 1 count of kidnapping a minor under 15 & 14 counts of sexual exploitation of minors. Plead not guilty. $2M cash only bond. DA will not seek DP.
Murder trial for Isabel began on with jury selection on 2/9/23 & a jury was selected. Jury: 9 men & 6 women. Only 12 will actively participate in the trial (other 3 will be alternates). Pima County Superior Court Judge James Marner presiding.
Trial began on Tuesday, 2/14/23 thru 3/3/23. Jury deliberations for a total: ~7 hours. Jury could not come up with a verdict & Judge James Marner declares a mistrial. 11 voted for conviction, one for acquittal.
Trial began on 2/6/24 with jury selection. Done. The jury has only one alternate. Jurors started deliberations on 2/27/24: ~2 or 3 hours.
Trial began on 2/7/24. Court in session Tuesdays thru Fridays. 2/28/24, 2/29, 3/1 & 3/5/24. Trial will be from 2/6/24 thru 3/5/24. State rested their cases on 2/21/24. Defense began their case on 2/21/24 & rested their case on 2/23/24. Closing arguments on 2/27/24.
Judge James Marner presiding. Prosecutor Tracy Miller & defense attorney Eric Kessler.
Court hearings from 8/23/19 to 12/20/23 & Jury Selection (2/6/24) & Trial Day 1-10 (2/7-2/23/24) reference post #762 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...und-deceased-in-2017-arrest-27.464075/page-39
2/27/24 Tuesday, Trial Day 11: Closing arguments by DA Tracy Miller & defense attorney Eric Kessler. Jury received case for deliberations mid-afternoon. Trial continues on Wednesday, 2/28/24 with jury deliberations.
For more info see post #764 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...und-deceased-in-2017-arrest-27.464075/page-39

 

[Seattle1]

Fate of Christopher Clements now in hands of jury

Fate of Christopher Clements now in the hands of jury.

www.kold.com

2/27/24

The trial has been going for 11 days now.

Trial Coverage​

• Day 1: Opening statements set to begin in Christopher Clements’ murder trial
• Day 2: Start of trial focuses on victim’s father
• Day 3: Clement’s attorney again focuses on Sergio Celis
• Day 4: Jury shown photos of Isabel Celis’ remains
• Suggesting other possible suspects in criminal case common trial tactic
• Day 5: Experts testify about Isabel Celis’ remains
• Day 6: Random photo of girls found on Clements’ devices
• Day 7: Cell towers suggest Clements’ activity when Celis disappeared
• Juror from previous Clements case sees similarities
• Day 8: Prosecution rests as Clements defense requests acquittal
• Day 9: Clements defense claims cell tower data is unreliable
• Day 10: Testimony concludes in Christopher Clements trial

What the jury isn’t supposed to know is that Clements is already serving a life sentence for the disappearance and death of 13-year-old Maribel Gonzalez in 2014.

The prosecution said that the pieces of evidence all build a case for one person as the kidnapper and killer -- Christopher Clements.

His defense told the jury that some pieces of evidence are weak, which makes the whole case a house of cards that will fall.

[..]

The jury still has one alternate if necessary.

13 News will be at the courthouse until the jury reaches a verdict. Be the first to know by downloading our free app for Android or Apple devices. We will send an alert to your phone to notify you of any changes.

 

[Seattle1]

Digital evidence vs DNA evidence...
Reporter opines verdict by Thursday...

Jurors begin deliberations in retrial of an ex-convict accused of killing a 6-year-old Arizona girl

Christopher Clements, 42, is already serving a life sentence for the 2014 death of another Arizona girl.

www.azfamily.com

 

[Seattle1]

Retrial of man accused of killing Tucson girl goes to jury

Christopher Clements, already serving a life term for killing another Tucson girl, is facing his second trial in the kidnapping and killing of Isabel Celis, 6.

tucson.com

2/27/24

In closing arguments Tuesday, prosecutors reminded jurors that Clements led police to Celis’ body.

“It’s not a coincidence that no one found her except (Clements) in the five years since she had been gone,” Deputy County Attorney Tracy Miller said Tuesday. She noted that this information was only brought forward by Clements when he knew there was something at stake for him. He told authorities where to find the body hoping for a break in an unrelated burglary case, the Star has previously reported.

“He doesn’t come forward unless there is something to gain,” Miller said, “There’s no other person it could be.”Clements’ attorney, Eric Kessler, implored the jury to “take a step back and see the forest through the trees.”

“Resist the temptation to get lost in all of the details and focus on a shadow of a doubt.”

He said there were no fingerprints or DNA evidence linking Clements to the crime. A broken bedroom window screen, which is how police believe Clements had entered the Celis home, could not be proven as the entry point, defense attorneys said.

 

[Seattle1]

2/27/24 CBS broadcast news video

Fate of Christopher Clements now in the hands jury in murder trial

The fate of Christopher Clements, a convicted child killer who is also accused of murdering Isabel Celis, is now in the hands of a jury.

www.cbs7.com

 

[Niner]

Thursday, February 29th:
*Trial continues (Day 13)-VERDICT WATCH! (Day 3) (@ 10:30am PT) – AZ – Isabel Mercedes Celis (6) (missing from home April 21, 2012, Tucson, found in a desert area in Marana, located off of Avra Valley & Trico roads on Mar. 3, 2017, Id’ed Mar. 31, 2017) – *Christopher Matthew Clements (30 @ time of 1st crime/36/now 42) aka Damion James Johnson indicted (9/15/18) & arraigned & charged (9/24/18) with 1 count of 1st degree murder, 1 count of kidnapping a minor under 15 & 14 counts of sexual exploitation of minors. Plead not guilty. $2M cash only bond. DA will not seek DP.
Murder trial for Isabel began on with jury selection on 2/9/23 & a jury was selected. Jury: 9 men & 6 women. Only 12 will actively participate in the trial (other 3 will be alternates).
Pima County Superior Court Judge James Marner presiding.
Trial began on Tuesday, 2/14/23 thru 3/3/23. Jury deliberations for a total: ~7 hours. Jury could not come up with a verdict & Judge James Marner declares a mistrial. 11 voted for conviction, one for acquittal.
Trial began on 2/6/24 with jury selection. Done. The jury has only one alternate. Jury deliberations: 2/27/24: ~2pm to 5pm/~3 hours. 2/28/24: ~10:30am to 5pm/~5 ½ hours. Total deliberations: ~8 ½ hours.
Trial began on 2/7/24. Court in session Tuesdays thru Fridays. 2/29/24, 3/1 & 3/5/24. Trial will be from 2/6/24 thru 3/5/24. State rested their cases on 2/21/24. Defense began their case on 2/21/24 & rested their case on 2/23/24. Closing arguments on 2/27/24.
Judge James Marner presiding. Prosecutor Tracy Miller & defense attorney Eric Kessler.
Court hearings from 8/23/19 to 12/20/23 & Jury Selection (2/6/24) & Trial Day 1-11 (2/7-2/27/24) reference post #765 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...und-deceased-in-2017-arrest-27.464075/page-39
2/28/24 Wednesday, Trial Day 12/Verdict Watch Day 2: Jury continued deliberations. Trial continues on Thursday, 2/29/24 with jury deliberations. Approximately 5 1/2 hours of deliberations.

 

[agilbe]

Christopher Clements convicted for murder of Isabel Celis

 

[Seattle1]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1763321439472787940

 

[Seattle1]

Christopher Clements found guilty of murdering Isabel Celis

Deliberations have begun in the retrial of a convicted sex offender accused of kidnapping and killing a 6-year-old girl in Tucson. Pima County Superior Court officials say the jury got

www.kvoa.com

2/29/24

TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) — News 4 Tucson has been informed that the jury has reached a verdict in the Christopher Clements trial for the murder of Isabel Celis.

News 4 Tucson will report the verdict when it is available.

Pima County Superior Court officials said the jury got the case Tuesday after lawyers on both sides gave closing arguments. Jurors stopped at the end of the day and resumed deliberations at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.

He was retried after a Pima County Superior Court jury couldn’t reach a verdict last year on the first-degree murder charge against Clements in the death of 6-year-old Celis.

 

[Eli9]

Christopher Clements found guilty of murdering Isabel Celis

Deliberations have begun in the retrial of a convicted sex offender accused of kidnapping and killing a 6-year-old girl in Tucson. Pima County Superior Court officials say the jury got

www.kvoa.com

2/29/24

TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) — News 4 Tucson has been informed that the jury has reached a verdict in the Christopher Clements trial for the murder of Isabel Celis.

News 4 Tucson will report the verdict when it is available.

Pima County Superior Court officials said the jury got the case Tuesday after lawyers on both sides gave closing arguments. Jurors stopped at the end of the day and resumed deliberations at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.

He was retried after a Pima County Superior Court jury couldn’t reach a verdict last year on the first-degree murder charge against Clements in the death of 6-year-old Celis.

It appears based on the title of the article that he was found guilty

 

[Seattle1]

Christopher Clements convicted of kidnapping, killing Isabel Celis

The jury deciding the fate of Christopher Clements has reached a verdict.

www.kold.com

By J.D. Wallace and 13 News Staff
Published: Feb. 29, 2024 at 1:23 PM PST|Updated: 7 minutes ago

TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) - A jury has convicted Christopher Clements for the kidnapping and murder of Isabel Celis.

The verdict was announced just moments ago.

13 News is gathering reaction to the verdict and will pass along that information as soon as we get it.

Clements was charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, and second-degree burglary for the abduction and death of six-year-old Isabel Celis. The first trial ended with a hung jury and a mistrial last year.

 

[Seattle1]

So relieved that this monster has finally been convicted of murdering Isa!
But what a disappointment and disservice to Isa and her family that the court did not grant permission for the verdict to be live streamed by MSM. Not sure if anybody even filed a Motion requesting EMC for the verdict.

Thank you to all the WS members who kept vigil here since 2012 seeking justice for Isabel.

 

[Seattle1]

As reported live by JD Wallace from the Courthouse-- only Isa's mom, Becky Celis, and her brother were present in the courtroom when the verdict was read. They reportedly left promptly without making any comment to media.

JD Wallace is waiting for the jurors to be leave the building and see if any are willing to comment on the trial.

Christopher Clements convicted of kidnapping, killing Isabel Celis

The jury deciding the fate of Christopher Clements has reached a verdict.

www.kold.com

 

[Seattle1]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1763323970412261404

2:02 PM · Feb 29, 2024

 

[Seattle1]

Christopher Clements found guilty of killing 6-year-old Isabel Celis

He was found guilty on all counts.

www.azfamily.com

 

[Seattle1]

Arizona Man Convicted of Kidnapping and Killing 6-Year-Old Girl in Retrial

An Arizona jury deliberated for about 10 hours since late Tuesday afternoon before finding a convicted murderer guilty in the kidnapping and killing of 6-year-old Isabel Celis in 2012. It was Christopher Clements’ second trial in Celis’s death. The first trial ended with a hung jury last year...

www.crimeonline.com

2/29/24

An Arizona jury deliberated for about 10 hours since late Tuesday afternoon before finding a convicted murderer guilty in the kidnapping and killing of 6-year-old Isabel Celis in 2012.

[..]

Clements, 42, was convicted in 2022 in the kidnapping and murder of 13-year-old Maribel Gonzalez in 2014 and sentenced to life in prison. And he was already serving a 35 year sentence at that time for a 2017 burglary conviction.

It was in 2017 that Clements led investigators to Celis’s body in a remote area north of Tucson, but he insisted he did not kill the little girl and had learned the location of the body from other inmates.

[..]

Almost exactly a year ago — on March 3, 2023 — a jury reported out that it could not reach a unanimous verdict on Clements’ guilt, and the judge declared a mistrial.

The result was different this year, as the four women and eight men completed their work on Thursday, KOLD reported.

[..]

Prosecutors presented cell phone data showing Clements in the area of Celis’s home and the spot where her body was found as well as witnesses who saw him knocking on doors in the neighborhood where Celis lived, asking about cars, KVOA reported.