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[Angel Who Cares]

VIDEO: Cantu murder indictment 4:28
In Session's Jack Ford discusses the case of a woman accused of murdering and raping a young girl. Added On August 18, 2009
[ame]http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/crime/2009/08/18/dcl.ford.cantu.case.cnn[/ame]

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Former Sunday school teacher indicted in girl's death
updated 2:53 a.m. EDT, Tue August 18, 2009
<snipped>
Melissa Huckaby, 28, is accused of killing 8-year-old Sandra Cantu, who disappeared on March 27 in Tracy, California. Her body was found April 6 in a suitcase in an irrigation pond near the mobile home park where her family lived. Huckaby and her daughter, who played with Sandra, also lived in the mobile home park.

San Francisco Chronicle reporter Henry Lee, who was in the courtroom in San Joaquin County on Monday as the indictment was read, told CNN:

"Melissa began weeping as the judge read the charges of murder and rape aloud. ... She was shackled and wore a red jail jumpsuit. Otherwise, she said nothing."

The grand jury heard two weeks of testimony.

In June, Huckaby pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The judge scheduled her next court appearance for September 10, giving her attorney time to review the indictment. No trial date has been set.

The rape accusations, involving special circumstances, are "grotesque to think of," Lee said.

Prosecutors will take about two more months to decide whether to seek the death penalty, because of the special circumstances.

Huckaby appeared in court with several fresh scratches on her forehead, according to Lee. She remains in the San Joaquin County Jail without bail, according to CNN affiliate KCRA.

"There were reports she tried to commit suicide in her jail cell. ... She has previously tried to commit suicide by means of swallowing razor blades," Lee added.

Sandra Cantu's body was found in a suitcase in an irrigation pond near where she lived.

San Joaquin County Jail
http://topics.cnn.com/topics/san_joaquin_county_jail

Article:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/08/18/california.dead.girl/index.html

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Change of venue court cases are extremely rare
August 22, 2009
<snipped>
As in most states, judges in California rarely have moved criminal trials. But this year attorneys in several high-profile cases want proceedings relocated because they believe the local jury pool has been contaminated by publicity and the prominence or heinousness of the alleged crimes.

The attorney for a white former transit cop videotaped shooting a black passenger on New Year's day in Oakland wants his murder trial moved. And a venue change request also is expected in the nationally publized case of Melissa Huckaby, a Sunday school teacher accused of kidnapping, raping and murdering 8-year-old Sandra Cantu this spring in the agricultural town of Tracy.

But prosecutors have taken steps to prevent that by, among other things, moving to keep grand jury transcripts sealed.

"We don't want this case tried anywhere else," San Joaquin County prosecutor Thomas Testa said. "We want it to remain right here."

Venue changes are a longshot in California, where the state Judicial Council reports that only four of the scores of requests during the past two years have been granted.

Article:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hED9R4znfezDpBuKVJccA5RCIlbAD9A828DG3

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Sandra Cantu playground dedicated in Tracy
Posted: 08/19/2009 12:17:43 PM PDT
Updated: 08/19/2009 01:16:42 PM PDT
<snipped>
A PLAYGROUND in memory of Sandra Cantu has been erected at Jacobson School in Tracy, where the 8-year-old was a student until her disappearance last March.

"And the kids are just thrilled," Sasser added. "It's so popular that my husband said we should treat it like Disneyland and start offering 'fast passes' to cut down the line."

Cantu's death marked the end of the last school year, and Sasser said the Jacobson community has not forgotten the tragedy as the new year gets under way.

"Sandra is still in our hearts and is mentioned on campus often," she said. "She will always be a part of this community and this school."

Article:
http://www.insidebayarea.com/trivalleyherald/localnews/ci_13161079

 

[Angel Who Cares]

JARDINE: Vigil to mark 6th year in unsolved case
Sunday, Aug. 23, 2009
<snipped>
In 1982, Boni Driskill moved her family to Modesto from East Los Angeles.

"I didn't want (my children) to be involved in gangs," Driskill said. "It was like Mayberry here back then."

Any hope of that bucolic life she sought disappeared the night of Aug. 24, 2003, when her daughter, 25-year-old Lacy Ferguson, was shot at a south Modesto convenience store. Authorities believe Ferguson was the victim of a gang attack, taking a bullet intended for someone else on the day Ferguson's daughter, Haleigh, turned 3. Ferguson died the next day in a Modesto hospital.

Six years later, Ferguson's killer remains at large and Driskill longs for answers. She will hold her annual candlelight vigil at 6 p.m. Monday at Paradise Park in west Modesto to honor her daughter's memory and to keep the case alive in the media. Other victims' family members, including relatives of slain 8-year-old Sandra Cantu of Tracy, will attend.

"We hope they can get some publicity, too," Driskill said.

The reality is that after six years &#8212; and five lead sheriff's investigators &#8212; thorough detective work alone probably won't solve her daughter's case. It's going to take that plus lots of luck.

Just maybe, someone will get a conscience and the investigators will get the break they need to solve another case.

Families: Hardest part is not knowing
http://www.modbee.com/local/story/112237.html

Article:
http://www.modbee.com/2391/story/826948.html?storylink=omni_popular

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Sandra Cantu's family finds support at Modesto vigil
Monday, Aug. 24, 2009
<snipped>
Driskill contacted Sandra's family shortly after the girl disappeared from her Tracy mobile home park. Driskill lost her daughter, Lacy Ferguson, in 2003, an innocent bystander in what authorities believe was a gang-related shooting at a south Modesto convenience store. Her killer has not been found.

"Somebody understood, somebody knew what we were feeling," said Sandra's grandfather, Joe Chavez. Others wanted to help, he said, but they hadn't experienced the same soul-crushing grief.

"(Boni) gave us comfort," said Sandra's mother, Maria Chavez. "She was there to support us."

On Monday evening, in a shady corner of Paradise Park in west Modesto, the Chavezes joined Driskill and other crime victims for a candlelight vigil to mark the sixth anniversary of Ferguson's death.

Chavez said he couldn't talk about Sandra's case. But the Chavezes spoke freely about Driskill and the bond they've formed with her and other members of Wings of Protection. Susan Levy, mother of 2001 murder victim Chandra Levy, helped start the support group. Driskill joined a few years ago.

Joe Chavez said Driskill offered something that other people couldn't: true understanding. "It's all about experiencing the death and grief that never ends," he said.

At Monday's vigil, family members of murder victims stood up one by one to say aloud the names of their loved ones. A gallery of loss stood nearby. A poster-sized photo of Sandra Cantu was propped next to framed collages of Ferguson. The family of murder victim Nancy Arellano added a photo as well.

"It's hard for us to say anything because we're still too much involved in this loss, but we wanted to be here to support the other victims," Joe Chavez said after the vigil. "It's a club nobody wants to belong to."

Lacy Ferguson's daughter, Haleigh, and Lacy's mom, Boni Driskill, talk about Ferguson at the vigil honoring Ferguson at Paradise Park in Modesto, August. 24, 2009.

Boni Driskill wears a piece of paper taped to the back of her T-shirt for her daughter that reads "In Loving Memory Lacy Marie Ferguson, 1978 - 2008 Always in our Hearts," while Ciara Sterans sings at the vigil honoring 2003 murder victim Lacy Ferguson at Paradise Park in Modesto, August. 24, 2009.

At center, Susan Levy, mother of Chandra Levy aids Boni Driskill during the start of the ceremony where everyone gathers and holds hands at the vigil honoring 2003 murder victim Lacy Ferguson at Paradise Park in Modesto, August. 24, 2009.

Article:
http://www.modbee.com/local/story/828755.html

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Attorneys in the Mehserle and Huckaby cases face long odds in trying to have trials moved
Venue changes rare in court proceedings
Posted: 08/25/2009 03:07:46 PM PDT
Updated: 08/25/2009 08:48:44 PM PDT
<snipped>
As in most states, judges in California rarely move criminal trials. But this year attorneys in several high-profile cases want proceedings relocated because they believe the local jury pool has been contaminated by publicity and the prominence or heinousness of the alleged crimes.

In addition to the Mehserle case, a venue-change request also is expected in the case of Melissa Huckaby, a Sunday school teacher accused of kidnapping, raping and killing 8-year-old Sandra Cantu this spring in Tracy.

But prosecutors have taken steps to prevent that by, among other things, moving to keep grand jury transcripts sealed.

"We don't want this case tried anywhere else," San Joaquin County prosecutor Thomas Testa said. "We want it to remain right here."

Venue changes are a long shot in California, where the state Judicial Council reports that only four of the scores of requests during the past two years have been granted.

"It's rare everywhere. Very, very rare," said Robert Weisberg, a law professor and director of the Criminal Justice Center at Stanford University. "The court system does not like it, because they're very complicated and expensive."

Article:
http://www.insidebayarea.com/localnews/ci_13201226

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Melissa Huckaby, suspect in Sandra Cantu case, acted oddly and tried to harm herself in jail
Posted: 09/03/2009 01:49:09 PM PDT
Updated: 09/03/2009 03:56:58 PM PDT
<snipped>
Melissa Huckaby acted strangely and apparently tried to harm herself in the days leading up to her last court appearance, San Joaquin County Court records show.

Jail records in Huckaby's court file said that two days before her most recent court hearing on Aug. 17, Huckaby was found hiding behind the mattress in her cell with a blanket tied around her neck. She was taken to the safety cell, the records showed, and later that day she refused to eat dinner.

On Aug. 12, a deputy reported seeing Huckaby sitting next to her bed with a trash can. When asked what was wrong Huckaby replied, "I took pills."

She was taken by ambulance for treatment. That incident took place about an hour and half after she was found lying on the floor in her cell. She told the deputy that she had felt dizzy and passed out. Huckaby was checked by a nurse, and psychiatric staff was called to the scene.

Huckaby had two unexplained scratches on her forehead when she showed up Aug. 17 to hear the five-count indictment against her. Deputy District Attorney Thomas Testa asked the judge during that hearing to order Huckaby to attend all her court hearings.

Huckaby is scheduled to return to court Sept. 10 in Stockton to enter a plea. A public defender has been assigned to her case, but a gag order prevents parties from speaking to the media.

The District Attorney's Office will decide whether to pursue the death penalty on the case in the next month or two, Testa said at Huckaby's last hearing.

Article:
http://www.insidebayarea.com/top-stories/ci_13262766

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Decision on death penalty looms
Word on fate of Huckaby may come next week
September 04, 2009 12:01 AM
<snipped>
Prosecutors could announce as early as next week if they plan to seek a death sentence against Melissa Huckaby, the Tracy woman charged with raping and murdering 8-year-old Sandra Cantu.

An ever-growing file at the San Joaquin County Superior Court gives some insight into the case that continues to resonate with San Joaquin County residents.

Sixteen FBI agents and 20 Tracy police officers participated in the investigation of Sandra's March 27 disappearance from the Orchard Estates Mobile Home Park. About 75 witnesses testified before the grand jury that indicted Huckaby.

The file also gives some answers to two bright red scratches above Huckaby's right eye seen Aug. 17 in her last court appearance, the Contra Costa Times reported Thursday.

Records say that two days before the hearing, jailers found Huckaby hiding behind a mattress in her cell and she had tied a blanket around her neck. She also refused to eat dinner, the newspaper reported.

A nurse and psychiatrist checked her out Aug. 12. A jailer noticed Huckaby next to her bed with a trash can and asked what was wrong. Huckaby said, "I took pills." Huckaby told jailers she felt dizzy and passed out, the story says.

In Huckaby's last court appearance, Superior Court Judge Linda Lofthus told Huckaby that she had to be at all of her hearings. The judge and attorneys hinted at her misbehavior at the jail but gave no specifics in the hearing.

"Hopefully, that doesn't happen again," Lofthus said at the time.

Huckaby's attorney, San Joaquin County Deputy Public Defender Sam Behar, is expected to enter a plea on his client's behalf in the hearing set for Thursday. The judge could set a date for Huckaby's trial then.

Article:
http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090904/A_NEWS/909040321/-1/NEWSMAP

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Huckaby acted up in jail, possibly tried to kill herself
Sep 04, 2009
<snipped>
Tracy murder suspect Melissa Huckaby acted up and tried to hurt herself before her last court hearing, according to San Joaquin County jail records.

An incident report from the jail says that a couple days before her Aug. 17 court hearing, Huckaby hid behind a mattress and wrapped a blanket around her neck. She was taken to a &#8220;safety cell&#8221; and refused to eat dinner.

An Aug. 12 report says that a deputy found Huckaby lying on the floor by her bed. She said she felt dizzy and then passed out. The jail ordered a psychiatric nurse to check up on the inmate.

About a half-hour later, another jail employee found Huckaby sitting next to her bed with a trash can. When the employee asked her what was wrong, Huckaby replied, &#8220;I took pills,&#8221; according to the incident report. An ambulance took her to a doctor for treatment, records show.

Huckaby apparently acted up the morning of her last court appearance in an attempt to get out of going to the proceeding. She showed up in court with a couple fresh scratches on her forehead and on her left forearm.

More than 70 people testified before a secret grand jury that charged Huckaby with murder and three enhancements that could qualify her for the death penalty: kidnapping, lewd and lascivious acts on a child and rape by instrument. A separate count charges her with having sex with a child younger than 10.

Huckaby has yet to enter a plea, and is due in court on Sept. 10 in Stockton. A gag order bars anyone involved with the case from speaking publicly about it.

Prosecutor Thomas Testa said at the last hearing that the case is a death penalty case until otherwise indicated.

Article:
http://www.tracypress.com/pages/ful...ed+to+kill+herself&instance=home_news_bullets

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Melissa Huckaby, suspect in Sandra Cantu case, acted oddly and tried to harm herself in jail
Posted: 09/03/2009 01:47:44 PM PDT
Updated: 09/03/2009 08:24:56 PM PDT
<snipped>
Jail records in Huckaby's court file said that two days before her most recent court hearing on Aug. 17, Huckaby was found hiding behind the mattress in her cell with a blanket tied around her neck. She was taken to the safety cell, the records said, and later that day she refused to eat dinner.

On Aug. 12, a deputy reported seeing Huckaby sitting next to her bed with a trash can. When asked what was wrong Huckaby replied, "I took pills."

She was taken by ambulance for treatment. That incident took place about an hour and half after she was found lying on the floor in her cell. She told the deputy that she had felt dizzy and passed out. Huckaby was checked by a nurse, and psychiatric staff was called to the scene.

Huckaby had two unexplained scratches on her forehead when she showed up Aug. 17 to hear the five-count indictment against her. Deputy District Attorney Thomas Testa asked the judge during that hearing to order Huckaby to attend all her court hearings.

Huckaby had reportedly tried to hurt herself before. According to court documents filed by her ex-husband seeking the custody of their daughter, Huckaby tried to commit suicide by swallowing three razor blades shortly after Sandra's body was found April 6. The Tracy second-grader was last seen March 27 and her body was found 10 days later in a suitcase in a pond not far from the mobile home park where Huckaby and Sandra lived.

Huckaby is scheduled to return to court Sept. 10 in Stockton to enter a plea. A public defender has been assigned to her case, but a gag order prevents parties from speaking to the media.

The District Attorney's Office will decide whether to pursue the death penalty on the case in the next month or two, Testa said at Huckaby's last hearing.

Article:
http://www.mercurynews.com/topstories/ci_13262753

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Sandra Cantu case: Reports indicate Melissa Huckaby may have tried to kill herself in jail
September 8, 3:31 PM
<snipped>
Jail records indicate that the accused killer of Sandra Cantu tried to injure herself prior to her last court hearing.

The jail reports that before her Aug. 17 hearing, Huckaby wrapped a blanket around her neck and hid behind a mattress. Tracy Press reports she was taken to a &#8220;safety cell&#8221; and refused to eat. When she appeared in court she had fresh scratches on her left forearm and forehead.

Reports also say that on Aug. 12, a deputy found Huckaby lying on the floor, claiming she felt dizzy and had passed out. A psychiatric nurse was called to check on her mental well being.

Only a half an hour later, Huckaby was sitting next to a bed with a trash can. A jail employee asked what was wrong and she replied, &#8220;I took pills.&#8221; She was taken to a doctor for treatment.

Article:
http://www.examiner.com/x-1168-Crim...uckaby-may-have-tried-to-kill-herself-in-jail

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Huckaby Refused Food, 'Took Pills'
Woman Charged In Tracy Girl's Murder
Updated 12:30 PM PDT, Wed, Sep 9, 2009
<snipped>
A Tracy woman charged with murdering and raping an 8-year-old girl has been displaying strange behavior in jail, according to reports.

Huckaby's behavior in August prompted four different jail incident reports.

On Aug. 12, a custody officer wrote at 2:30 p.m., "I found Huckaby laying on the floor next to her bed. [She] stated that she felt dizzy and passed out."

At 3 p.m. that day, an officer noted, "I saw Huckaby sitting next to her bed w/ trash can. When I asked her what wrong she replied, 'I took pills.'"

On Aug. 16 at 4:45 p.m., a report said, "Inmate Huckaby was hiding behind mattress w/ blanket around her neck. To safety cell per psych."

At 5:15 p.m. that day, the report said that Huckaby had refused dinner.

Because there is a gag order in place, no one is commenting on the incidents.

That same gag order has kept Cantu's autopsy report sealed.

During the past eight months, the San Joaquin County district attorney has already indicated that it is trying to speed the case along and will seek a trial date.

Article:
http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local-beat/-Huckaby-Refused-Food-Took-Pills--58146752.html

 

[Angel Who Cares]

CA girl's alleged killer could learn trial date
Posted: 09/10/2009 08:10:25 AM PDT
Updated: 09/10/2009 08:10:25 AM PDT
<snipped>
Northern California woman charged with kidnapping, raping and killing an 8-year-old girl and drugging two other people is expected back in court.
Melissa Huckaby may learn Thursday when she could go to trial for the murder of Sandra Cantu. The girl's body was found stuffed in a suitcase pulled from an irrigation pond in April.

In July, a grand jury indicted the 28-year-old former Sunday school teacher. A Superior Court judge then gave Huckaby's defense lawyer two months to review the indictment and return to court to discuss a possible trial dates.

Prosecutors want a speedy trial because the case involves a minor.

Huckaby has pleaded not guilty to murdering Sandra and to charges she drugged a 7-year-old girl and 37-year-old man.

Article:
http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_13307088

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Huckaby's Strange Behavior While Awaiting Trial
Suspected child killer Melissa Huckaby is expected in a San Joaquin County courtroom Thursday.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
<snipped>
Huckaby is accused of murdering her daughter's playmate, 8-year-old Sandra Cantu back in April. The little girl's body was found in a suitcase in an irrigation pond near the town of Tracy.

Huckaby is expected to enter a plea Thursday. The judge could set a trial date as well.

VIDEO: Huckaby's Strange Behavior While Awaiting Trial
http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/video?id=7007538

Article:
http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id=7005065

 

[Angel Who Cares]

UPDATED: Prosecutors To Seek Death Sentence In Cantu Murder
Posted: 9:52 am PDT September 10, 2009
Updated: 2:20 pm PDT September 10, 2009
<snipped>
San Joaquin County deputy district attorney Thomas Testa announced the decision during a court hearing in the case. At that same brief hearing, Huckaby once again pleaded not guilty to a five-count indictment against her.

Former San Francisco Assistant District Attorney Jim Hammer said the death penalty decision means the prosecution has a strong case against the 28-year-old.

&#8220;Death cases are different,&#8221; Hammer said. &#8220; In normal cases you have to be beyond a reasonable doubt, in a death case, if you even have a shadow of a doubt, jurors can vote not guilty.&#8221;

Hammer also predicted the upcoming trial would be full of strange twists and turns.

&#8220;This crime seems so strange,&#8221; Hammer told KTVU. &#8220;As a prosecutor for 25 years, I have never heard of anything like this -- a rape or the sexual assault of a kid -- then the murder of your kid&#8217;s playmate -- it just sounds so bizarre. I&#8217;ve got to ask &#8211; Was there someone else? I think there are going to be a lot of surprises at the trial.&#8221;

Recently, reports have surfaced that Huckaby may have tried to harm herself in her jail cell. Authorities said she has been discovered with a blanket wrapped around her neck and on another occasion had told jail officials she had &#8220;taken pills&#8221; and was taken for a medical examination.

&#8220;If there is overwhelming evidence against someone what do you have left &#8211; the insanity defense,&#8221; Hammer said. &#8220;When someone starts acting crazy that plays into it. It raises the question of what frame of mind was she in when she committed the crime&#8230;And did she do it alone?&#8221;

VIDEO~ HUCKABY TRIAL: Huckaby Pleads Not Guilty To Tracy Girl's Murder
http://www.ktvu.com/video/19740935/index.html

Article:
http://www.ktvu.com/news/20834789/detail.html

 

[Kat]

http://www.insidebayarea.com/trivalleyherald/localnews/ci_13308078

Updated: 09/10/2009 11:04:23 AM PDT

Court date may be set today for Melissa Huckaby

...A trial date may also be set for Huckaby when she appears in San Joaquin County Superior Court in Stockton. The plea hearing is expected to begin at 12:30 p.m. In June, Huckaby pleaded not guilty to murder charges brought by the San Joaquin County District Attorney; the grand jury indictment supersedes those charges.

The grand jury also indicted her for child endangerment and furnishing a harmful substance for a case involving another Tracy girl and furnishing a harmful substance to a 37-year-old Hayward man. Those cases are unrelated to Sandra's death...

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Court date may be set today for Melissa Huckaby
Posted: 09/10/2009 10:55:03 AM PDT
Updated: 09/10/2009 11:04:23 AM PDT
<snipped>
A trial date may also be set for Huckaby when she appears in San Joaquin County Superior Court in Stockton. The plea hearing is expected to begin at 12:30 p.m. In June, Huckaby pleaded not guilty to murder charges brought by the San Joaquin County District Attorney; the grand jury indictment supersedes those charges.

The grand jury also indicted her for child endangerment and furnishing a harmful substance for a case involving another Tracy girl and furnishing a harmful substance to a 37-year-old Hayward man. Those cases are unrelated to Sandra's death.

Sandra was last seen March 27, and her body was found 10 days later in a suitcase in a pond not far from the mobile home park where Huckaby and Sandra lived. Sandra was a playmate of Huckaby's daughter.

According to records from the San Joaquin County Jail, where Huckaby is being held without bail, Huckaby had been acting strangely and may have tried to harm herself in the days leading up to her last appearance.

Jail records in Huckaby's court file said that on Aug. 15, Huckaby was found hiding behind the mattress in her cell with a blanket tied around her neck. She was taken to the safety cell, the records showed, and later that day she refused to eat dinner.

On Aug. 12, a deputy reported seeing Huckaby sitting next to her bed with a trash can. When asked what was wrong Huckaby replied, "I took pills."

Huckaby had reportedly tried to hurt herself before. According to court documents filed by her former husband seeking the custody of their daughter, Huckaby tried to commit suicide by swallowing three razor blades shortly after Sandra's body was found.

Article:
http://www.insidebayarea.com/trivalleyherald/localnews/ci_13308078

 

[Angel Who Cares]

UPDATED: DA: Death Penalty For Huckaby
Woman Accused Of Killing Sandra Cantu
POSTED: 1:12 pm PDT September 10, 2009
UPDATED: 2:47 pm PDT September 10, 2009
<snipped>
The San Joaquin County district attorney is seeking the death penalty against former Sunday school teacher Melissa Huckaby, who is charged with kidnapping, raping and killing 8-year-old Tracy resident Sandra Cantu.

A grand jury indicted 28-year-old Huckaby in July in connection with the death, and she pleaded not guilty to charges on Thursday.

Huckaby in June pleaded not guilty to charges brought by the district attorney, but the grand jury indictment superceded the DA's charges.

Huckaby asked for a new attorney in her case on Thursday, but the judge denied her request.

A trial date for Huckaby has not been set.

The prosecution wants the trial to start within the next 60 to 90 days, but the defense said it wants the trial to start in about a year and a half. The judge said she is inclined to start it in March.

VIDEO: Huckaby's Behavior In Jail Noted
http://www.kcra.com/video/20801707/index.html

Video: Huckaby Appears In Court With Cuts On Body
http://www.kcra.com/video/20438187/index.html

Article:
http://www.kcra.com/news/20838293/detail.html

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Prosecutors to Seek the Death Penalty for Melissa Huckaby in Sandra Cantu Murder
9/10/2009 1:20:00 PM
<snipped>
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Melissa Huckaby, the Sunday School teacher charged with kidnapping, rape, and murder in the disappearance and death of eight-year old Sandra Cantu.

KRON 4's Kate Thompson says Huckaby had no visible reaction when the San Joaquin County prosecutors made the announcement. Kate says Huckaby did smile at her family when she entered the courtroom.

The court is now hearing Huckaby's request to remove her lawyers from the case. That hearing is going on behind closed doors.

Stay tuned to KRON 4 and KRON4.com for more details of the Huckaby case.

Article:
http://www.kron4.com/News/ArticleVi...a Huckaby in Sandra Cantu Murder/Default.aspx
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DA will seek death penalty for Huckaby
Thursday, September 10, 2009 | 1:28 PM
<snipped>
The District Attorney will seek the death penalty for the woman accused of kidnapping and killing an 8-year-old Tracy girl.

A private hearing is underway. It is believed that Huckaby wants to fire her attorney. She had sent a letter to the judge, which was not opened, but it is believed that it was of the same subject matter.

Article:
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/east_bay&id=7008604
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prosecutor to seek death for Huckaby
September 10, 2009 1:07 PM
<snipped>
The district attorney told a judge today in court that he will seek the death penalty against Melissa Huckaby, the Tracy woman accused of kidnapping, raping, and murdering 8-year-old Sandra Cantu earlier this year.

At the court proceeding today, Huckaby requested a Marsden hearing, where she is asking the judge to give her a new attorney. She is currently being represented by public defender Sam Behar. The hearing is going on now, and no reason was given for her request.

Article:
http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090910/A_NEWS/909109988
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
State Seeks Death Penalty for Melissa Huckaby
September 10, 2009
<snipped>
The District Attorney for San Joaquin County say they will seek the death penalty against a Tracy woman accused of killing an 8-year-old Tracy girl in March.

Huckaby was indicted by a grand jury on charges of kidnapping, rape and murder at a court hearing in August.

During her court hearing Thursday afternoon, Huckaby reportedly petitioned the judge to have her current court-appointed attorney fired and replaced with a new attorney. The court-appointed attorney had previously entered a "not guilty" plea on Huckaby's behalf.

Article:
http://www.fox40.com/news/headlines/ktxl-news-huckaby,0,1092459.story
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DA To Seek Death Penalty Against Melissa Huckaby
Sep 10, 2009 1:21 pm US/Pacific
<snipped>
Two big developments in the murder case against Melissa Huckaby who is accused of killing an 8-year-old Tracy girl. Huckaby learned she will face the death penalty in Sandra Cantu's death. At the same time, Huckaby attempted to fire her attorney.

In a court hearing today, the 28-year-old former Sunday School teacher showed no emotion as San Joaquin County prosecutor Thomas Testa told the court Thursday of his office's intention to seek the death penalty.
Huckaby also asked a judge to fire her court appointed attorney, but the judge would not allow it.

Article:
http://cbs13.com/crime/huckaby.death.penalty.2.1174818.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Death sought in case of CA girl found in suitcase
15 minutes ago
<snipped>
Prosecutors say they will seek the death penalty for a Northern California woman charged with kidnapping, raping and killing an 8-year-old girl whose body was found stuffed in a suitcase.

Melissa Huckaby has pleaded not guilty to murdering Sandra Cantu as well as to charges she drugged two other people.

The 28-year-old former Sunday school teacher showed no emotion Thursday as San Joaquin County prosecutor Thomas Testa told a court his office would seek the death penalty.

Sandra's family also attended the hearing.

Also Thursday, Huckaby asked the judge for a new attorney, and possible trial dates were being discussed.

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