Niner
Long time Websleuther
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This is for trials continued from June & ones starting July 1st, Monday thru Friday, July 12th.
Monday, July 1st:
*Trial set to begin (@ 9am ET) - FL - Adelynn Merrell (3) (Nov. 10, 2017, Crestview) – only for *Destinee Jade Merrell (23) ("mom") charged & indicted (11/13/17) with 3 counts of child neglect w/o great bodily harm & 1 count of aggravated child cruelty & 1 count of accessory to murder after the fact. Plead not guilty, no bond. DA will seek DP.
Trial to start on 7/1/19 with jury selection.
*Cory M. Hagwell (29) – Status hearing on 8/2, Docket Day on 8/8, trial starts 8/16/19.
*Trial set to begin (Day 1) (@ 8:30am ET) - FL - Meredith Jessie (6) & Mark Weeley (50) (July 18, 2015, Lakeland) - *Cheyanne Nicole Jessie (25) indicted (8/18/15) on 2 counts 1st degree murder, 1 count tampering with evidence; plead not guilty; held with no bond; father and daughter killed.
Trial set to begin 7/1/19. Jury selection took place from 6/24-28/19.
*Penalty Phase begins (Day 1) (@ 9am ET) - FL - Jennifer Lynn Fulford (56) (missing Sept. 27, 2017, Winter Park; found Sept. 30, 2017) - *Scott Edward Nelson (53) arrested & charged (10/1/17) & indicted (12/12/17) with 1st degree murder, kidnapping, burglary, assault & battery, (1st degree) car jacking with deadly weapon, (1st degree) robbery with firearm & (3rd degree) tampering with a witness. Plead not guilty. No bond on all counts. DP case.
Trial started 6/10/19 with Jury selection & ended on 6/21/19. Trial started 6/24 & ended on 6/27/19. 12 jurors & 3 alternates.
Jury selection from 6/10-21 & Trial info from 6/24/19 to 6/27/19 (Day 1-4) reference post #525 here:
GUILTY - FL - Jennifer Fulford, 56, Winter Park, 27 Sept 2017 *Arrest*
6/28/19 Day 5: Prosecutor Linda Drane-Burdick does closing argument. Defense Assistant Public Defender Robert Larr does their closing. Prosecutor Kelly Hicks gave the state's rebuttal closing argument. Judge is now reading jury instructions. Following a sidebar the judge told the jury Count 2 had been removed from their verdict form. There was no other explanation. On the indictment Count 2 is Burglary. On the first-degree murder charge the jury can consider the lesser charge of: 2nd-degree murder w/weapon, 2nd-degree murder, Manslaughter w/weapon & Manslaughter. Jury off to deliberate (about 12 noon ET to about 3pm). Judge excused three jury alternates for the day, but explained that they are still members of the jury & remain under the order of the court for possibility of second phase (penalty phase). Jurors are asking for transcript of Nelson's testimony, as well as letters he sent to state attorney, detective & all the rest of his letters. They can't get transcript but can have testimony read back. Also can't get letters because letters not admitted evidence. The jury ask another question: "Please define intent and when intent has to occur." Verdict after about 3 hours of deliberations: GUILTY of First-degree murder with a weapon. GUILTY on all other counts. Penalty phase begins Monday morning, 7/1. Nelson faces the possibility of the death penalty.
*Trial continues (Day 9) (@ 9am CT) - NE - Sydney Loofe (24) (Nov. 15, 2017, Lincoln; found Dec. 4 & 5, 2017 in Edgar, east of Clay Center) – only for *Aubrey C. Trail (51) charged & indicted (6/11/18) & arraigned (7/13/18) with 1st degree murder & improper disposal of human remains (plead guilty to this charge 6/18/19) & charged (3/1/19) with conspiracy to commit murder. Plead not guilty. No bond. DA will seek DP.
Trial started 6/17/19 with jury selection. Trial started on 6/18/19 & runs thru 7/8/19. Jurors: 7 women & 5 men, with 3 alternates.
Court info & Trial info from Day 1-7 (6/11/19 to 6/27/19) reference post #807 here:
Found Deceased - NE - Sydney Loofe, 24, Lincoln, 15 Nov 2017 - #3
6/28/19 Day 8: State witnesses: Saline County correction officer Lindsay Schurman (re about intercepted coded letters Trail wrote to Boswell while in the county jail). Prosecution offered to publish these letters as evidence to the jury, but defense attorney Joe Murray objected on the basis of foundation, questioning the authenticity & relevance of the letters. Council deliberated with District Judge Vicky Johnson behind closed doors on separate, five-minute occasions, & Johnson sustained Murray's objection. Saline County correction officer Christina Stahl (found another letter). What the letters said was not revealed to the jurors, and the letters were not submitted as evidence. After jury is adjourned for lunch, Judge Vicky Johnson was apparently handed a note from the bailiff, & upon receiving it, stopped proceedings, & then asked to see one of the jurors in her chambers after adjournment. State witnesses: FBI special agent Mike Maset (presented a DVD that contained a nearly 3-hour interview with Trail from June 11, 2018 at the Saline County Jail in Wilber. Jury hears tape of how he killed Sydney. One juror was excused for family emergency. Trial continues to Monday, 7/1.
*Bailey M. Boswell (23) – Next Pretrial hearing on 8/9. Trial starts 10/25 thru 11/1/19.
Monday, July 8th:
*Penalty Phase of Trial begins (@ 9:30am CT) - IL - Yingying Zhang (26) (missing on June 9, 2017, Urbana; not found) - *Brendt A. Christensen (28) indicted (6/30/17) on kidnapping (Federal charge) resulting in death of Yingying & 2 counts of giving false statements to FBI. Plead not guilty. Held without bond. DA will seek DP.
Trial started 6/3/19 with jury selection & took until 6/11/19 to pick a jury. Trial should last about a week & a half (was 5 weeks previously). Opening statements expected to start 6/12 Wednesday morning. Judge expects a verdict between June 21 and June 24. If there ends up being a sentencing phase, judge believes it would start on July 8 so the 4th of July wouldn't interfere with the process. 12 jurors & 6 alternates. (7 men & 5 women).
Jury Selection Days 1 to 7 (6/3/19 to 6/7/19) & Trial days 1 to 8 (6/2/19 to 6/21/19) reference post #1015 here:
GUILTY - IL - Yingying Zhang, 26, Urbana, 9 June 2017 #9 *Arrest*
6/24/19 Day 9: Before closing arguments today, two representatives for the University of Illinois presented documentation to the judge of communication between the counseling center and staff involving Christensen’s (BC’s) treatment. Closing arguments & rebuttal done. Jury gets instructions & off to deliberate @ 11:35am. Jury has reached a verdict. Less than two hours. Christensen has been found GUILTY of kidnapping resulting in the death of Yingying Zhang. Also found GUILTY on two counts of making false statements to the FBI. Sentencing phase starts July 8th.
*Trial set to begin (@ 9am MT) - CO - Makayla Victoria Roberts (10) & Hannah Elizabeth Rosaline Marshall (8) (June, 2017, Norwood; found Sept. 8, 2017) – only for *Nashika Leonie Bramble (36) (from Georgia) "Mom" charged with 2 counts of 1st degree murder & 2 counts of child abuse resulting in death, bond $125K; pled not guilty.
Trial to start 7/8/19 to 7/26/19.
Accomplices:
*Ashford Nathaniel Archer – Found guilty. Sentence to 24 years in prison w/credit for time served. Re child: Pretrial conference hearing on 7/26. Termination of Parental Rights hearings from 8/27 to 8/30. 5/8/19: Filed an appeal on guilty verdict.
*Madani "Ama" Ceus – Found incompetent to stand trial. The court will receive an update at a status conference at noon on 7/26 in Telluride.
*Ika Eden – found incompetent to stand trial. Status hearing 8/20.
*Frederick "Alec" A. Blair – Plead guilty to plea. Status hearing on 8/29.
*Trial set to begin (@ am ET) - PA – Nichole Pumphrey (31), her daughter, Ameriah Emery (10) & Lawrence Cannon (31) possibly BF (Oct. 16, 2018, New Castle) – Only for *Steven Procopio (19) arrested & charged (10/17/18) with 3 counts of criminal homicide, 3 counts of criminal conspiracy, attempted murder & gun offense. Plead not guilty. Bail denied. Used to babysit Nichole’s kids. 4 other children in home-all safe & in custody.
Trial is set for 7/8/19.
*Anthony Lavon “Mook” Cooper, Jr. – Trial was set to begin 5/6, no further updates as of 6/16
*Jody Lynn Hammer - 4/1/19 Update: All charges against Hammer have been dismissed.
*Trial continues (Day 14) (@ 10:30am PT) – AZ – Navneet Kaur (30) (March 30, 2007, Phoenix) - *Avtar Singh Grewal (44/32 @ time of crime) charged (3/30/07), indicted (4/3/07) & arraigned (9/23/11) with 1st degree murder & 2nd degree burglary. Plead not guilty. $4M bond. Juan Martinez, Prosecutor
Extradited from India to U.S. (9/14/11).
Trial started 6/3/19. Jury is 13 people. (Started at 16: 3 jurors have been excused). Trial should last about 3 months. (Day 1-3 was jury selection).
Trial information from Days 1 thru 10 (6/3/19 to 6/24/19) reference post #77 here:
AZ - Navneet Kaur, 30, Phoenix, 30 March 2007
6/25/19 Day 11: Defense witnesses: Deepindra Singh Thour. Exhibits 223, 229 234 entered. Jury not present. Counsel present argument to the Court regarding anticipated testimony from expert witness, Dr. Karen Froming. Jury back. Michael Einspahr. Harinder Chowhanis sworn to act as the interpreter for Punjabi language. Harbhagwan Seikhon (recalled). Trial continues on 6/26.
6/26/19 Day 12: Defense witness: Avtar Singh Grewal. Trial continues on 6/27.
6/27/19 Day 13: Defense witness: Avtar Singh Grewal. Cross exam starts on 7/8 with Juan!
*Trial continues- (Day 29) (@ 9:30am PT) - CA - Ghost Ship Warehouse Fire in Oakland on Dec. 2, 2016 killing 36 people: Cash Askew, age 22, Em B (Em Bohlka), 33, Jonathan Bernbaum, 34, Barrett Clark, 35, David Cline, 24, Micah Danemayer, 28, Billy Dixon, 35, Chelsea Dolan, 33, Alex Ghassan, 35, Nick Gomez-Hall, 25, Michela Gregory, 20, Sara Hoda, 30, Travis Hough, 35, Johnny Igaz, 34, Ara Jo, 29, Donna Kellogg, 32, Amanda Kershaw, 34, Edmond Lapine, 34, Griffin Madden, 23, Joseph Matlock, 36, Jason McCarty, 36, Draven McGill, 17, Jennifer Mendiola, 35, Jennifer Morris, 21, Feral Pines, 29, Vanessa Plotkin, 21, Wolfgang Renner, 61, Hanna Ruax, 32, Benjamin Runnels, 32, Nicole Siegrist, 29, Michele Sylvan, 37, Jennifer Kiyomi Tanouye, 31, Alex Vega, 22, Peter Wadsworth, 38, Nick Walrath, 31, and Brandon Chase Wittenauer, 32. - *Derick Ion Almena (47), and *Max Cardin Harris (27), charged (8/10/17) with 36 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter; both plead not guilty. They remain in custody at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin on $750,000 bond (was $1.8M) and face up to 39 years in prison each if convicted.
Trial started April 30, 2019 with opening statements & continued on May 1 with testimony which began on May 6. Trial is expected to take 12 to 18 weeks. Jurors: 9 women/3 men (4 alternates; 5/1: One alternate juror removed due to work hardship. 5/9: one alternate juror removed as “veracity” issues). Court dark on Fridays.
Court hearings, Jury selection & Trial Days (1 thru 27) from 8/10/18 thru 6/25/19 reference post #809 here:
CA - Massive fire at Oakland warehouse party, 36 dead, 2 Dec 2016 #3
6/26/19 Day 28: Defense witness: Micah Allison continues testifying. Oakland firefighter Daniel Keenan. Thomas Cappel, musician. After the jury was dismissed, Serra told Judge Trina Thompson that one of their witnesses, unlicensed contractor Troy Altieri had failed to return to court to finish his testimony. Rather than have an arrest warrant issued, Serra asked that Altieri's previous testimony be stricken from the record. The trial is in recess until Monday, 7/8.
Tuesday, July 9th:
*Trial set to begin (@ 8:30am CT) – IN – Curtis Gilbert Collman III (8) (June 21, 2018, Jackson County; dies of meth overdose (180 times the lethal does, thought it was cereal) – *Curtis Gilbert Collman II (41) “father” arrested (6/21/18) & charged (6/26/18) with neglect of a dependent causing death, pointing a firearm, possession of meth, intimidation & theft. Also charged with failure to maintain his sexual registration status. Stems from a 2006 conviction of a Class D felony of sexual misconduct with a minor. $51,510 cash only bail.
Refused to call 911 & threatened others who tried to call. Faces 20-40 years in prison.
Trial is set for 7/9/19.
*Trial set to begin for both (@ 9:30am PT) - CA – Cecilia Bravo Cabrera (30) (last seen June 9, 2016, Lemoore, not found) - *Francisco Valdivia (37) (estranged husband) arrested (12/13/16), charged & arraigned (12/14/18) with 1 felony count of murder & arson. Plead not guilty. No bond.
*Rosaline Lopez (39) (FV’s 1st wife) arrested (12/13/16), charged & arraigned (12/14/18) with 1 felony count of being an accessory to murder after the fact. Plead not guilty. $500K bond.
Trial starts 7/9/19.
Sentencing hearings:
Monday, July 1st:
*Sentencing & Violation of Probation hearing (@ 1;30pm ET) – IL – Alysha Quate (6) (mid-June 2015, Centreville; found June 6, 2017) – only for - Elizabeth Odell-Quate (35) “mother” was extradited to Illinois & charged & indicted (1/27/18) on murder with concealing a death Class 3 Felony & forgery Class C Felony. Original bond $750K, reduced on 11/20/17 to $30K, out on bond.
9/18/18 Update: Plead guilty to concealing a death & forgery charges. Next hearing 12/10.
10/7/18 Update: Trial was to start 10/8/18, but took plea deal, hearing set for 12/10 re plea of guilty & also violation of probation hearing.
12/10/18 Update: Hearing was moved to 1/23/19, Pretrial Motions hearing on 2/19 & Jury trial on 3/18.
2/19/19 Update: Pretrial motions hearing moved to 2/28.
2/28/19 Update: Sentencing for concealing a death on 7/1 & hearing on forgery charges.
*IL – *Jason Scott Quate (35) “father” indicted (8/16/17) & charged (9/6/18) with 1st degree murder & concealing a death (Class 3 felony). Faces extradition to Illinois. Admitted to killing Alysha & hiding her body.
9/6/18 Update: DA files 1st degree murder charges in St. Claire County. $1M bail.
In custody in Nevada, Clark county (#17F10214X).
Monday, July 8th:
Sentencing Hearing (@ 2pm CT) – IA – Jessica Lyne Gomez (26) (Aug. 4, 2017, Fort Dodge; found 8/12/17) – only for *Mackenzie Lee Knigge (26) arrested (8/10/17) & charged (9/25/17) with 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. $1M cash bond.
Was original arrested in Indiana in a stolen on 8/10/17 & was extradited back to Iowa on 9/12/17.
Trial was to start 11/26, then moved to 3/5/19, now scheduled for 6/10/19. 11/26/18: Change of Venue granted to Story County.
Trial was to start 6/10/19.
6/6/19 Update: A plea agreement was reached & she plead guilty Thursday to 3 charges: Attempt to Commit Murder, Robbery in the Second Degree, and Desecration of a Corpse. Trial was set to start in Story County on Monday (6/10) following a change of venue, but instead will be sentenced on July 8. Per the plea agreement, a 35-year maximum prison sentence will be recommended.
*Phillip Anthony Williams (25) arrested (8/10/17) & charged (7/17/18) with 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. $1M cash bond.
3/25/19 Update: Trial was supposed to start, Williams instead pleaded guilty 4/22/19 Update: For Count 1 Attempt to commit murder: 25 years in prison. Count 3: Abuse of human corpse: 5 years. 5 year no contact w/immediate family of Jessica. Count 2: Accessory after the fact: 2 years.
Tuesday, July 9th:
*Sentencing Hearing (@ 9am ET) - MA - Lee Manuel Viloria-Paulino (16) (missing Nov. 18, 2016, Lawrence, found Dec. 1, 2016) - *Mathew Borges (15/now 18) indicted (3/31/17) of 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty; held without bail. Will be tried as an adult.
Trial started 4/22/19 with Jury selection. Opening statements on 4/29.
Court & Trial information from 4/22/19 thru 5/8/19 (Day 1-7 Trial) reference post #119 here:
GUILTY - MA - Lee Viloria-Paulino, 16, decapitated, Lawrence, 18 Nov 2016 *Arrest*
5/9/19 Day 8: State Trooper Steve Buccheri (Investigator for DA's office) re cell phone calls. Trooper Matt Wilson, homicide detective (with DA's office). Juror number 4 has been excused "for reasons personal to her". Prosecution has rested their case. Defense will not call any witnesses. Defense rests their case. Jurors will be back on Monday, 5/13 for closing arguments.
5/13/19 Day 9: Judge gives jury instructions. Closing arguments. Jurors started deliberations @ 11:45am & have gone home (about 4pm) for the day. Deliberated for 4 hours 15 minutes. Deliberations continue on 5/14.
5/14/19 Day 10: Jurors asked two questions earlier today; if they could have a copy of a transcript & another about whether a note was entered into evidence. Judge said No to both requests. Deliberations have now gone past 8 hours. Jury finds Borges guilty of first degree murder with premeditation & extreme cruelty and atrocity. Borges will be sentenced on July 9th at 2 pm.
*Sentencing Hearing (@ 9:30am PT) - NV – Dr. Thomas Kirk Burchard (71) (reported missing Mar. 2, 2019; found Mar. 7, 2019 in truck of car near Lake Mead Rec. Area entrance, Las Vegas) – *Diana Nicole Pena (30) arrest warrant issued (4/5/19), arrested (4/13/19) & charged (4/14/19) for charges of conspiracy to commit murder & open murder with the use of a deadly weapon or tear gas (victim an older person). Plead not guilty. Held without bond.
4/5/19 Update: Warrants were issued for Diana Nicole Pena Friday, 4/5/19. Was still on the run as of 4/14/19.
4/13/19 Update: Pena booked into Clark County jail. Appearance on 4/14/19 appointed attorney, no bail. Next Status hearing on 4/16 & Status check hearing on 4/30 and preliminary hearing on 6/3. 4/30/19: Bond stays the same. Next Preliminary hearing on 6/3.
6/3/19 Update: Waives right to preliminary hearing. Bound over to District Court as charged. District Court appearance scheduled for 6/6 at 9am. Bond stays the same-no bond.
6/6/19 Update: Bound over to District court. Pena agreed to plead guilty to a reduced charge & could get probation or up to five years in prison for her felony conviction. Initial arraignment on 6/11. 6/11/19 Update: Plead guilty, sentencing on 7/9.
*Kelsey Nicole Turner – 6/3/19: Case was dismissed by Grand Jury. Indicted (5/31/19) again arraignment hearing 6/13. Next hearing was 7/2.
*Jon Logan Kennison aka “Big Red” – 6/3/19: Case was dismissed by Grand Jury. Indicted (5/31/19) again arraignment hearing on 6/13. Next hearing was 7/2.
I shall keep adding as the weeks come up for July!
Monday, July 1st:
*Trial set to begin (@ 9am ET) - FL - Adelynn Merrell (3) (Nov. 10, 2017, Crestview) – only for *Destinee Jade Merrell (23) ("mom") charged & indicted (11/13/17) with 3 counts of child neglect w/o great bodily harm & 1 count of aggravated child cruelty & 1 count of accessory to murder after the fact. Plead not guilty, no bond. DA will seek DP.
Trial to start on 7/1/19 with jury selection.
*Cory M. Hagwell (29) – Status hearing on 8/2, Docket Day on 8/8, trial starts 8/16/19.
*Trial set to begin (Day 1) (@ 8:30am ET) - FL - Meredith Jessie (6) & Mark Weeley (50) (July 18, 2015, Lakeland) - *Cheyanne Nicole Jessie (25) indicted (8/18/15) on 2 counts 1st degree murder, 1 count tampering with evidence; plead not guilty; held with no bond; father and daughter killed.
Trial set to begin 7/1/19. Jury selection took place from 6/24-28/19.
*Penalty Phase begins (Day 1) (@ 9am ET) - FL - Jennifer Lynn Fulford (56) (missing Sept. 27, 2017, Winter Park; found Sept. 30, 2017) - *Scott Edward Nelson (53) arrested & charged (10/1/17) & indicted (12/12/17) with 1st degree murder, kidnapping, burglary, assault & battery, (1st degree) car jacking with deadly weapon, (1st degree) robbery with firearm & (3rd degree) tampering with a witness. Plead not guilty. No bond on all counts. DP case.
Trial started 6/10/19 with Jury selection & ended on 6/21/19. Trial started 6/24 & ended on 6/27/19. 12 jurors & 3 alternates.
Jury selection from 6/10-21 & Trial info from 6/24/19 to 6/27/19 (Day 1-4) reference post #525 here:
GUILTY - FL - Jennifer Fulford, 56, Winter Park, 27 Sept 2017 *Arrest*
6/28/19 Day 5: Prosecutor Linda Drane-Burdick does closing argument. Defense Assistant Public Defender Robert Larr does their closing. Prosecutor Kelly Hicks gave the state's rebuttal closing argument. Judge is now reading jury instructions. Following a sidebar the judge told the jury Count 2 had been removed from their verdict form. There was no other explanation. On the indictment Count 2 is Burglary. On the first-degree murder charge the jury can consider the lesser charge of: 2nd-degree murder w/weapon, 2nd-degree murder, Manslaughter w/weapon & Manslaughter. Jury off to deliberate (about 12 noon ET to about 3pm). Judge excused three jury alternates for the day, but explained that they are still members of the jury & remain under the order of the court for possibility of second phase (penalty phase). Jurors are asking for transcript of Nelson's testimony, as well as letters he sent to state attorney, detective & all the rest of his letters. They can't get transcript but can have testimony read back. Also can't get letters because letters not admitted evidence. The jury ask another question: "Please define intent and when intent has to occur." Verdict after about 3 hours of deliberations: GUILTY of First-degree murder with a weapon. GUILTY on all other counts. Penalty phase begins Monday morning, 7/1. Nelson faces the possibility of the death penalty.
*Trial continues (Day 9) (@ 9am CT) - NE - Sydney Loofe (24) (Nov. 15, 2017, Lincoln; found Dec. 4 & 5, 2017 in Edgar, east of Clay Center) – only for *Aubrey C. Trail (51) charged & indicted (6/11/18) & arraigned (7/13/18) with 1st degree murder & improper disposal of human remains (plead guilty to this charge 6/18/19) & charged (3/1/19) with conspiracy to commit murder. Plead not guilty. No bond. DA will seek DP.
Trial started 6/17/19 with jury selection. Trial started on 6/18/19 & runs thru 7/8/19. Jurors: 7 women & 5 men, with 3 alternates.
Court info & Trial info from Day 1-7 (6/11/19 to 6/27/19) reference post #807 here:
Found Deceased - NE - Sydney Loofe, 24, Lincoln, 15 Nov 2017 - #3
6/28/19 Day 8: State witnesses: Saline County correction officer Lindsay Schurman (re about intercepted coded letters Trail wrote to Boswell while in the county jail). Prosecution offered to publish these letters as evidence to the jury, but defense attorney Joe Murray objected on the basis of foundation, questioning the authenticity & relevance of the letters. Council deliberated with District Judge Vicky Johnson behind closed doors on separate, five-minute occasions, & Johnson sustained Murray's objection. Saline County correction officer Christina Stahl (found another letter). What the letters said was not revealed to the jurors, and the letters were not submitted as evidence. After jury is adjourned for lunch, Judge Vicky Johnson was apparently handed a note from the bailiff, & upon receiving it, stopped proceedings, & then asked to see one of the jurors in her chambers after adjournment. State witnesses: FBI special agent Mike Maset (presented a DVD that contained a nearly 3-hour interview with Trail from June 11, 2018 at the Saline County Jail in Wilber. Jury hears tape of how he killed Sydney. One juror was excused for family emergency. Trial continues to Monday, 7/1.
*Bailey M. Boswell (23) – Next Pretrial hearing on 8/9. Trial starts 10/25 thru 11/1/19.
Monday, July 8th:
*Penalty Phase of Trial begins (@ 9:30am CT) - IL - Yingying Zhang (26) (missing on June 9, 2017, Urbana; not found) - *Brendt A. Christensen (28) indicted (6/30/17) on kidnapping (Federal charge) resulting in death of Yingying & 2 counts of giving false statements to FBI. Plead not guilty. Held without bond. DA will seek DP.
Trial started 6/3/19 with jury selection & took until 6/11/19 to pick a jury. Trial should last about a week & a half (was 5 weeks previously). Opening statements expected to start 6/12 Wednesday morning. Judge expects a verdict between June 21 and June 24. If there ends up being a sentencing phase, judge believes it would start on July 8 so the 4th of July wouldn't interfere with the process. 12 jurors & 6 alternates. (7 men & 5 women).
Jury Selection Days 1 to 7 (6/3/19 to 6/7/19) & Trial days 1 to 8 (6/2/19 to 6/21/19) reference post #1015 here:
GUILTY - IL - Yingying Zhang, 26, Urbana, 9 June 2017 #9 *Arrest*
6/24/19 Day 9: Before closing arguments today, two representatives for the University of Illinois presented documentation to the judge of communication between the counseling center and staff involving Christensen’s (BC’s) treatment. Closing arguments & rebuttal done. Jury gets instructions & off to deliberate @ 11:35am. Jury has reached a verdict. Less than two hours. Christensen has been found GUILTY of kidnapping resulting in the death of Yingying Zhang. Also found GUILTY on two counts of making false statements to the FBI. Sentencing phase starts July 8th.
*Trial set to begin (@ 9am MT) - CO - Makayla Victoria Roberts (10) & Hannah Elizabeth Rosaline Marshall (8) (June, 2017, Norwood; found Sept. 8, 2017) – only for *Nashika Leonie Bramble (36) (from Georgia) "Mom" charged with 2 counts of 1st degree murder & 2 counts of child abuse resulting in death, bond $125K; pled not guilty.
Trial to start 7/8/19 to 7/26/19.
Accomplices:
*Ashford Nathaniel Archer – Found guilty. Sentence to 24 years in prison w/credit for time served. Re child: Pretrial conference hearing on 7/26. Termination of Parental Rights hearings from 8/27 to 8/30. 5/8/19: Filed an appeal on guilty verdict.
*Madani "Ama" Ceus – Found incompetent to stand trial. The court will receive an update at a status conference at noon on 7/26 in Telluride.
*Ika Eden – found incompetent to stand trial. Status hearing 8/20.
*Frederick "Alec" A. Blair – Plead guilty to plea. Status hearing on 8/29.
*Trial set to begin (@ am ET) - PA – Nichole Pumphrey (31), her daughter, Ameriah Emery (10) & Lawrence Cannon (31) possibly BF (Oct. 16, 2018, New Castle) – Only for *Steven Procopio (19) arrested & charged (10/17/18) with 3 counts of criminal homicide, 3 counts of criminal conspiracy, attempted murder & gun offense. Plead not guilty. Bail denied. Used to babysit Nichole’s kids. 4 other children in home-all safe & in custody.
Trial is set for 7/8/19.
*Anthony Lavon “Mook” Cooper, Jr. – Trial was set to begin 5/6, no further updates as of 6/16
*Jody Lynn Hammer - 4/1/19 Update: All charges against Hammer have been dismissed.
*Trial continues (Day 14) (@ 10:30am PT) – AZ – Navneet Kaur (30) (March 30, 2007, Phoenix) - *Avtar Singh Grewal (44/32 @ time of crime) charged (3/30/07), indicted (4/3/07) & arraigned (9/23/11) with 1st degree murder & 2nd degree burglary. Plead not guilty. $4M bond. Juan Martinez, Prosecutor
Extradited from India to U.S. (9/14/11).
Trial started 6/3/19. Jury is 13 people. (Started at 16: 3 jurors have been excused). Trial should last about 3 months. (Day 1-3 was jury selection).
Trial information from Days 1 thru 10 (6/3/19 to 6/24/19) reference post #77 here:
AZ - Navneet Kaur, 30, Phoenix, 30 March 2007
6/25/19 Day 11: Defense witnesses: Deepindra Singh Thour. Exhibits 223, 229 234 entered. Jury not present. Counsel present argument to the Court regarding anticipated testimony from expert witness, Dr. Karen Froming. Jury back. Michael Einspahr. Harinder Chowhanis sworn to act as the interpreter for Punjabi language. Harbhagwan Seikhon (recalled). Trial continues on 6/26.
6/26/19 Day 12: Defense witness: Avtar Singh Grewal. Trial continues on 6/27.
6/27/19 Day 13: Defense witness: Avtar Singh Grewal. Cross exam starts on 7/8 with Juan!
*Trial continues- (Day 29) (@ 9:30am PT) - CA - Ghost Ship Warehouse Fire in Oakland on Dec. 2, 2016 killing 36 people: Cash Askew, age 22, Em B (Em Bohlka), 33, Jonathan Bernbaum, 34, Barrett Clark, 35, David Cline, 24, Micah Danemayer, 28, Billy Dixon, 35, Chelsea Dolan, 33, Alex Ghassan, 35, Nick Gomez-Hall, 25, Michela Gregory, 20, Sara Hoda, 30, Travis Hough, 35, Johnny Igaz, 34, Ara Jo, 29, Donna Kellogg, 32, Amanda Kershaw, 34, Edmond Lapine, 34, Griffin Madden, 23, Joseph Matlock, 36, Jason McCarty, 36, Draven McGill, 17, Jennifer Mendiola, 35, Jennifer Morris, 21, Feral Pines, 29, Vanessa Plotkin, 21, Wolfgang Renner, 61, Hanna Ruax, 32, Benjamin Runnels, 32, Nicole Siegrist, 29, Michele Sylvan, 37, Jennifer Kiyomi Tanouye, 31, Alex Vega, 22, Peter Wadsworth, 38, Nick Walrath, 31, and Brandon Chase Wittenauer, 32. - *Derick Ion Almena (47), and *Max Cardin Harris (27), charged (8/10/17) with 36 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter; both plead not guilty. They remain in custody at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin on $750,000 bond (was $1.8M) and face up to 39 years in prison each if convicted.
Trial started April 30, 2019 with opening statements & continued on May 1 with testimony which began on May 6. Trial is expected to take 12 to 18 weeks. Jurors: 9 women/3 men (4 alternates; 5/1: One alternate juror removed due to work hardship. 5/9: one alternate juror removed as “veracity” issues). Court dark on Fridays.
Court hearings, Jury selection & Trial Days (1 thru 27) from 8/10/18 thru 6/25/19 reference post #809 here:
CA - Massive fire at Oakland warehouse party, 36 dead, 2 Dec 2016 #3
6/26/19 Day 28: Defense witness: Micah Allison continues testifying. Oakland firefighter Daniel Keenan. Thomas Cappel, musician. After the jury was dismissed, Serra told Judge Trina Thompson that one of their witnesses, unlicensed contractor Troy Altieri had failed to return to court to finish his testimony. Rather than have an arrest warrant issued, Serra asked that Altieri's previous testimony be stricken from the record. The trial is in recess until Monday, 7/8.
Tuesday, July 9th:
*Trial set to begin (@ 8:30am CT) – IN – Curtis Gilbert Collman III (8) (June 21, 2018, Jackson County; dies of meth overdose (180 times the lethal does, thought it was cereal) – *Curtis Gilbert Collman II (41) “father” arrested (6/21/18) & charged (6/26/18) with neglect of a dependent causing death, pointing a firearm, possession of meth, intimidation & theft. Also charged with failure to maintain his sexual registration status. Stems from a 2006 conviction of a Class D felony of sexual misconduct with a minor. $51,510 cash only bail.
Refused to call 911 & threatened others who tried to call. Faces 20-40 years in prison.
Trial is set for 7/9/19.
*Trial set to begin for both (@ 9:30am PT) - CA – Cecilia Bravo Cabrera (30) (last seen June 9, 2016, Lemoore, not found) - *Francisco Valdivia (37) (estranged husband) arrested (12/13/16), charged & arraigned (12/14/18) with 1 felony count of murder & arson. Plead not guilty. No bond.
*Rosaline Lopez (39) (FV’s 1st wife) arrested (12/13/16), charged & arraigned (12/14/18) with 1 felony count of being an accessory to murder after the fact. Plead not guilty. $500K bond.
Trial starts 7/9/19.
Sentencing hearings:
Monday, July 1st:
*Sentencing & Violation of Probation hearing (@ 1;30pm ET) – IL – Alysha Quate (6) (mid-June 2015, Centreville; found June 6, 2017) – only for - Elizabeth Odell-Quate (35) “mother” was extradited to Illinois & charged & indicted (1/27/18) on murder with concealing a death Class 3 Felony & forgery Class C Felony. Original bond $750K, reduced on 11/20/17 to $30K, out on bond.
9/18/18 Update: Plead guilty to concealing a death & forgery charges. Next hearing 12/10.
10/7/18 Update: Trial was to start 10/8/18, but took plea deal, hearing set for 12/10 re plea of guilty & also violation of probation hearing.
12/10/18 Update: Hearing was moved to 1/23/19, Pretrial Motions hearing on 2/19 & Jury trial on 3/18.
2/19/19 Update: Pretrial motions hearing moved to 2/28.
2/28/19 Update: Sentencing for concealing a death on 7/1 & hearing on forgery charges.
*IL – *Jason Scott Quate (35) “father” indicted (8/16/17) & charged (9/6/18) with 1st degree murder & concealing a death (Class 3 felony). Faces extradition to Illinois. Admitted to killing Alysha & hiding her body.
9/6/18 Update: DA files 1st degree murder charges in St. Claire County. $1M bail.
In custody in Nevada, Clark county (#17F10214X).
Monday, July 8th:
Sentencing Hearing (@ 2pm CT) – IA – Jessica Lyne Gomez (26) (Aug. 4, 2017, Fort Dodge; found 8/12/17) – only for *Mackenzie Lee Knigge (26) arrested (8/10/17) & charged (9/25/17) with 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. $1M cash bond.
Was original arrested in Indiana in a stolen on 8/10/17 & was extradited back to Iowa on 9/12/17.
Trial was to start 11/26, then moved to 3/5/19, now scheduled for 6/10/19. 11/26/18: Change of Venue granted to Story County.
Trial was to start 6/10/19.
6/6/19 Update: A plea agreement was reached & she plead guilty Thursday to 3 charges: Attempt to Commit Murder, Robbery in the Second Degree, and Desecration of a Corpse. Trial was set to start in Story County on Monday (6/10) following a change of venue, but instead will be sentenced on July 8. Per the plea agreement, a 35-year maximum prison sentence will be recommended.
*Phillip Anthony Williams (25) arrested (8/10/17) & charged (7/17/18) with 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. $1M cash bond.
3/25/19 Update: Trial was supposed to start, Williams instead pleaded guilty 4/22/19 Update: For Count 1 Attempt to commit murder: 25 years in prison. Count 3: Abuse of human corpse: 5 years. 5 year no contact w/immediate family of Jessica. Count 2: Accessory after the fact: 2 years.
Tuesday, July 9th:
*Sentencing Hearing (@ 9am ET) - MA - Lee Manuel Viloria-Paulino (16) (missing Nov. 18, 2016, Lawrence, found Dec. 1, 2016) - *Mathew Borges (15/now 18) indicted (3/31/17) of 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty; held without bail. Will be tried as an adult.
Trial started 4/22/19 with Jury selection. Opening statements on 4/29.
Court & Trial information from 4/22/19 thru 5/8/19 (Day 1-7 Trial) reference post #119 here:
GUILTY - MA - Lee Viloria-Paulino, 16, decapitated, Lawrence, 18 Nov 2016 *Arrest*
5/9/19 Day 8: State Trooper Steve Buccheri (Investigator for DA's office) re cell phone calls. Trooper Matt Wilson, homicide detective (with DA's office). Juror number 4 has been excused "for reasons personal to her". Prosecution has rested their case. Defense will not call any witnesses. Defense rests their case. Jurors will be back on Monday, 5/13 for closing arguments.
5/13/19 Day 9: Judge gives jury instructions. Closing arguments. Jurors started deliberations @ 11:45am & have gone home (about 4pm) for the day. Deliberated for 4 hours 15 minutes. Deliberations continue on 5/14.
5/14/19 Day 10: Jurors asked two questions earlier today; if they could have a copy of a transcript & another about whether a note was entered into evidence. Judge said No to both requests. Deliberations have now gone past 8 hours. Jury finds Borges guilty of first degree murder with premeditation & extreme cruelty and atrocity. Borges will be sentenced on July 9th at 2 pm.
*Sentencing Hearing (@ 9:30am PT) - NV – Dr. Thomas Kirk Burchard (71) (reported missing Mar. 2, 2019; found Mar. 7, 2019 in truck of car near Lake Mead Rec. Area entrance, Las Vegas) – *Diana Nicole Pena (30) arrest warrant issued (4/5/19), arrested (4/13/19) & charged (4/14/19) for charges of conspiracy to commit murder & open murder with the use of a deadly weapon or tear gas (victim an older person). Plead not guilty. Held without bond.
4/5/19 Update: Warrants were issued for Diana Nicole Pena Friday, 4/5/19. Was still on the run as of 4/14/19.
4/13/19 Update: Pena booked into Clark County jail. Appearance on 4/14/19 appointed attorney, no bail. Next Status hearing on 4/16 & Status check hearing on 4/30 and preliminary hearing on 6/3. 4/30/19: Bond stays the same. Next Preliminary hearing on 6/3.
6/3/19 Update: Waives right to preliminary hearing. Bound over to District Court as charged. District Court appearance scheduled for 6/6 at 9am. Bond stays the same-no bond.
6/6/19 Update: Bound over to District court. Pena agreed to plead guilty to a reduced charge & could get probation or up to five years in prison for her felony conviction. Initial arraignment on 6/11. 6/11/19 Update: Plead guilty, sentencing on 7/9.
*Kelsey Nicole Turner – 6/3/19: Case was dismissed by Grand Jury. Indicted (5/31/19) again arraignment hearing 6/13. Next hearing was 7/2.
*Jon Logan Kennison aka “Big Red” – 6/3/19: Case was dismissed by Grand Jury. Indicted (5/31/19) again arraignment hearing on 6/13. Next hearing was 7/2.
I shall keep adding as the weeks come up for July!