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

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Feb. 17, 2023
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) - The second murder trial for convicted child killer Christopher Clements continued Thursday with more witnesses taking the stand, including the mother of Isabel Celis.
[.....]

TRIAL DAY 4: MORE WITNESSES

On Thursday, Isabel’s father Becky took the stand.

Others to take the stand Thursday were:

  • FBI Agent David Song
  • Melissa Stark, Clements’ former girlfriend and the mother of his child. She will return to the stand Friday morning.
 
Friday, February 17th:
*Trial continues (Day 4) (@ 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 41) 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 3/9/23. But Judge Marner believes trial will end earlier than the 9th.

Court hearings from 8/23/19 to 2/8/23 & Jury selection (2/9/23) & Trial Day 1-2 (2/14 to 2/15/23) reference post #596 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...tucson-20-april-2012-arrest-27.464075/page-30

2/15/23 Wednesday, Trial Day 2 (correction): State witnesses: Sergio Celis, Returns for cross exam. Sergio Miguel, Isabel’s brother. Corina Rivera, ex-girlfriend of Clements (2012).
For more info see posts #595 & 599 (articles) here:
[URL unfurl=false"]https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...tucson-20-april-2012-arrest-27.464075/page-30[/URL]
Trial continues on Thursday, 2/16/23.

2/16/23 Thursday, Trial Day 3: State witnesses: Becky Celis, Isabel's mother. FBI Agent David Song. Melissa Stark, Clements' former girlfriend (returned to the stand).
For more info see post #603 (article) here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...tucson-20-april-2012-arrest-27.464075/page-31
Trial continues on Friday, 2/17/23.

*Maribel Victoria Gonzales (13) - Trial started 9/13/22 & ended 9/30/22 with a guilty verdict. Sentenced on 11/14/22 to natural life in prison & 17 years for kidnapping. The kidnapping sentence will be served consecutively with the sentence of natural life.
 
“That was her house, that’s what she knew. That was her favorite place to be,” Becky Celis said. “I didn’t want to not be there and her to not know where we were.”

Becky Celis’ testimony Thursday followed that of her husband’s and son’s, the family members all becoming emotional as they spoke about the hours, days and weeks after Isabel’s disappearance.

She told jurors how she braided Isabel’s hair and helped her get ready for softball the night before she went missing from her bedroom. Becky Celis was at work when her husband, Sergio, texted and then called to tell her Isabel was gone.

She told jurors that Isabel would never have walked away from the house or gone willingly with a stranger. She pointed out in photos that toys in Isabel’s room had been moved from a shelf just below her bedroom window. Isabel’s brother, Sergio Miguel, found her window open with the screen propped up against the wall the morning she was reported missing.
 
“That was her house, that’s what she knew. That was her favorite place to be,” Becky Celis said. “I didn’t want to not be there and her to not know where we were.”

Becky Celis’ testimony Thursday followed that of her husband’s and son’s, the family members all becoming emotional as they spoke about the hours, days and weeks after Isabel’s disappearance.

She told jurors how she braided Isabel’s hair and helped her get ready for softball the night before she went missing from her bedroom. Becky Celis was at work when her husband, Sergio, texted and then called to tell her Isabel was gone.

She told jurors that Isabel would never have walked away from the house or gone willingly with a stranger. She pointed out in photos that toys in Isabel’s room had been moved from a shelf just below her bedroom window. Isabel’s brother, Sergio Miguel, found her window open with the screen propped up against the wall the morning she was reported missing.
Big thanks for summarizing the report @imstilla.grandma. I've searched for news on this case so much I'm already paywalled from all the sources!
 
Tuesday, February 21st:
*Trial continues (Day 5) (@ 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 41) 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 3/9/23. But Judge Marner believes trial will end earlier than the 9th.

Court hearings from 8/23/19 to 2/8/23 & Jury selection (2/9/23) & Trial Day 1-3 (2/14 to 2/16/23) reference post #604 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...tucson-20-april-2012-arrest-27.464075/page-31

2/17/23 Friday, Trial Day 4: State witnesses: Melissa Stark, ex-girlfriend back on stand. Tucson Police Dept Detective Eddie Orozco. Orozco was there when Isabel’s remains were found off Avra Valley & Trico roads in rural Pima County. During Orozco’s testimony, the state showed pictures of Isabel’s remains. At that moment, her family left the courtroom. Keeley Coleman, a DNA analyst.
For more info see post #606 (article) here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...tucson-20-april-2012-arrest-27.464075/page-31
Trial continues on Tuesday, 2/21/23. Monday is President’s Day.

*Maribel Victoria Gonzales (13) - Trial started 9/13/22 & ended 9/30/22 with a guilty verdict. Sentenced on 11/14/22 to natural life in prison & 17 years for kidnapping. The kidnapping sentence will be served consecutively with the sentence of natural life.
 
Wednesday, February 22nd:
*Trial continues (Day 6) (@ 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 41) 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 3/9/23. But Judge Marner believes trial will end earlier than the 9th.

Court hearings from 8/23/19 to 2/8/23 & Jury selection (2/9/23) & Trial Day 1-4 (2/14 to 2/17/23) reference post #611 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...tucson-20-april-2012-arrest-27.464075/page-31

2/21/23 Tuesday, Trial Day 5: State witnesses: Dr. Jennifer Vollner. a forensic anthropologist with the Pima County Office of Medical Examiners. Dr. Bruce Anderson, also a forensic anthropologist with the Pima County Office of Medical Examiners.
For more info see post #612 (article) here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...tucson-20-april-2012-arrest-27.464075/page-31
Trial continues on Wednesday, 2/22/23.

*Maribel Victoria Gonzales (13) - Trial started 9/13/22 & ended 9/30/22 with a guilty verdict. Sentenced on 11/14/22 to natural life in prison & 17 years for kidnapping. The kidnapping sentence will be served consecutively with the sentence of natural life.
 

Feb. 23, 2023
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) - The second murder trial for convicted child killer Christopher Clements continued Wednesday, Feb. 22, with more expert witnesses taking the stand.
[.....]

TRIAL DAY 6: MORE WITNESSES

At the start of the day, a juror was excused but the judge did not say why. That leaves 12 jurors and two alternates.

The state opened the day by calling Adriana Nunez, who was living around Palo Verde and Drexel in 2013.

The state showed Nunez photos of her 5-year-old daughter, that were allegedly found on Clements’ electronic devices.
[.....]
Marina Baez was then questioned about photos of her young daughter that were allegedly found on Clements’ devices.

Baez said her daughter was around 5 or 6 years old when the photos were taken and that they were taken at her sister’s apartment.
[.....]
The state then called FBI Special Agent Patrick Cullen, a digital forensic examiner, to the stand.

He said he looked at Clements’ electronic devices and found several internet searches about Isabel. He also said he found several images of scantily clad girls on one of Clements’ phones.

Of the 200 photos, 127 were of underage girls.

The state later called Tucson Police Department Det. Ana Egurrola to the stand.

Egurrola questioned Clements after Isabel went missing.
 
and more witnesses listed in this article


Feb. 22, 2023
....
Tucson police crime lab superintendent Jelena Myers testified about DNA analyzed in the case, including a few bloodstains found on the floor of Isabel’s bedroom the morning she went missing. The blood DNA matched Isabel’s, Myers said, but the lab was unable to match DNA samples collected from her windowsill, saying there wasn’t enough material to develop a profile.
[.....]
The trial is scheduled to last through May 9 in Pima County Superior Court.



edited to add: Wonder if the article meant to say MARCH 9th, as I have in my notes. I can not see this trial going into May... ??
 
Thursday, February 23rd:
*Trial continues (Day 7) (@ 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 41) 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). One juror was dismissed (2/22/23) 2 alternates. Pima County Superior Court Judge James Marner presiding.
Trial began on Tuesday, 2/14/23 thru 3/9/23. But Judge Marner believes trial will end earlier than the 9th. Article said trial might last until 5/9/23.

Court hearings from 8/23/19 to 2/8/23 & Jury selection (2/9/23) & Trial Day 1-5 (2/14 to 2/21/23) reference post #613 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...tucson-20-april-2012-arrest-27.464075/page-31

2/22/23 Wednesday, Trial Day 6: At the start of the day, a juror was excused but the judge did not say why. That leaves 12 jurors & two alternates.
State witnesses: Adriana Nunez, who was living around Palo Verde & Drexel in 2013. The state showed Nunez photos of her 5-year-old daughter, that were allegedly found on Clements’ electronic devices. Marina Baez questioned about photos of her young daughter that were allegedly found on Clements’ devices. FBI Special Agent Patrick Cullen, a digital forensic examiner. Looked at Clements’ electronic devices & found several internet searches about Isabel. He also said he found several images of scantily clad girls on one of Clements’ phones. Of the 200 photos, 127 were of underage girls. Tucson Police Dept. Det. Ana Egurrola. Egurrola questioned Clements after Isabel went missing. Tucson police crime lab superintendent Jelena Myers, DNA analyst.
For more info see post #615 & 616 (articles) here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...tucson-20-april-2012-arrest-27.464075/page-31
Trial continues on Thursday, 2/23/23.

*Maribel Victoria Gonzales (13) - Trial started 9/13/22 & ended 9/30/22 with a guilty verdict. Sentenced on 11/14/22 to natural life in prison & 17 years for kidnapping. The kidnapping sentence will be served consecutively with the sentence of natural life.
 

Feb. 23, 2023
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) - The second murder trial for convicted child killer Christopher Clements continued Thursday, Feb. 23, with more witnesses taking the stand, including the first for the defense.
[.....]

TRIAL DAY 7: MORE WITNESSES

Clements’ attorney Eric Kessler opened the day by calling Jill Sena to the stand. Sena is a psychotherapist and was a neighbor of the Celis family.

The unusual move, the state wasn’t finished with its witnesses yet, was because of a scheduling issue for Sena.
[.....]
The state then called FBI agent Tony Taylor to the stand.

Taylor helped the Tucson Police Department in the search for Isabel.
[.....]
The state then called TPD Det. Jeff Lockwood.

Lockwood said investigators looked into Clements’ and Stark’s financial records.
[.....]
Tucson Police Dept. Detective Josh Cheek. He didn’t finish his testimony Thursday & will return Friday.
 

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