AZ - Kiera Bergman, 19, Glendale, 4 August 2018 *Arrest*

[Alethea]

I think for search warrants the party will be the place they execute the warrant against, so that makes sense. When the federal government seizes assets in connection with prosecuted cases the forfeiture case is always against the seized asset - so you see cases like "United States vs. A Sequined Glove belonging to Michael Jackson" or "United States vs. Fifty Pounds of Gold Bullion." A friend of mine follows the cases and sends around the most ridiculous ones.

 

[SuziQ]

I wish all young women understood that these types of drama filled relationships are dangerous and not normal. And to run! Anne Rule books should be required reading for all teenage girls.

 

[Owutatangledweb]

Incidentally, the probable cause statement for Clark’s arrest in the murder case mentions him moving into a hotel in Phoenix after he moved out of Kiera and her roommate’s apartment on Aug. 10:

Just wanted to clarify, he left his friend's apartment on August 10th. He stayed there after he left Kiera's and his friend would not let him stay any longer than that. His lies regarding where he was living is part of his probation violation.

 

[borndem]

In so many ways ...

I hate what this is doing to her parents. I often fantasize about having a magic wand. With one wave I could make their child reappear, and everything is right in the world again. If only

Wonderful fantasy, Knox. Keep workin' on it!
Then we peeps here at WS could say, "We knew her when..."

 

[borndem]

Well, what most of us were thinking, has been confirmed. And now her parents, other family and friends know, too. I don't know whether they will sleep better knowing this or not. Their little girl is gone from the earth. I hope they have lots and lots of good memories about her so that they can smile and remember those times.

Now it's up to LE, the prosecutors and the Court to seek justice for Kiera, her family, friends, and for the People of the State of Arizona.

Now we begin The Big Wait until an arrest & trial, or a confession and plea deal.
Another good young woman gone...

 

[borndem]

Thanks @inmyhumbleopinion, for the great doc in your posts -- good research for us to have handy!

 

[agilbe]

I wish all young women understood that these types of drama filled relationships are dangerous and not normal. And to run! Anne Rule books should be required reading for all teenage girls.

AMEN!!!

 

[Owutatangledweb]

DITTO.

 

[LuminiousVisions]

I’ve been following this case because I live in the neighborhood next to the apartment complex. I’m so sad for her family and hope they find justice for Kiera.

I am very suspicious of JC. Even more so since her body was discovered off the 85. This highway is the route one would take if traveling to or from San Diego. It is a remote area and lesser traveled. People don’t use this road unless you’re going to Gila Bend or SD. There are far more remote areas much closer to my house, specifically north of here, maybe a 20 minute drive. So it doesn’t make logistical sense for someone to go all the way to the 85, unless that someone is not familiar with the area, but familiar with that drive.

 

[LuminiousVisions]

I agree with your comments and am curious if her body was moved to the 85. The Adobe Dam Recreation Area was my first selection. Absolutely no lights, no security, and an easy location to get in and out of.

 

[SuziQ]

D

 

[Niner]

Tuesday, Sept. 18th:
*Status Hearing (@ 8:30am PT) – AZ – Kiera Lanae Bergman (19) (Aug. 4, 2018-missing; not reported until Aug. 6, 2018; found Sept. 3, 2018) – Jon-Christopher Marcus Clark (23) (BF) charged (9/11/18) with first-degree murder, improper removal of a body, and evidence tampering in Bergman's death. Appeared before Judge & officially charged (9/11/18) with 1st degree premeditated murder, improper removal of a body & tampering with evidence. Bond set at $1M CASH only.
9/11/18 Update: Investigators have developed probable cause to charge the ex-boyfriend of Kiera Bergman in the teen's death. Police have recommended Clark be charged with first-degree murder, improper removal of a body, and evidence tampering in Bergman's death. Appeared before Judge & officially charged with 1st degree premeditated murder, improper removal of a body & tampering with evidence. Bond set at $1M CASH only; $25K for ID theft. Next Status hearing is 9/18 and Prelim hearing on 9/21.
Other case: arrested (8/17/18) & charged (8/18/18) with 22 counts of aggravated identity theft & 2 counts of forgery. Plead not guilty. $25K bond.
Clark had a warrant from out of state, but was also booked in Phoenix with the new charges. Also violated probation on another charge (not stated) & will also be heard at this hearing on 8/24. Not a POI or suspect in Kiera’s disappearance (yet!).
8/24/18 Update: According to court documents, Clark was found to have the "identifying information for 21 individuals" in his possession. The information belonged to people who lived in the San Diego County area. Also information included valid California ID cards and life insurance application forms containing bank account information with Clark's signature as the insurance agent. Clark was found to have two South Carolina licenses with the name Jean Deborah Pannel and two California licenses with the name Deborah Jean Pannell. His photograph was on the licenses, according to court documents.
8/24/18 Update #2: Charges may have been dismissed & he is out of jail. The County Attorney's Office has requested additional information from law enforcement to make a determination" on what formal charges will or will not be brought, said Rebecca Wilder, Maricopa County Attorney's Office spokeswoman. "The charges are under review." Court appearance Friday (8/24), the court commissioner ordered him to be released, Maricopa County Superior Court spokesman Bryan Bouchard confirmed. He said a probation revocation hearing for Clark was vacated because no petition to revoke was filed. Still looking for info.
8/27/18 Update: Sgt. Bryant Vanegas, a Maricopa County Sheriff's Office spokesman, said Clark was charged (8/24/18) with a probation violation right before he was to be released Saturday. Clark was on probation from a 2018 theft arrest from when he was living in California, records show. His probation agreement forbids him from engaging in any criminal activity. He was the last person to see her before she left the apartment without her purse, wallet or keys. Nothing yet on whether he has been released or not as of 8/27/18.
8/28/18 Update: Pretrial conference hearing on 10/17 & Comprehensive Pretrial conference on 11/21.
9/4/18 Update: Plead not guilty; arraignment hearing continued to 9/5.
9/6/18 Update: Kiera's body was found 9/3/18. Authorities now consider Kiera's case an active homicide investigation. No arrests have been made in connection to her death.
9/5/18 Update: Plead not guilty. Next initial pretrial hearing on 10/17 & comprehensive pretrial hearing on 11/21.

 

[inmyhumbleopinion]

Tuesday, Sept. 18th:
*Status Hearing (@ 8:30am PT) – AZ – Kiera Lanae Bergman (19) (Aug. 4, 2018-missing; not reported until Aug. 6, 2018; found Sept. 3, 2018) – Jon-Christopher Marcus Clark (23) (BF) charged (9/11/18) with first-degree murder, improper removal of a body, and evidence tampering in Bergman's death. Appeared before Judge & officially charged (9/11/18) with 1st degree premeditated murder, improper removal of a body & tampering with evidence. Bond set at $1M CASH only.
9/11/18 Update: Investigators have developed probable cause to charge the ex-boyfriend of Kiera Bergman in the teen's death. Police have recommended Clark be charged with first-degree murder, improper removal of a body, and evidence tampering in Bergman's death. Appeared before Judge & officially charged with 1st degree premeditated murder, improper removal of a body & tampering with evidence. Bond set at $1M CASH only; $25K for ID theft. Next Status hearing is 9/18 and Prelim hearing on 9/21.
Other case: arrested (8/17/18) & charged (8/18/18) with 22 counts of aggravated identity theft & 2 counts of forgery. Plead not guilty. $25K bond.
Clark had a warrant from out of state, but was also booked in Phoenix with the new charges. Also violated probation on another charge (not stated) & will also be heard at this hearing on 8/24. Not a POI or suspect in Kiera’s disappearance (yet!).
8/24/18 Update: According to court documents, Clark was found to have the "identifying information for 21 individuals" in his possession. The information belonged to people who lived in the San Diego County area. Also information included valid California ID cards and life insurance application forms containing bank account information with Clark's signature as the insurance agent. Clark was found to have two South Carolina licenses with the name Jean Deborah Pannel and two California licenses with the name Deborah Jean Pannell. His photograph was on the licenses, according to court documents.
8/24/18 Update #2: Charges may have been dismissed & he is out of jail. The County Attorney's Office has requested additional information from law enforcement to make a determination" on what formal charges will or will not be brought, said Rebecca Wilder, Maricopa County Attorney's Office spokeswoman. "The charges are under review." Court appearance Friday (8/24), the court commissioner ordered him to be released, Maricopa County Superior Court spokesman Bryan Bouchard confirmed. He said a probation revocation hearing for Clark was vacated because no petition to revoke was filed. Still looking for info.
8/27/18 Update: Sgt. Bryant Vanegas, a Maricopa County Sheriff's Office spokesman, said Clark was charged (8/24/18) with a probation violation right before he was to be released Saturday. Clark was on probation from a 2018 theft arrest from when he was living in California, records show. His probation agreement forbids him from engaging in any criminal activity. He was the last person to see her before she left the apartment without her purse, wallet or keys. Nothing yet on whether he has been released or not as of 8/27/18.
8/28/18 Update: Pretrial conference hearing on 10/17 & Comprehensive Pretrial conference on 11/21.
9/4/18 Update: Plead not guilty; arraignment hearing continued to 9/5.
9/6/18 Update: Kiera's body was found 9/3/18. Authorities now consider Kiera's case an active homicide investigation. No arrests have been made in connection to her death.
9/5/18 Update: Plead not guilty. Next initial pretrial hearing on 10/17 & comprehensive pretrial hearing on 11/21.

Thanks for the update, Niner!

I do see some information that wasn’t on the court website last Friday, including:

“Filing Date: 9/14/2018
Description: IND - Indictment - Party (001);

Filing Date: 9/14/2018
Description: 606 - ME: GJ Not/Supervening Indictment - Party (001)”

Since it appears that Clark has now been indicted by a grand jury, the previously scheduled status conference (9/18) and the preliminary hearing (8:45 on 9/21) likely have been cancelled:

“Both the status conference and the preliminary hearing are cancelled, or ‘vacated,’ if the County Attorney's Office files formal charges against the defendant by obtaining a Grand Jury indictment.”
Adult Criminal Trial Process | Maricopa County Attorney's Office, AZ

In that case, his next court appearance will be at the original arraignment hearing, currently scheduled to take place at 8:30 on 9/21:
Criminal Court Case Information - Case History

It also appears that the murder charge has indeed been downgraded to second degree and the improper removal of a body charge has been dropped.

 

[Niner]

Thanks (again) for the updates inmyhumbleopinion!

 

[Alethea]

Thank you both, I am eager to follow this case and see JC locked up for life.

 

[BBuff518]

Thank you both, I am eager to follow this case and see JC locked up for life.

By the looks of it I don’t think that will Happen. 2nd degree will come with a sentence of 10-22 years in az at least that’s what I read

 

[BBuff518]

He must be singing like a bird in custody. I think he is either telling on someone else who may be involved to get a lighter sentence or maybe has confessed in exchange for a lighter charge.

 

[PinkPrincessPoop]

Wow....I have not looked up this case since the 1st of the month, so I'm catching up! RIP Kiera. Of course JC being charged for the murder is not a surprise. He was so dumb. Kiera seemed so smart. This world is not fair. Are you happy now, JC? Is this what you thought your life would be like when you made that dumb, evil, worthless decision?

 

[Niner]

Friday, Sept. 21st:
*Arraignment & Preliminary Hearing (@ 8:30am & 8:45am PT) – AZ – Kiera Lanae Bergman (19) (Aug. 4, 2018-missing; not reported until Aug. 6, 2018; found Sept. 3, 2018) – Jon-Christopher Marcus Clark (23) (BF) charged (9/11/18) with first-degree murder, improper removal of a body, and evidence tampering in Bergman's death. Appeared before Judge & officially charged (9/11/18) with 1st degree premeditated murder, improper removal of a body & tampering with evidence. Bond set at $1M CASH only. Case# CR2018-144722-001
9/11/18 Update: Investigators have developed probable cause to charge the ex-boyfriend of Kiera Bergman in the teen's death. Police have recommended Clark be charged with first-degree murder, improper removal of a body, and evidence tampering in Bergman's death. Appeared before Judge & officially charged with 1st degree premeditated murder, improper removal of a body & tampering with evidence. Bond set at $1M CASH only; $25K for ID theft. Next Status hearing is 9/18 and Prelim hearing on 9/21.
9/18/18 Update: Since Grand Jury did indictment status hearing cancelled. Will have original arraignment hearing on 9/21 @ 8:30am, followed by a prelim hearing at 8:45am.
Other case: arrested (8/17/18) & charged (8/18/18) with 22 counts of aggravated identity theft & 2 counts of forgery. Plead not guilty. $25K bond. Case# CR2018-005378-001
Clark had a warrant from out of state, but was also booked in Phoenix with the new charges. Also violated probation on another charge (not stated) & will also be heard at this hearing on 8/24. Not a POI or suspect in Kiera’s disappearance (yet!).
8/24/18 Update: According to court documents, Clark was found to have the "identifying information for 21 individuals" in his possession. The information belonged to people who lived in the San Diego County area. Also information included valid California ID cards and life insurance application forms containing bank account information with Clark's signature as the insurance agent. Clark was found to have two South Carolina licenses with the name Jean Deborah Pannel and two California licenses with the name Deborah Jean Pannell. His photograph was on the licenses, according to court documents.
8/24/18 Update #2: Charges may have been dismissed & he is out of jail. The County Attorney's Office has requested additional information from law enforcement to make a determination" on what formal charges will or will not be brought, said Rebecca Wilder, Maricopa County Attorney's Office spokeswoman. ""The charges are under review." Court appearance Friday (8/24), the court commissioner ordered him to be released, Maricopa County Superior Court spokesman Bryan Bouchard confirmed. He said a probation revocation hearing for Clark was vacated because no petition to revoke was filed. Still looking for info.
8/27/18 Update: Sgt. Bryant Vanegas, a Maricopa County Sheriff's Office spokesman, said Clark was charged (8/24/18) with a probation violation right before he was to be released Saturday. Clark was on probation from a 2018 theft arrest from when he was living in California, records show. His probation agreement forbids him from engaging in any criminal activity. He was the last person to see her before she left the apartment without her purse, wallet or keys. Nothing yet on whether he has been released or not as of 8/27/18.
8/28/18 Update: Pretrial conference hearing on 10/17 & Comprehensive Pretrial conference on 11/21.
9/4/18 Update: Plead not guilty; arraignment hearing continued to 9/5.
9/6/18 Update: Kiera's body was found 9/3/18. Authorities now consider Kiera's case an active homicide investigation. No arrests have been made in connection to her death. 9/11/18 Update charged with her murder.
9/5/18 Update: Plead not guilty. Next initial pretrial hearing on 10/17 & comprehensive pretrial hearing on 11/21.

 

[Colleen]

Man accused of killing Kiera Bergman to appear in court