CA - Janet Kovacich, 27, Auburn, 8 Sept 1982

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Superior Court Judge Larry D. Gaddis excused himself without comment from the upcoming trial of Paul Kovacich, Jr. Kovacich is charged with kidnapping and killing Janet Kovacich in 1982. Despite numerous searches over the years, her body has never been found. Kovacich has pleaded "not guilty" to the charges.

http://www.news10.net/display_story.aspx?storyid=37726

Good grief!
 
This is just another ploy to delay the trial. What's sad is that I'm beginning to believe there will be no justice for Janet. I'm not sure this will ever get to trial or that Paul will get his due.
 
A case of murder against a former Placer County Sheriff sergeant may make it to trial in August.

Paul R. Kovacich Jr., of Foresthill, was in a Placer County courtroom Friday along with his public defender John Spurling.

Spurling said he’s filed a motion for discovery but has yet to hear from the District Attorney’s Office. He told Judge Mark S. Curry that he has requested information regarding all homicide cases Auburn Police investigator Jerry Johnson worked on throughout his entire career.

http://www.auburnjournal.com/detail/78966.html
 
It may not be smoking. But investigators have located a gun that could have killed Auburn’s Janet Kovacich 26 years ago – and it might play a key role in her husband’s upcoming murder trial.

Lincoln residents Craig and Nancy DeLoach gave a .44 caliber pistol to a Placer County Sheriff’s Department investigator on Monday.
“All we were told was that a sergeant may have killed his wife 25 years ago,” Nancy DeLoach said Tuesday.

The couple was also told that the stainless-steel handgun had initially belonged to the suspect and then been given or sold to a law enforcement officer. A friend of Craig DeLoach’s was given the gun by the second owner – an officer, identified as a captain – as payment for work he had done. When the friend moved from the area, the friend gave Craig the gun as a keepsake, Nancy DeLoach said.

http://www.placeropolis.com/detail/91137.html
 
ROSEVILLE, CA - His wife disappeared 26 years ago, but retired Placer County sheriff's Sgt. Paul Kovacich is finally on trial on charges he killed Janet Kovacich.

"Love, control and motive: the love of a mother, control of the defendant and the motive to hide a body forever," prosecutor Suzanne Gazanniga told jurors as she began opening statements Monday morning in a Placer County courtroom."You're gonna hear evidence of domestic strife, marital discord. You will hear evidence of arguments, of verbal and physical abuse."

A total of 18 jurors, including five alternates, have been chosen to hear the case before Placer County Superior Court Judge Mark Curry. In an unusual but not unprecedented move, Curry told jurors during instructions they may be allowed to have questions asked of witnesses. They would have to be submitted in writing and be subject to Curry allowing the question, he said.

About half of the audience section in the courtroom was filled during opening statements, mostly with friends or relatives of Janet Kovacich. One woman had a folder with newspaper clippings about the case. "This has been a long time coming," she said.

http://www.news10.net/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=49744&catid=2
 
A woman in turmoil looking for any excuse out of her marriage?

Or a woman who feared her safety but was preparing for a new life?

Those are the two pictures the defense and prosecution painted in the opening statements for former Placer County Sgt. Paul Kovacich. Kovacich is charged with murder with the enhancement of using a firearm in the Sept. 8, 1982 disappearance and murder of his wife, Janet Kovacich. Paul Kovacich has pleaded not guilty.

The case has been pending for 26 years. In 1995, a human skull was found at Lake Rollins in Colfax. In 2007, DNA tests confirmed the skull was that of Janet Kovacich.

http://www.auburnjournal.com/detail/97127.html
 
Steve Kassis still has the scar on his foot from a 1981 boat trip with Paul and Janet Kovacich.

The Oregon resident appeared in Placer County Superior Court Thursday to testify in the murder case involving his “very close” friend from grade school throughout high school and beyond. Paul Kovacich, a former Placer County sergeant, is charged with murder with the enhancement of using a firearm in the Sept. 8, 1982 death and disappearance of his wife, Janet Kovacich. Paul Kovacich has pleaded not guilty.

Kassis was one of three witnesses to take the stand Thursday as the trial ended its first week of witness testimony.

Kassis recalled the incident that caused the scar. He and the Kovacichs were spending the day at one of the local lakes they often visited. They had collected trash and glass along the lake and Janet Kovacich had placed the plastic bag at the back of the boat. When Kassis pulled himself into the boat, he accidentally stepped on the bag and cut his foot on the glass.

Paul Kovacich immediately blamed his wife and when she went to pull herself onto the boat from the front, he pushed her down, Kassis testified.
Kassis said there were several other incidents where he watched Paul Kovacich push Janet Kovacich in a way that would leave his wife feeling hurt.

http://www.auburnjournal.com/detail...der_sort=&content_class=1&sub_type=&town_id=6
 
Hey MagicRose - Thanks for reminding me about this case in your pm!! :blowkiss: I TOTALLY forgot that this case was going on until I read the front page of my Auburn Journal the other day!!! :rolleyes: SO.... I am not working at this - I unfortunately got laid off - so have time to run down the hill and "report" if you all like??!! I HOPE I do as good as Sprocket does... I'll take a few of her "reporting" skills - as when I walk in... tell you all "where" everyone sits... facial expressions...
Now - I just have to go to google and find out 'where' this Superior Court is in Roseville...
I believe that court starts at 9am on Monday - so WILL definitely try and get there to watch! :woohoo:

I remember going to Mario Garcia's trial here in Auburn - and will NEVER forget the 'look' I got from him.... :eek: :eek: LOL! And I'm glad they are STILL looking for Christie!!

Okay - look for this space next week... hmm... wonder if they have WI-FI in Roseville??? I can bring my laptop and report RIGHT from court... IF they let them stay on... otherwise I'll bring my trusty notebook and take notes for you all!! We shall see!

Oh - I'm glad to hear that the jurors CAN ask questions of the witnesses - I like that!! I wonder if Paul will be taking the witness stand?? Anyone hear anything on that??
 
I noticed in this last article that it isn't Penne reporting - their 'usual' crime reporter... will have to find out what happened to Penne!

I posted to post a little more on the article MagicRose mentioned above - just in some people don't like to click on links provided - OR like me (BEFORE I got my 'new' laptopn!!) that print out stuff to read later...

In addition to frequent trips to Folsom Lake and Lake Rollins, he (Kassis) helped the couple move on several occasions, was at the hospital for the births of both children, is the godfather of their daughter and was called upon twice to bring Janet home after she left Paul to go to her parent's home.
Of those events, Kassis said one phone call from Janet stands out. Janet called Kasiss "sobbing" and saying she was upset over the tension between her parents and her husband.
"She felt torn between her parents and Paul"... "She was having a real tough time to the point she was fearful."
Kassis said he offered to let Janet live at his home but she declined.
"She said she'd be OK..."

During cross exam, DA asked Kassis to describe Janet. He said she was "high strung" and wore her emotions on her sleeve. WOuld she fly off the handle..." "At times"...
Asked about Paul's reaction to his wife's disappearance?... "Somber"; he was very quiet, not offering conversation, moping around, could be sad.

Question asked by a Juror: for Kassis to elaborate more on why he thought it was suspicious when he found out Paul and his parents were repaving the parent's driveway after Janet's disappearance?
He simply repeated that he thought it was an odd thing to do after she was missing.

Another witness before Kassis, was a neighbor - she had more of a bird's eye view of the homes lining their street. Janet brought her kids over to her house and "we'd have a little party." Only had contact with Paul at a house party she once hosted, and a single phone conversation after Janet was reported missing. She said he was concerned and asked if she knew where his wife was. She spoke with Janet the night prior to her disappearance when she offered to bring her neighbor some spaghetti for dinner. Knowing that Janet had limited mobility due to a recent breast augmentaion surgery - but Janet declined - said her husband was bringing home fried chicken...

I guess I better stop there.... LOL! I'll hope to have something here on Monday!!
 
Niner! :blowkiss: I knew you wouldn't let this trial go by unnoticed! LOL! I'd love any first hand reporting on the trial... this piece of scum has been free way too long... let's hope and pray justice is finally served!
 
It's too bad they moved the trial down the hill... but I found out 'where' this Court is - just around the corner from where I used to work!! So will try and get there on Monday.
Yes - he's had a very long reprieve on his freedom on this!!
 
okay.... I hate to disappoint anyone - but my car would NOT start this morning, so the Huz has to work on it today... it was having poblems ALL last week - so I'm hoping he'll get it working today, and will go to the courthouse tomorrow after I vote!
sorry... )o:
 
That's OK Niner! Sounds like my luck... LOL!

I just wish the paper would keep up with this trial! I don't understand no updates?
 
another update... unfortunately it was raining on Monday and the Huz did NOT want to work on it in the rain - and I don't blame him. So he fixed the car today - and also got to vote!! So I'm going to try really hard and try and make the trial tomorrow (Wednesday). Yes, MagicRose - the paper had NOTHING in it today (Tuesday) about the trial... strange!! You would think they would at least have an update on what went on on Monday.... oh well!!
Really - I WILL try and get there tomorrow! :)
 
Continuation from previous Thursday of testimony of prosecution witness Gail Easter: Mrs. Easter is the widow of a Placer County Deputy Sheriff. She testified that at a Sheriff's Association picnic, Janet Kovacich told her and others that her husband had kicked and killed one of their police dogs (Fuzz).

A substantial portion of the day was spent on the testimony of Janet's Plastic Surgeon, Leon Burke, MD. Doctor Burke is now 86 years old, retired and living in San Clemente. Although he was likable, articulate, and responsive to all questions, it seemed like an awful lot of time (~3.5 to 4) hours and medical detail was spent establishing that:
  • Janet had missed an appointment on September (9th or) 10th, 1982.
  • Janet had not finished her post operative monitoring (from an operation the week prior),
  • Nobody (other than law enforcement) ever requested her medical records,
  • that it would have been possible for Janet (in her post operative condition) to be driving at the time she disappeared, he would have recommended that she did not drive.

Lori Hall, the wife of Placer County Deputy (at the time) testified that on the evening of September 7, 1982, Janet had enthusiastically RSVP'd positively to attend a crystal party which was to take place on September 11. Lori was very surprised two days later, when she heard through her husband that Paul Kovacich said that Janet had left. Of course, since Janet disappeared on September 8, she did not attend the crystal party.

Prosecution witness Jeanette Baldwin, a retired teacher who was a full time mother in 1982, began her testimony. Her daughter and Janet's were friends in Kindergarten and afterward. The children would have “play dates” every one or two weeks. Ms Baldwin said Janet was a devoted and loving mother whose children brought her very much Joy.
 
Wildcat!! Thank you so much for reporting this! Are you attending this trial??

Unfortunately I couldn't make it this morning, as the Huz had an eye doctor appointment this morning... :mad: and I had to drive him to it - unfortunately he can't drive!

BUT!!! I'm going to TRY really hard tomorrow to get there.... yea - I know I've said that before - we shall see what happens!! LOL! :)
 
Niner said:
Wildcat!! Thank you so much for reporting this! Are you attending this trial??

Hi Niner, I might attend very infrequently. It seems like there are a couple of women who are attending regularly and taking notes. Maybe you could recruit them to post in websleuths. Since I just registered, I was hesitant to bring it up.

Note: Trial is normally Monday to Thursday (9 to 4 or 4:30). There is no cafeteria, but the justice center is very close to Thunder Valley and lunch is 1.5 hours. There seems to be WiFi; I did not use it, but I saw somebody with a laptop logged into the web.

For a new courthouse, the design seems a little awkward (at least in Department 33 where the Kovacich case is).. The jury needs to wait in the front hallway, the attorneys need to stand for the witnesses to get by, and the witnesses need to go through a maze to get to the stand.

Judge Curry seems very good (quick, clear, and fair). Suzanne Gazzaniga has a good manner in court and seems very sharp. John Spurling (Defense) seems very intense and is very much on top of the details of case.
Click to expand...
 
Thank you for the update, Wildcat! It's much appreciated!

And welcome to Websleuths!
 
Yes!! Wildcat!! :Welcome-12-june: to Websleuths!! I believe you'll like it here...

and also Thanks for reporting!! :clap:

Wildcat said:
Niner said:
Wildcat!! Thank you so much for reporting this! Are you attending this trial??
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, I have bad news... I will not be able to attend the trial as I got a temp job for a few weeks! :aktion033: So I need to do that!

Wildcat said:
Hi Niner, I might attend very infrequently. It seems like there are a couple of women who are attending regularly and taking notes. Maybe you could recruit them to post in websleuths. Since I just registered, I was hesitant to bring it up.
Click to expand...

I hope you get to attend the trial again, and give us an update! And you can invite these ladies to post here too!! We'd really like that!

Thanks again!

edited to add: I LOVE the buffet at Thunder Valley!! yummy!!
 
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