Is there not a glaring contradiction in the above news article? The mother says Steven said he was under the influence of drugs that night. Courtney died in the afternoon not night.
Referencing a forum poster accompanying this newspaper article
http://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/south-41095-walton-county.html
The forum poster said he went to high school with Cozzie, and Cozzie was 20 years old and still in high school. Other comments made on different articles by this same newspaper have memtioned that Cozzie was an ESE student. This probably means he was some type of special education student as they can stay in school until their 21st birthday. His family dabbles in the paranormal. I think his special ed status, if he in fact had one, and his upbringing will be used heavily in his defense. From what I've read about the WCSO and their feelings about this crime, I'm sure they are dotting their i's and crossing their t's with this one.
I did not mean to imply that someone interested in the paranormal would be likely to commit murder. I am widely read in the subject but not a paranormal researcher. From my experience, a lot of people are not familiar with paranormal activity and could think it involves something sinister because they do not know that it is the study of things that cannot be explained scientifically. What I meant was that a defense lawyer could claim that since Cozzie's family is interested in the paranormal, people could perceive him as different from them and a rush to judgement occured. The special education mention is because it has been used before when trying to establish a dimished capacity defense. Many people outside of education do not realize that special education status applies to a wide range of abilities from those considered intellecutally gifted to profoundly mentally handicapped. I have not heard an official statement that Cozzie had a special education status in school and do not expect to hear this. If we hear he was special education, it will probably be from his defense lawyer. Neither a special education description nor an interest in the paranormal made this man commit this horrible crime. My opinion is he did it because he wanted to. This man has a trial court appearance in his future. Neither of the above mentioned issues should have a place in that courtroom. My thinking is that both of them will make an appearance due to his defense.
After the sun goes down tonight, Cordy and Toni Wilkes will walk from the back porch of their farmhouse in Lyons, Ga., up to the hill where their daughter is buried and light a candle, as they have done almost every night since she was killed one year ago today.
The trial for the man accused of killing sweet Courtney Wilkes is scheduled to begin jury selection this coming Monday. Prayers for the Wilkes family.