GUILTY OH - Geauga's Child, newborn baby boy, found deceased, Geauga County 1993 *mother arrested in 2019*

[minusfour]

These cases are so sad. Often, it seems more than one baby is murdered. It seems unbelievable that someone can go through a pregnancy and birth without anyone knowing, murder the baby and dispose of it, and then do it all again. Sigh.

 

[MsMarple]

Closing arguments are finished, deliberations began around noon - about an hour and a half ago:

“She made the decision to put her baby in a garbage bag,” the state argued.

According to prosecutors, because Ritchey knew she was pregnant 3 months before the child was born and did nothing to prepare for the birth of a child shows intent.

“She literally treated him like a piece of garbage,” prosecutors said. “Tossed him in the woods…didn’t even bury him.”

“There really is no evidence…no reliable evidence that this was in fact a live birth,” Ritchey’s defense claimed.

Prosecutors argued that the defense couldn’t prove the baby was born alive without a reasonable doubt.
...
Investigators said she has not taken ownership of the baby, so he will remain buried in Thompson Cemetery as Geauga’s Child.
https://fox8.com/news/geaugas-child-murder-trial-to-begin-for-newborns-mother/

 

[MsMarple]

Guilty!
A jury has found Gail Eastwood-Ritchey guilty of murder after a high-profile trial for the woman accused of putting her newborn baby, umbilical cord still attached, in a garbage bag and leaving it in the wood in Geauga County in 1993.

Gail Eastwood-Ritchey, of Euclid, the child’s mother, was charged with aggravated murder and murder.

After deliberating for just a few hours Monday, the jury found her guilty of murder and not guilty of aggravated murder.

The judge revoked her bond and she was arrested at the conclusion of the trial. A sentencing date has not been set yet.
https://www.news5cleveland.com/news...arguments-set-to-begin-in-geaugas-child-trial

Verdict reached for Gail Eastwood-Ritchey in Geauga's Child case | wkyc.com
Mom found guilty in Geauga's Child case

 

[Niner]

Thank you for the updates!

 

[Niner]

Docket update - still no sentencing date.

04/02/2022 DEFENDANT'S PROPOSED JURY INSTRUCTIONS FILED.
Attorney: BRADLEY, STEVEN L (0046622)

04/02/2022 DEFENDANT'S SUPPLEMENTAL PROPOSED JURY INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING VENUE
Attorney: BRADLEY, STEVEN L (0046622)

04/04/2022 EFILING CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

04/04/2022 EFILING CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

04/04/2022 VERDICT FILED.
MURDER (COUNT 2) - GUILTY

04/04/2022 VERDICT FILED.
AGGR MURDER (COUNT 2) - NOT GUILTY

04/05/2022 STENOGRAPHER'S FEE (7 DAYS)
STENOGRAPHER'S FEES
Sent on: 04/05/2022 10:18:08.54 0

04/05/2022 D FOUND NOT GUILTY AGG MURDER. D FOUND GUILTY OF MURDER. PSI ORDERED. BOND REVOKED. D REMANDED TO GCSC PENDING SENTENCING DMO

04/05/2022 COMMITMENT PENDING SENTENCING ISSUED TO GEAUGA SHERIFF
COMMITMENT PENDING
Sent on: 04/05/2022 10:28:22.63

link: https://web.geaugacourts.org/eservi...visV8mbAXM*Q9Fb15ChirN4C-EIxWcANyB0QBjrGvdw1Q

 

[Niner]

Just a couple of docket updates - no sentencing date yet...

04/07/2022 JURY LIST FILED. $5,225.00

04/07/2022 COMMITMENT PENDING SENTENCING RETURNED AND FILED.

link: https://web.geaugacourts.org/eservi...tMZv1wXn8G-SOqDniDEYRodm5dlZ29wcBJcn1P23g8Oxw

 

[Niner]

Finally we have a sentencing date!!

Docket:
04/15/2022 CASE SCHEDULED
Event: SENTENCING
Date: 05/24/2022 Time: 1:30 pm
Judge: ONDREY, DAVID M Location:
04/15/2022 YELLOW SCHEDULING NOTICE. $15.00
04/15/2022 EFILING CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE


Hearings:
05/24/2022 01:30 PM SENTENCING ONDREY, DAVID M

link: https://web.geaugacourts.org/eservi...MV8fmhkTkz6RvgZqiNBZDJBfB0tXlJALBFYx4b5Bf1aUg

 

[Niner]

Just a docket update:

04/15/2022 YELLOW SCHEDULING NOTICE. $15.00

04/15/2022 EFILING CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

04/26/2022 ORDER FILED.
JURY TRIAL $12.00

04/26/2022 EFILING CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

05/11/2022 MEMORANDUM FILED.
STATE'S SENTENCING MEMORANDUM FILED
Attorney: STATE OF OHIO (00000)

05/11/2022 EFILING CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

05/19/2022 DEFENDANT'S SENTENCING MEMORANDUM FILED.
Attorney: BRADLEY, STEVEN L (0046622)

05/19/2022 EFILING CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE


Hearings:
05/24/2022 01:30 PM SENTENCING ONDREY, DAVID M

link: https://web.geaugacourts.org/eservi...MLX4wNtvuar8SgmebDK*6rCUo11Kx6xCtibrK2DvTMDkQ

 

[Niner]

Tuesday, May 24th:
*Sentencing Hearing (@ 1:30pm ET) – OH - Geauga’s Child (newborn) (found Mar. 25, 1993 at side of Sidley Road, Thompson Township) - *Gail M. Eastwood-Ritchey (23 @ time of crime/49/now 51) arrested (6/6/19), charged (6/7/19) & arraigned (6/10/19) with aggravated murder & special felony murder. Plead not guilty. $250K bond. Bonded out 6/10/19; GPS monitor & surrendered passport.
Trial began on 3/28/22 with jury selection. Trial began on 3/31/22 & ended on 4/2/22. Closing arguments on 4/4/22. 4/4/22: Jury deliberated for 5 hours & found Ritchey guilty of murder & not guilty of aggravated murder.
Court info from 1/10/20 thru 3/23/22 & Jury selection Days 1-3 (3/28 to 3/30/22) & Trial Days 1-3 (3/31 to 4/2/22) reference post #80 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...in-1993-mother-arrested-in-2019.450003/page-4
4/4/22 Monday, Trial Day 4: Closing arguments by prosecutors & defense. Jury deliberations started about noon. After deliberating for 5 hours Monday, the jury found her guilty of murder & not guilty of aggravated murder. The jury's verdict in this case, by saying it was only a purposeful killing & rejecting the aggravated murder, the jury said that she did not have the plan ahead of time to kill the child. The judge revoked her bond & she was arrested at the conclusion of the trial. PSI ordered & remanded to GCSC pending sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set yet. 4/7/22: Jury list filed. Commitment pending sentencing returned & filed.
4/15/22 Update: Sentencing hearing on 5/24/22.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Woman gets life in prison for death of Geauga’s Child

The woman who dumped her newborn baby in Geauga County in 1993 was sentenced to life in prison with eligibility of parole after 15 years.

fox8.com