PA - Grace Packer, 14, murdered, Abington, 4 July 2016 *Killer died*

[Niner]

So.... any updates on jury selection? Are they picked yet - and "what" are they - men vs women. If they have "some" picked? how many?

TIA!

 

[Gardener1850]

This opinion piece is all I can find from today so far:

Many of our senior citizens cannot afford their blood pressure medicine. Jacob Sullivan, an admitted rapist and murderer gets his blood pressure medicine in prison. He was also treated at the hospital twice when his blood pressure spiked in court. Too bad his blood pressure didn’t spike high enough to prevent him from raping and murdering poor Gracie Packer. Give his blood pressure medicine to an elderly deserving person and let Mr. Sullivan rot in jail. RIP Gracie.

Peggy Mack

Washington Township, Lehigh County

Readers React: Murderer getting better treatment than many senior citizens

 

[lsv7]

Jacob Sullivan's guilty plea hearing in Grace Packer murder case starts again...and he returns to hospital

In this article, they say that they're expecting jury selection to take between two and three weeks.

 

[Niner]

Thursday, February 28th:
*Jury Selection continues (Day 5) (@ 9am ET) - PA - Grace Packer (14) (July 4, 2016, Abington; found Oct. 31, 2016 by hunters) – only for *Jacob Patrick Sullivan (44/now 46) (Bf of amom) arrested (Jan. 2017) indicted on 1st degree murder, rape conspiracy, kidnapping & abuse of corpse (dismemberment). No bond. DA seeks DP.
Trial was to start March 26, 2018, was delayed until Sept. 17, 2018, delayed again to 1/14/19 & again to 3/14/19, but just penalty phase.
Court hearings for 8/13/18 thru 2/21/19 reference post #757 here:
GUILTY - PA - Grace Packer, 14, murdered, Abington, 4 July 2016 *Arrests*
2/22/19 Day 1: Jacob Sullivan’s guilty plea is finally complete & has been accepted by Judge Gibbons. Penalty phase to begin, after jury selection. Jury selection started for penalty phase of trial. Jury selection continues to 2/25. Trial will start 3/14 & should last about 2 weeks.
2/25/19 Jury selection Day 2: One juror picked. Continues to 2/26.
2/26/19 Jury selection Day 3: no info yet.
2/27/19 Jury selection Day 4: no info yet.
*Sara Packer (42/now 44) adopted "mom" arrested (Jan. 2017) & indicted on 1st degree murder, rape conspiracy, kidnapping & abuse of corpse (dismemberment). Plead not guilty. No bond.
2/19/19 will plead guilty. As part of a plea deal, Packer will avoid the death penalty & be sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole. Prosecutors are still seeking the death penalty for Sullivan.

 

[Mike in WNY]

Though I'm generally "pleased" that Sullivan has plead guilty, I'm still sorta surprised about it. Has there been any reports/thoughts about 'why' he chose to forego a trial? I'm wondering if - since he obviously has some 'twisted' theoughts/fantasies/attractions - he is somehow intrigued or drawn to being put to death(?).

 

[Gardener1850]

With his health issues he probably won't survive long in prison. Death row is also probably a "safer" place for people like Sullivan-- he probably doesn't want to be in general population with other inmates knowing he raped and murdered a child. And since PA has not executed anyone since 1999 he probably will not be executed for many years, if he lives that long. For those reasons, he may prefer a death sentence. Here's a 2018 list of death row inmates Sullivan will join if he is sentenced to death: https://www.ydr.com/story/news/2018...-condemned-men-two-death-sentences/478580002/

MOO.

 

[lsv7]

I wonder if it might be partly that he does not think he could handle the stress of a full trial. His blood pressure did get into heart attack range when he gave his guilty plea.

The death penalty was also a big issue in the most recent governor election. With Packer cooperating, life without parole is the best that he could hope for. He might not want to risk being on death row if Tom Wolf is replaced as governor.

 

[Niner]

Friday, March 1st:
*Jury Selection continues (Day 6) (@ 9am ET) - PA - Grace Packer (14) (July 4, 2016, Abington; found Oct. 31, 2016 by hunters) – only for *Jacob Patrick Sullivan (44/now 46) (Bf of amom) arrested (Jan. 2017) indicted on 1st degree murder, rape conspiracy, kidnapping & abuse of corpse (dismemberment). No bond. DA seeks DP.
Trial was to start March 26, 2018, was delayed until Sept. 17, 2018, delayed again to 1/14/19 & again to 3/14/19 for penalty phase only.
Court hearings for 8/13/18 thru 2/21/19 reference post #757 here:
GUILTY - PA - Grace Packer, 14, murdered, Abington, 4 July 2016 *Arrests*
2/22/19 Day 1: Jacob Sullivan’s guilty plea is finally complete & has been accepted by Judge Gibbons. Penalty phase to begin, after jury selection. Jury selection started for penalty phase of trial. Jury selection continues to 2/25. Trial will start 3/14 & should last about 2 weeks.
2/25/19 Jury selection Day 2: One juror picked. Continues to 2/26.
2/26/19 Jury selection Day 3: no info yet.
2/27/19 Jury selection Day 4: no info yet.
2/28/19 Jury selection Day 5: no info yet…
*Sara Packer (42/now 44) adopted "mom" arrested (Jan. 2017) & indicted on 1st degree murder, rape conspiracy, kidnapping & abuse of corpse (dismemberment). Plead not guilty. No bond.
2/19/19 will plead guilty. As part of a plea deal, Packer will avoid the death penalty & be sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole. Prosecutors are still seeking the death penalty for Sullivan.

 

[Niner]

Since it was said this might last for 2 weeks - I'll shall keep posting this until I hear any different. If someone finds anything - please post! Especially how many jurors were picked on certain days.

Monday, March 4th:
*Jury Selection continues (Day 7) (@ 9am ET) - PA - Grace Packer (14) (July 4, 2016, Abington; found Oct. 31, 2016 by hunters) – only for *Jacob Patrick Sullivan (44/now 46) (Bf of amom) arrested (Jan. 2017) indicted on 1st degree murder, rape conspiracy, kidnapping & abuse of corpse (dismemberment). No bond. DA seeks DP.
Trial was to start March 26, 2018, was delayed until Sept. 17, 2018, delayed again to 1/14/19 & again to 3/14/19 for penalty phase only.
Court hearings for 8/13/18 thru 2/21/19 reference post #757 here:
GUILTY - PA - Grace Packer, 14, murdered, Abington, 4 July 2016 *Arrests*
2/22/19 Day 1: Jacob Sullivan’s guilty plea is finally complete & has been accepted by Judge Gibbons. Penalty phase to begin, after jury selection. Jury selection started for penalty phase of trial. Jury selection continues to 2/25. Trial will start 3/14 & should last about 2 weeks.
2/25/19 Jury selection Day 2: One juror picked. Continues to 2/26.
2/26/19 Jury selection Day 3: no info yet.
2/27/19 Jury selection Day 4: no info yet.
2/28/19 Jury selection Day 5: no info yet.
3/1/19 Jury selection Day 6: no info yet.
*Sara Packer (42/now 44) adopted "mom" arrested (Jan. 2017) & indicted on 1st degree murder, rape conspiracy, kidnapping & abuse of corpse (dismemberment). Plead not guilty. No bond.
2/19/19 will plead guilty. As part of a plea deal, Packer will avoid the death penalty & be sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole. Prosecutors are still seeking the death penalty for Sullivan.

 

[Niner]

Tuesday, March 5th:
*Jury Selection continues (Day 8) (@ 9am ET) - PA - Grace Packer (14) (July 4, 2016, Abington; found Oct. 31, 2016 by hunters) – only for *Jacob Patrick Sullivan (44/now 46) (Bf of amom) arrested (Jan. 2017) indicted on 1st degree murder, rape conspiracy, kidnapping & abuse of corpse (dismemberment). No bond. DA seeks DP.
Trial was to start March 26, 2018, was delayed until Sept. 17, 2018, delayed again to 1/14/19 & again to 3/14/19 for penalty phase only.
Court hearings for 8/13/18 thru 2/21/19 reference post #757 here:
GUILTY - PA - Grace Packer, 14, murdered, Abington, 4 July 2016 *Arrests*
2/22/19 Day 1: Jacob Sullivan’s guilty plea is finally complete & has been accepted by Judge Gibbons. Penalty phase to begin, after jury selection. Jury selection started for penalty phase of trial. Jury selection continues to 2/25. Trial will start 3/14 & should last about 2 weeks.
2/25/19 Jury selection Day 2: One juror picked. Continues to 2/26.
2/26/19 Jury selection Day 3: no info yet.
2/27/19 Jury selection Day 4: no info yet.
2/28/19 Jury selection Day 5: no info yet.
3/1/19 Jury selection Day 6: no info yet.
3/4/19 Jury selection Day 7: no info yet.
*Sara Packer (42/now 44) adopted "mom" arrested (Jan. 2017) & indicted on 1st degree murder, rape conspiracy, kidnapping & abuse of corpse (dismemberment). Plead not guilty. No bond.
2/19/19 will plead guilty. As part of a plea deal, Packer will avoid the death penalty & be sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole. Prosecutors are still seeking the death penalty for Sullivan.

 

[Niner]

and since no one has posted any updates.....

Wednesday, March 6th:
*Jury Selection continues (Day 9) (@ 9am ET) - PA - Grace Packer (14) (July 4, 2016, Abington; found Oct. 31, 2016 by hunters) – only for *Jacob Patrick Sullivan (44/now 46) (Bf of amom) arrested (Jan. 2017) indicted on 1st degree murder, rape conspiracy, kidnapping & abuse of corpse (dismemberment). No bond. DA seeks DP.
Trial was to start March 26, 2018, was delayed until Sept. 17, 2018, delayed again to 1/14/19 & again to 3/14/19 penalty phase only.
Court hearings for 8/13/18 thru 2/21/19 reference post #757 here:
GUILTY - PA - Grace Packer, 14, murdered, Abington, 4 July 2016 *Arrests*
2/22/19 Day 1: Jacob Sullivan’s guilty plea is finally complete & has been accepted by Judge Gibbons. Penalty phase to begin, after jury selection. Jury selection started for penalty phase of trial. Jury selection continues to 2/25. Trial will start 3/14 & should last about 2 weeks.
2/25/19 Jury selection Day 2: One juror picked. Continues to 2/26.
2/26/19 Jury selection Day 3: no info yet. 2/27/19 Jury selection Day 4: no info yet. 2/28/19 Jury selection Day 5: no info yet.
3/1/19 Jury selection Day 6: no info yet. 3/4/19 Jury selection Day 7: no info yet.
3/5/19 Jury selection Day 8: No idea….
*Sara Packer (42/now 44) adopted "mom" arrested (Jan. 2017) & indicted on 1st degree murder, rape conspiracy, kidnapping & abuse of corpse (dismemberment). Plead not guilty. No bond.
2/19/19 will plead guilty. As part of a plea deal, Packer will avoid the death penalty & be sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole. Prosecutors are still seeking the death penalty for Sullivan.

 

[ugh]

and since no one has posted any updates.....

Wednesday, March 6th:
*Jury Selection continues (Day 9) (@ 9am ET) - PA - Grace Packer (14) (July 4, 2016, Abington; found Oct. 31, 2016 by hunters) – only for *Jacob Patrick Sullivan (44/now 46) (Bf of amom) arrested (Jan. 2017) indicted on 1st degree murder, rape conspiracy, kidnapping & abuse of corpse (dismemberment). No bond. DA seeks DP.
Trial was to start March 26, 2018, was delayed until Sept. 17, 2018, delayed again to 1/14/19 & again to 3/14/19 penalty phase only.
Court hearings for 8/13/18 thru 2/21/19 reference post #757 here:
GUILTY - PA - Grace Packer, 14, murdered, Abington, 4 July 2016 *Arrests*
2/22/19 Day 1: Jacob Sullivan’s guilty plea is finally complete & has been accepted by Judge Gibbons. Penalty phase to begin, after jury selection. Jury selection started for penalty phase of trial. Jury selection continues to 2/25. Trial will start 3/14 & should last about 2 weeks.
2/25/19 Jury selection Day 2: One juror picked. Continues to 2/26.
2/26/19 Jury selection Day 3: no info yet. 2/27/19 Jury selection Day 4: no info yet. 2/28/19 Jury selection Day 5: no info yet.
3/1/19 Jury selection Day 6: no info yet. 3/4/19 Jury selection Day 7: no info yet.
3/5/19 Jury selection Day 8: No idea….
*Sara Packer (42/now 44) adopted "mom" arrested (Jan. 2017) & indicted on 1st degree murder, rape conspiracy, kidnapping & abuse of corpse (dismemberment). Plead not guilty. No bond.
2/19/19 will plead guilty. As part of a plea deal, Packer will avoid the death penalty & be sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole. Prosecutors are still seeking the death penalty for Sullivan.

No updates in the recent days in any local news that has been covering this story since the beginning.

 

[Niner]

Thursday, March 7th:
*Jury Selection continues (Day 10) (@ 9am ET) - PA - Grace Packer (14) (July 4, 2016, Abington; found Oct. 31, 2016 by hunters) – only for *Jacob Patrick Sullivan (44/now 46) (Bf of amom) arrested (Jan. 2017) indicted on 1st degree murder, rape conspiracy, kidnapping & abuse of corpse (dismemberment). No bond. DA seeks DP.
Trial was to start March 26, 2018, was delayed until Sept. 17, 2018, delayed again to 1/14/19 & again to 3/14/19 on penalty phase only.
Court hearings for 8/13/18 thru 2/21/19 reference post #757 here:
GUILTY - PA - Grace Packer, 14, murdered, Abington, 4 July 2016 *Arrests*
2/22/19 Day 1: Jacob Sullivan’s guilty plea is finally complete & has been accepted by Judge Gibbons. Penalty phase to begin, after jury selection. Jury selection started for penalty phase of trial. Jury selection continues to 2/25. Trial will start 3/14 & should last about 2 weeks.
2/25/19 Jury selection Day 2: One juror picked. Continues to 2/26.
2/26/19 Jury selection Day 3: no info yet. 2/27/19 Jury selection Day 4: no info yet. 2/28/19 Jury selection Day 5: no info yet.
3/1/19 Jury selection Day 6: no info yet. 3/4/19 Jury selection Day 7: no info yet.
3/5/19 Jury selection Day 8: No idea…. 3/6/19 Jury selection Day 9: no info.
*Sara Packer (42/now 44) adopted "mom" arrested (Jan. 2017) & indicted on 1st degree murder, rape conspiracy, kidnapping & abuse of corpse (dismemberment). Plead not guilty. No bond.
2/19/19: will plead guilty. As part of a plea deal, Packer will avoid the death penalty & be sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole. Prosecutors are still seeking the death penalty for Sullivan.

 

[Niner]

Guessing this is still going on....

Friday, March 8th:
*Jury Selection continues (Day 11) (@ 9am ET) - PA - Grace Packer (14) (July 4, 2016, Abington; found Oct. 31, 2016 by hunters) – only for *Jacob Patrick Sullivan (44/now 46) (Bf of amom) arrested (Jan. 2017) indicted on 1st degree murder, rape conspiracy, kidnapping & abuse of corpse (dismemberment). No bond. DA seeks DP.
Trial was to start March 26, 2018, was delayed until Sept. 17, 2018, delayed again to 1/14/19 & again to 3/14/19 on penalty phase only.
Court hearings for 8/13/18 thru 2/21/19 reference post #757 here:
GUILTY - PA - Grace Packer, 14, murdered, Abington, 4 July 2016 *Arrests*
2/22/19 Day 1: Jacob Sullivan’s guilty plea is finally complete & has been accepted by Judge Gibbons. Penalty phase to begin, after jury selection. Jury selection started for penalty phase of trial. Jury selection continues to 2/25. Trial will start 3/14 & should last about 2 weeks.
2/25/19 Jury selection Day 2: One juror picked. Continues to 2/26.
2/26/19 Jury selection Day 3: no info yet. 2/27/19 Jury selection Day 4: no info yet. 2/28/19 Jury selection Day 5: no info yet.
3/1/19 Jury selection Day 6: no info yet. 3/4/19 Jury selection Day 7: no info yet.
3/5/19 Jury selection Day 8: No idea…. 3/6/19 Jury selection Day 9: no info. 3/7/19 Jury selection Day 10: no info
*Sara Packer (42/now 44) adopted "mom" arrested (Jan. 2017) & indicted on 1st degree murder, rape conspiracy, kidnapping & abuse of corpse (dismemberment). Plead not guilty. No bond.
2/19/19: will plead guilty. As part of a plea deal, Packer will avoid the death penalty & be sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole.

 

[Niner]

I went searching for any updates, but of course I'm in the EU - and it's giving me nothing since July, 2018....

Anyone do "Twitter" - I don't - was thinking maybe someone here with an account would tweet this person:

#gracepacker hashtag on Twitter

as she was covering this case - at least in February she was. Wouldn't hurt in asking, eh?

 

[YESorNO]

Jacob Sullivan's lawyers say Sara Packer 'manipulated' him into murdering her adoptive daughter, Grace

March 8, 2019

"...In a Bucks County courtroom on Friday, Sullivan’s lawyers said they will present evidence at his upcoming sentencing hearing that Packer “groomed” Sullivan to sexually assault Grace, and that she had abused other children, including having three-way sex with her then-husband and an underage foster child in Allentown at least twice.

They also plan to call a man who claims that during a Facebook chat, Sara Packer offered to find him a virgin to have sex with. Prosecutors say the defense misconstrued the conversation.

Prosecutors tried to keep the defense from presenting evidence against Packer, who also is charged with the murder. What she did before meeting Sullivan isn’t relevant now that he has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, rape and other charges, they said.

But Judge Diane E. Gibbons sided with the defense, agreeing that they can use the information to make their case that Sullivan should be spared the death penalty because he was under the “substantial domination” of Packer when he committed the crime....

Packer, 44, has struck a deal to plead guilty to first-degree murder and serve life in prison with no chance of parole.

Sullivan’s lawyers argue that he should get the same sentence, saying Packer was the “brains” and “mastermind” of the crime.

“She had a dominant personality and he’s an individual who can be easily manipulated,” said Jack Fagan, Sullivan’s attorney. “He’s a follower.”...

Sullivan’s lawyers say they will show that Sara Packer emotionally abused Grace for years, and that she had remarked to a fellow inmate about Grace, saying, “ding dong the witch is dead.”

Both Sullivan and Packer remain behind bars without bail. Sullivan’s sentencing hearing will begin next Friday. Packer is expected to plead guilty after that proceeding, said her attorney, Keith Williams."

Jacob Sullivan's lawyers say Sara Packer 'manipulated' him into murdering her adoptive daughter, Grace
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[Niner]

@YESorNO So - nothing in the article about the jurors being picked? Finished? If not, I shall keep posting this.... until I hear any different!

Monday, March 11th:
*Jury Selection continues (Day 12) (@ 9am ET) - PA - Grace Packer (14) (July 4, 2016, Abington; found Oct. 31, 2016 by hunters) – only for *Jacob Patrick Sullivan (44/now 46) (Bf of amom) arrested (Jan. 2017) indicted on 1st degree murder, rape conspiracy, kidnapping & abuse of corpse (dismemberment). No bond. DA seeks DP.
Trial was to start March 26, 2018, was delayed until Sept. 17, 2018, delayed again to 1/14/19 & again to 3/14/19 on penalty phase only.
Court hearings for 8/13/18 thru 2/21/19 reference post #757 here:
GUILTY - PA - Grace Packer, 14, murdered, Abington, 4 July 2016 *Arrests*
2/22/19 Day 1: Jacob Sullivan’s guilty plea is finally complete & has been accepted by Judge Gibbons. Penalty phase to begin, after jury selection. Jury selection started for penalty phase of trial. Jury selection continues to 2/25. Trial will start 3/14 & should last about 2 weeks.
2/25/19 Jury selection Day 2: One juror picked. Continues to 2/26.
2/26/19 Jury selection Day 3: no info yet. 2/27/19 Jury selection Day 4: no info yet. 2/28/19 Jury selection Day 5: no info yet.
3/1/19 Jury selection Day 6: no info yet. 3/4/19 Jury selection Day 7: no info yet.
3/5/19 Jury selection Day 8: No idea…. 3/6/19 Jury selection Day 9: no info. 3/7/19 Jury selection Day 10: no info. 3/8/19 Jury Selection Day 11: continued to 3/11.
*Sara Packer (42/now 44) adopted "mom" arrested (Jan. 2017) & indicted on 1st degree murder, rape conspiracy, kidnapping & abuse of corpse (dismemberment). Plead not guilty. No bond.
2/19/19: will plead guilty. As part of a plea deal, Packer will avoid the death penalty & be sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole. Prosecutors are still seeking the death penalty for Sullivan.

 

[BUF]

@Niner here is the info on the jury...

Jury, alternates seated in sentencing phase of Jacob Sullivan rape-murder trial

The penalty phase of the case starts March 14.

......
Six men and six women are scheduled to begin hearing testimony next week....
......
...Thursday, after wading through a pool of more than 300 Bucks County residents. Joining the 12 jurors are five women and one man who were seated as alternates.

 

[Niner]

Thanks for the update BUF!

 

[Niner]

Update in red

*Jury Selection continues (Day 10) (@ 9am ET) - PA - Grace Packer (14) (July 4, 2016, Abington; found Oct. 31, 2016 by hunters) – only for *Jacob Patrick Sullivan (44/now 46) (Bf of amom) arrested (Jan. 2017) indicted on 1st degree murder, rape conspiracy, kidnapping & abuse of corpse (dismemberment). No bond. DA seeks DP.
Trial was to start March 26, 2018, was delayed until Sept. 17, 2018, delayed again to 1/14/19 & again to 3/14/19 on penalty phase only.
Court hearings for 8/13/18 thru 2/21/19 reference post #757 here:
GUILTY - PA - Grace Packer, 14, murdered, Abington, 4 July 2016 *Arrests*
2/22/19 Day 1: Jacob Sullivan’s guilty plea is finally complete & has been accepted by Judge Gibbons. Penalty phase to begin, after jury selection. Jury selection started for penalty phase of trial. Jury selection continues to 2/25. Trial will start 3/14 & should last about 2 weeks.
2/25/19 Jury selection Day 2: One juror picked. Continues to 2/26.
2/26/19 Jury selection Day 3: thru 3/7/19 Jury selection Day 10. Jurors: 6 men & 6 women, alternates 5 women & 1 man. Trial starts 3/14.
*Sara Packer (42/now 44) adopted "mom" arrested (Jan. 2017) & indicted on 1st degree murder, rape conspiracy, kidnapping & abuse of corpse (dismemberment). Plead not guilty. No bond.
2/19/19: will plead guilty. As part of a plea deal, Packer will avoid the death penalty & be sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole. Prosecutors are still seeking the death penalty for Sullivan.