GUILTY AK - Sophie Sergie, 20, UAF student, murdered, Fairbanks, 26 April 1993 *Arrest in 2019*

[PayrollNerd]

No changes online.

No changes other than the trial is on the calendar for today.

4FA-19-00504CR

 

[Niner]

Jury begins deliberations in decades-old rape and murder case

Closing arguments made in Fairbanks murder trial

Closing arguments in articles.

 

[Niner]

Tuesday, February 8th:
*Trial continues (Day 19)-VERDICT WATCH! (@ 8:30am AKST) – AK – Sophie Sergie (20) (April 26, 1993, Fairbanks) - *Steven Harris Downs (18 @ time of crime/44/now 46) arrested (in Auburn, Maine), charged (2/15/19), indicted (3/14/19) & arraigned (8/6/19 & 8/14/19) with 1st degree intentional murder & 1st degree sexual assault. Plead not guilty. Held without bond, changed to $1M (8/6/19). Bond changed (8/16/19) to $550K.
DNA GEDMatch/Parabon Nanolabs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP)). The Downs case may be the first real test of the limits of DNA forensics in criminal prosecutions — that this case may even reach the U.S. Supreme Court.
Trial began on 1/10/22 & ended with closing arguments on 2/8/22. Jurors: 10 women & 6 men (includes 4 alternates). Jury started deliberations on 2/8/22.
Court information from 2/19/19 thru 1/5/22 & Trial Days 1/10 to 2/3/22 (Day 1-16) reference post #261 here:
AK - Sophie Sergie, 20, UAF student, murdered, Fairbanks, 26 April 1993 *Arrest in 2019*
2/4/22 Friday, Trial Day 17: No info on defense final witness or prosecution rebuttal witnesses. Trial continues with closing arguments on Monday, 2/7/22.
2/7/22 Monday, Trial Day 18: Closing arguments by Alaska Chief Assistant Attorney General Jenna Gruenstein & by Defense attorney Jim Howaniec. Jury instructions & get the case for deliberations. Jury deliberations continue on 2/8/22.

 

[Niner]

Not finding any current articles - so "guessing" the jury is still deliberating.... This unfortunately will be my last post for a couple of days. I'm going on Holiday for 2 weeks. I'll try & get back in - in a couple of days & hopefully there will be a verdict.

Wednesday, February 9th:
*Trial continues (Day 20)-VERDICT WATCH! (@ 8:30am AKST) – AK – Sophie Sergie (20) (April 26, 1993, Fairbanks) - *Steven Harris Downs (18 @ time of crime/44/now 46) arrested (in Auburn, Maine), charged (2/15/19), indicted (3/14/19) & arraigned (8/6/19 & 8/14/19) with 1st degree intentional murder & 1st degree sexual assault. Plead not guilty. Held without bond, changed to $1M (8/6/19). Bond changed (8/16/19) to $550K.
DNA GEDMatch/Parabon Nanolabs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP)). The Downs case may be the first real test of the limits of DNA forensics in criminal prosecutions — that this case may even reach the U.S. Supreme Court.
Trial began on 1/10/22 & ended with closing arguments on 2/7/22. Jurors: 10 women & 6 men (includes 4 alternates). Jury deliberations started on 2/7/22.
Court information from 2/19/19 thru 1/5/22 & Trial Days 1/10 to 2/7/22 (Day 1-18) reference post #264 here:
VERDICT WATCH - AK - Sophie Sergie, 20, UAF student, murdered, Fairbanks, 26 April 1993 *Arrest in 2019*
2/8/22 Tuesday, Trial Day 19: Jury deliberations continue. Jury deliberations continue on 2/9/22.

 

[PayrollNerd]

Nothing has been updated online.

4FA-19-00504CR

https://records.courts.alaska.gov/e...Le2R3GhX2DzjU0SLJVUDvQdYv14jletvG965oCYFwv3Cg

 

[Catmommy]

Enjoy your holiday, Niner, and thanks again for all you do here.

 

[Niner]

Not finding any current articles - so going to guess that the jury is still deliberating.

Thursday, February 10th:
*Trial continues (Day 21)-VERDICT WATCH! (@ 8:30am AKST) – AK – Sophie Sergie (20) (April 26, 1993, Fairbanks) - *Steven Harris Downs (18 @ time of crime/44/now 46) arrested (in Auburn, Maine), charged (2/15/19), indicted (3/14/19) & arraigned (8/6/19 & 8/14/19) with 1st degree intentional murder & 1st degree sexual assault. Plead not guilty. Held without bond, changed to $1M (8/6/19). Bond changed (8/16/19) to $550K.
DNA GEDMatch/Parabon Nanolabs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP)). The Downs case may be the first real test of the limits of DNA forensics in criminal prosecutions — that this case may even reach the U.S. Supreme Court.
Trial began on 1/10/22 & ended with closing arguments on 2/7/22. Jurors: 10 women & 6 men (includes 4 alternates). Jury deliberations started on 2/7/22.
Court information from 2/19/19 thru 1/5/22 & Trial Days 1/10 to 2/7/22 (Day 1-18) reference post #264 here:
VERDICT WATCH - AK - Sophie Sergie, 20, UAF student, murdered, Fairbanks, 26 April 1993 *Arrest in 2019*
2/8/22 Tuesday, Trial Day 19: Jury deliberations continue. Jury deliberations continue on 2/9/22.
2/9/22 Wednesday, Trial Day 20: Jury continues deliberations. Not sure – jury deliberations continue on 2/10/22.

 

[PayrollNerd]

No updates on the court website this morning.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Steven Downs found guilty in 29-year-old murder case

A sentencing hearing for Downs is set for Sept. 26 and 27.

 

[Catmommy]

YES

 

[Jbetty567]

HOLY COW

 

[Jbetty567]

I admit to being .... not surprised as much as very relieved. I was concerned that the semen was not going to be enough in the eyes of the jury.

 

[PayrollNerd]

Another article.

Jury finds Maine man guilty in Fairbanks cold-case murder

 

[dotr]

YES!!

Sophie Sergie - Bing images

Steven Downs found guilty of first-degree murder in Sophie Sergie's death | Alaska News | newsminer.com

Steven Harris Downs is seen in Fairbanks Superior Court on Aug. 14, 2019, for an arraignment hearing in connection to the death of Sophie Sergie in 1993.
Robin Wood for the News-Miner

''A Fairbanks jury convicted Steven H. Downs Thursday of murder in the death of Sophie Sergie, nearly 29 years after the 20-year-old was found brutally raped, stabbed and shot in a dormitory bathtub at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.''

 

[PayrollNerd]

Court site is being updated with more info now. 4FA-19-00504CR

https://records.courts.alaska.gov/e...yj04WnGsljC2UhhuccO93SpA994BhqBdEuMSUw-HRVEXw

 

[Niner]

Thanks all for the updates! I agree with the jurors - guilty!

 

[dotr]

rbbm,
Jury finds Sergie murderer guilty in Fairbanks cold case | KUAC
"The victim’s two brothers listened in to the verdict remotely from St. Mary's, in the Yukon River delta. Older brother Alexie Sergie said in an interview that he feels relieved.

“With the DNA, I'm pretty sure it's the right guy. Nowadays. nowadays DNA won't lie to you,” he said.

Alexie Sergie said he forgave the perpetrator decades ago in an effort towards closure.

“My religion, you know, I'm Russian Orthodox. You’re supposed to pray for all your enemies – forgive them for everything. I forgave him for what he did. But I will never forget.”

The judge scheduled sentencing for Monday, September 26 and 27.''

 

[JerseyGirl]

Attorneys for man convicted of 1993 Fairbanks murder file motion for acquittal or new trial

 

[PayrollNerd]

Nothing new on the calendar.
Case: 4FA-19-00504CR


https://records.courts.alaska.gov/e...u-Hv-JE70HCAzpGyosh8WwLWABrJ8Jp135mGfTcxOIO4A

 

[NuttMegg]

Attorneys for man convicted of 1993 Fairbanks murder file motion for acquittal or new trial

Sure hope the prosecutors dotted their i's and crossed their t's.