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

[Niner]

I'm getting ready to drive down to the Court house this morning - and my NEXT report - will hopefully be from the court room!

Stay tuned...

{I know - they probably will only be setting a court date for the trial to start... but going anyway!!}

 

[DEPUTYDAWG]

Some interesting details which may or may not have been shared already:

Kovacich, his wife, and their two children were living in Auburn PD territory at the time of Janet's disapearance. There is an established trail near the home leading down into the American River Canyon near the Auburn Dam Site, which apparantly was under construction at the time. Many people believe Janet's body was dumped there.

Kovacich worked for PCSO from 1974-1992 (10 years after his wife's disapearance)! In an Auburn Journal article dated 9/6/06 by P. Usher, PCSO Undersheriff Steve D'Arcy is quoted as saying, "It should be noted that he (Paul) hasn't been a member of the current department and has not been active in law enforcement for well over a decade."

Janet was only 27 at the time of disapearance. Her parents petitoned the courts in 1995 to have her declared legally dead in order to settle estate matters. Paul contested the petition stating that the children did not sufficiently believe that she was dead. Janet's parents won however I could not find any stipulations as to how the estate was broken up - if there was much of one by then.

Paul was always "a person of interest" but was not declared a suspect until 2005. His son has always stood behind him. The daughter I'm not so sure about. The children were 7 and 5 at the time of Janet's disapearance. The girl is the older of the two.

Bless you, my dear! You don't know how much I appreciate the info on the years of service. :blowkiss:

 

[DEPUTYDAWG]

I'm getting ready to drive down to the Court house this morning - and my NEXT report - will hopefully be from the court room!

Stay tuned...

{I know - they probably will only be setting a court date for the trial to start... but going anyway!!}

Wasn't this switched to the 19th?
Hope not, for your sake...and ours! Would love to hear something!

 

[Niner]

no, no switch! He was there in court! and here is my report:

8:25am - FINALLY found the RIGHT court room!! Whew... driving around this morning for 10 minutes - trying to find the right court house and room!! :doh:

8:31am - sitting in court room - I recognized Paul sitting on the floor next to the jury box with the rest of the guys in orange... and it is my favorite judge!! Judge McElhany!! and guess who is sitting in front of me... Penny from the Auburn Journal!! She recognized (I think!) from the Garcia case!

okay - arraignment - not guilty plea; will have a 995 hearing on May 1st - prosecutor has until May 15th to reply.

Court date set for May 29th at 8:30am in the Old Courthouse building... (at least there - I won't get lost!! LOL!)

end of report::

 

[chicoliving]

Thanks Niner!

 

[Niner]

oh shoot - I just noticed that date (May 29th) is right after the Memorial Holiday... probably won't be able to take off... hmmmm.... wondering "what" to do... maybe take off the morning?? We shall see, as it gets closer!

 

[Niner]

Your quite welcome Chico! I've been trying to get in here for the LONGEST time... I guess everyone & their brother are getting on here to 'see' who the father was/is of Danielynn... now we know!

 

[chicoliving]

Yep! It'll calm down soon

 

[chicoliving]

~snip~

The new indictment adds the special circumstance of kidnapping during the commission of a murder, which makes Kovacich eligible for the death penalty. There is also an added enhancement of using a firearm in the alleged crime.

Kovacich had already been indicted on the murder charge last September. He was released on a $1 million bond, but bail was revoked when the second indictment was handed up. Kovacich now remains in custody on no bail.
http://www.news10.net/display_story.aspx?storyid=26475

The article mentions that the DA hasn't decided on the death penalty or not and that the "new" evidence remains secret. But we might find out some of that evidence because at the hearing on 5/29 the judge will hear new evidence on the special circumstances and the gun enhancement.

 

[DEPUTYDAWG]

Thank you Niner! Good to have eyes and ears in the courtroom, LOL!!!
:woohoo:

 

[Niner]

~snip~

The new indictment adds the special circumstance of kidnapping during the commission of a murder, which makes Kovacich eligible for the death penalty. There is also an added enhancement of using a firearm in the alleged crime.

Kovacich had already been indicted on the murder charge last September. He was released on a $1 million bond, but bail was revoked when the second indictment was handed up. Kovacich now remains in custody on no bail.
http://www.news10.net/display_story.aspx?storyid=26475

The article mentions that the DA hasn't decided on the death penalty or not and that the "new" evidence remains secret. But we might find out some of that evidence because at the hearing on 5/29 the judge will hear new evidence on the special circumstances and the gun enhancement.

yes, I heard (sort of! LOL!) that about the Special circumstance - and the "added" enhancement - but wasn't too sure WHAT they were talking about, as I said - they did NOT talk loud enough!! LOL!

Okay - so.... "new evidence on the special circumstances and the gun enhancement will be heard by the judge, eh?? well - I guess that means I HAVE to go to court on this and report to you all... I'll 'see' what I can do about taking the morning off...

 

[Jeana (DP)]

DO NOT PRINT ENTIRE NEWS ARTICLES AND IF YOU DO PRINT ANY SNIPPET OF ANY NEWS ARTICLES, YOU MUST INCLUDE A LINK. Posts not including this information will be deleted and memberships re-evaluated.

 

[californiacarrie]

What if you don't know a link? The snippet I mentioned a few days ago was directly from the real paper. That's why I included the name of the paper, date and author of the article.

 

[Jeana (DP)]

What if you don't know a link? The snippet I mentioned a few days ago was directly from the real paper. That's why I included the name of the paper, date and author of the article.

You're going to have to tell me which post you're talking about.

 

[Niner]

What if you don't know a link? The snippet I mentioned a few days ago was directly from the real paper. That's why I included the name of the paper, date and author of the article.

Same here, Jeana... I sometimes post from articles from my local paper the Auburn Journal, but I usually put the date of the paper (I think!??!!) :angel:

 

[chicoliving]

Here's a link to the list of archived articles from the Auburn Journal

Link

 

[chicoliving]

It looks likely that human remains sent to a forensic lab for DNA analysis two years ago could be the catalyst that led to Paul Kovacich Jr.'s recent re-arrest.

http://www.auburnjournal.com/articles/2007/03/28/news/top_stories/01kovacich28.txt

Sounds like the remains may be the "new evidence". I'm thinking these are her remains (I think that's only presumed at this time and hasn't been formally acknowleged) and the cause of death was a gunshot wound and this is why the new charges of the added enhancement of using a firearm? IOW he took her against her will (kidnapping charge), shot her (enhancement of using a firearm) and now is eligible for the death penalty?

 

[Niner]

Thanks for the article, Chico! I'm wondering "where" they found these remains... I guess we shall find out next month, eh? IF (!) they announce that at the hearing on the 29th...

 

[californiacarrie]

Kovacich's lawyers are petitioning to have the special circumstances charges dropped on the basis of scant or unreliable evidence. I imagine that it's possible for him to win that as I don't know what physical evidence could prove kidnapping and lying in wait other than witness testimony or disclosed confessions which can be easily defeated. I imagine rape would even be difficult to prove since they were married.


"McElhany gave Blackmon until May 1 to submit a written document as to why the indictment should be dismissed and set Kovacich's next hearing for May 29."
http://www.sacbee.com/291/story/152880.html

 

[californiacarrie]

On another note, I remember at least two decomposed bodies being found in Nevada Co wilderness - near highways, in 2005 or 2006. Of course, I can't find ANY of those articles anymore. At the time, everyone was speculating that they were the remains of Christie Wilson...