GUILTY Canada - Jessica Newman, 24, Calgary, 10 March 2015 #2

[LoisLane]

I'm not sure about the "After" her body was discovered that he disclosed he went for coffee with her. Pretty sure that was released well before her body was found. Whether it was friends commenting on articles or it was reported.

 

[deugirtni]

I'm not sure about the "After" her body was discovered that he disclosed he went for coffee with her. Pretty sure that was released well before her body was found. Whether it was friends commenting on articles or it was reported.

This is an article from May 15, 2015, wherein it seems it was not yet known by whom she had been picked up, or even *that* she had been picked up - last she was reported being seen was by coworkers outside her workplace waiting for her ride.

"The 24-year-old was missing for eight weeks before her body was found and was last seen alive at her workplace, the Water Grill. She leaves behind three young boys."

https://globalnews.ca/news/1997432/her-boys-have-no-mother-jessica-newmans-mom-waits-for-answers/

 

[otto]

I'm not sure about the "After" her body was discovered that he disclosed he went for coffee with her. Pretty sure that was released well before her body was found. Whether it was friends commenting on articles or it was reported.

It was definitely after her body was discovered that he admitted picking her up. He had already stated that he drove to Balzac on the night of her disappearance, so he essentially admitted to the murder without admitting to it.

"After her body was discovered by a road crew worker, Rubletz told police he picked up Newman from work on the night of March 10, took her for a coffee and dropped her at home."

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/jessica-newman-kevin-rubletz-murder-trial-video-1.4393961​

I don't remember all the details from March, but I do remember something about the suspect wanting to study or work outside of the city for periods of time. I can't get the idea out of my head that his mother wanted to raise the child and that this was more than the suspect wanting to prevent Jessica from having fifty percent custody of her child.

"Newman's on-again, off-again boyfriend Kevin Rubletz, 33, is on trial for second-degree murder."​

I am so disappointed in the prosecutor for not aiming a little higher and charging him with first degree murder. There is always the option for the jury to convict him of the lesser charge of second degree, but at least Shane Parker could have tried for first degree. I can't help but wonder if the victim was a lawyer, and all other circumstance were the same, whether the charge would be second degree. That is, I am concerned that Jessica's circumstances have followed her in death, and that she is still treated as underprivileged when it comes to prosecuting her murderer. Apologies for seeming harsh regarding the prosecutor, but it just seems lazy.

Too often men who murder their partners in Alberta are charged with second degree murder, as though the fact that they once loved each other means that the husband cannot plan the murder.

 

[otto]

He had not told police that he picked up Jessica, but he had told them that he drove to Balzac. That was probably because he assumed that police could trace his movements through his phone.

It was immediately after Jessica's body was found near Balzac that police caught the suspect's mother trying to get rid of the van, so that is probably why he admitted that he picked Jessica up from work. It would have come down to the question of whether his mother, or he, was responsible for Jessica's blood in the van. It looks like he gradually revealed facts in order to prevent his mother from being investigated for the murder.

There is still the very big question of why his mother was trying to get rid of evidence of Jessica's murder. What did she know, when did she know it, and what was her relationship to Jessica's son? Did the suspect's mother have a stake in preventing Jessica from having fifty percent care of her son? Has she been charged as an accessory, and if not, why not? Was the botched clean up so good that she could not see blood and therefore was ignorant about the van being a crime scene? Was it pure coincidence that as soon as the body was found she wanted to get rid of the van?

It sure sounds like police were unable to get a warrant for the suspect's home and vehicle, but the family feared that after the body was found there would be a warrant and police would discover the evidence in the van.

 

[deugirtni]

This is from a news article on April 17, 2015:

"Jessica Rae Newman, a 24-year-old mother of three, was last seen when an ex-boyfriend dropped her off at her Forest Lawn home at about 9:30 p.m. March 10."

http://calgaryherald.com/news/crime/police-ramp-up-search-for-missing-calgary-woman

The same article refers to the rather cryptic letter sent to JRN's mother from Calgary Police Service on April 16, 2016 : (attached)

 

[otto]

I find the location of the body interesting. First, it's surprising that she was not found sooner given that she was between the road and a farmer's fence. Secondly, I'm always curious about the location of the body in relation to where the suspect lives. His family lives in SW Calgary, and the body was dumped in a ditch NE of the city. In this case, a first murder means putting as much distance between home and body as possible.

 

[otto]

This is from a news article on April 17, 2015:

"Jessica Rae Newman, a 24-year-old mother of three, was last seen when an ex-boyfriend dropped her off at her Forest Lawn home at about 9:30 p.m. March 10."

http://calgaryherald.com/news/crime/police-ramp-up-search-for-missing-calgary-woman

The same article refers to the rather cryptic letter sent to JRN's mother from Calgary Police Service on April 16, 2016 : (attached)

She vanished on March 10, and it wasn't until three weeks later that it was assigned to major crimes - as in: considered a crime. I think this is another symptom of the prosecutor judging Jessica as a struggling single mom, and presuming for three weeks that maybe she chose to disappear.

 

[deugirtni]

As of May 12, 2015 (after the body was discovered), it seems that us sleuthers did not yet know who had picked her up from work that night:

http://www.websleuths.com/forums/sh...March-2015-2-*Arrest*&p=11766862#post11766862

 

[otto]

As of May 12, 2015 (after the body was discovered), it seems that us sleuthers did not yet know who had picked her up from work that night:

http://www.websleuths.com/forums/sh...March-2015-2-*Arrest*&p=11766862#post11766862

I'm confident that if the CBC reporter added that fact to yesterday's news, then it was stated in court during trial that Kevin Rubletz deliberately withheld that fact [that he picked Jessica up on the night she vanished] until after the body was found, and after his mom was caught red handed trying to destroy the crime scene [the suspect's van]. I believe that he murdered her to prevent her from having half time custody of their son, and that the custody court date on the following morning was the one and only reason that she was murdered and tossed in a ditch.

 

[deugirtni]

I can't find the actual date when the Rubletz home was searched (at the time of the search, the family had already moved to a different home), but seems it was after JRN's body was discovered, and before charges were laid. This article is from May 13, 2015:

"Police haven’t named any suspects or laid charges in her murder, but confirm persons of interest in the case include those who were the last to see her before she disappeared.

The homicide unit has searched the home Newman’s ex-boyfriend—the father of her child—and extended family lived in at the time of her disappearance March 10. Newman was scheduled to attend a custody hearing the next day.

“I believe if there’s somebody out there that’s done this and they are sorry, they’ll come clean,” said Stewart. “If they don’t come clean now, I believe they’re not sorry, then I think they should get the maximum sentence.”

Jessica’s mother has many questions about what happened to her daughter, but in the meantime, can only hope those responsible will be brought to justice soon.

“It’s really, really hard,” she said. “Yeah, they’re still eating dinner, having fun going to movies, doing whatever they want and they’ve taken that away from my daughter forever. But also, her boys have no mother forever.”"

https://globalnews.ca/news/1997432/her-boys-have-no-mother-jessica-newmans-mom-waits-for-answers/

and this is from June 24, 2015:

"Homicide Unit Staff Sgt. Doug Andrus confirmed investigators are making progress in the case.


“I can tell you, first of all, we do have a person of interest, and if we do make an arrest on this file, that individual will be given every opportunity to tell us about the circumstances leading up to her death,” said Andrus.


Global News has learned Newman’s ex-boyfriend, Kevin Rubletz, is considered a person of interest.

Photo of Kevin Rubletz submitted to Global News




Rubletz is the father of her youngest son. Family confirmed the two were in the middle of a custody dispute and said Newman was hoping for shared custody.


Police have already searched the home he shared with her.


Despite numerous attempts, Global News has been unable to reach Rubletz for a comment.


“We are very confident that we will bring a resolution to this file, we will identify the person responsible, and we will be laying charges,” said Andrus.


Newman’s family just wants peace. For them, that will come when an arrest is made."

https://globalnews.ca/news/2073951/exclusive-new-details-in-murder-investigation-of-jessica-newman/

 

[deugirtni]

I'm confident that if the CBC reporter added that fact to yesterday's news, then it was stated in court during trial that Kevin Rubletz deliberately withheld that fact [that he picked Jessica up on the night she vanished] until after the body was found, and after his mom was caught red handed trying to destroy the crime scene [the suspect's van]. I believe that he murdered her to prevent her from having half time custody of their son, and that the custody court date on the following morning was the one and only reason that she was murdered and tossed in a ditch.

That would mean they must have gone back to change the words written in the newspaper article dated April 17, 2015? (shown above where it reports that KR had been the one to pick her up)

 

[deugirtni]

If KR up until the time JRN died, had 100% custody of their son, he would have received whatever family allowance was issued by the government, and would have had to pay nothing to JRN. If JRN suddenly was awarded 50% custody, I believe that would mean that any family allowance benefit would have gone to her, or been shared 50%, and that KR would suddenly have to start paying child support to 'equalize' JRN's income. That is how I have seen it work here in ON, and I believe the laws are the same in AB. If KR was set to begin a new job, depending on his wage, he could have been thinking he'd be making a pile of money, and then discovered he'd have to start giving half of it away. That could be a big blow, if he wasn't aware of the financial implications such a change could make?

 

[otto]

If KR up until the time JRN died, had 100% custody of their son, he would have received whatever family allowance was issued by the government, and would have had to pay nothing to JRN. If JRN suddenly was awarded 50% custody, I believe that would mean that any family allowance benefit would have gone to her, or been shared 50%, and that KR would suddenly have to start paying child support to 'equalize' JRN's income. That is how I have seen it work here in ON, and I believe the laws are the same in AB. If KR was set to begin a new job, depending on his wage, he could have been thinking he'd be making a pile of money, and then discovered he'd have to start giving half of it away. That could be a big blow, if he wasn't aware of the financial implications such a change could make?

With custody, the objective is to ensure that the child will enjoy the quality of life that it would have if the parents lived together. If his income was fifty thousand, and hers was twenty, then he would have paid her some child support according to federal / provincial child support guidelines. This murder was about ownership of the child, money, and the suspect's determination to live his life as he wanted without consideration for her wishes.

 

[deugirtni]

I find the location of the body interesting. First, it's surprising that she was not found sooner given that she was between the road and a farmer's fence. Secondly, I'm always curious about the location of the body in relation to where the suspect lives. His family lives in SW Calgary, and the body was dumped in a ditch NE of the city. In this case, a first murder means putting as much distance between home and body as possible.

She was in a ditch, so was likely difficult to see from the road.. maybe too small to notice from a plane?

http://calgary.ctvnews.ca/police-confirm-jessica-rae-newman-was-murdered-1.2366589

 

[deugirtni]

I don't recall knowing that she had been stabbed 75+ times, I believe COD was one of the things LE did not disclose at the time. It's pretty difficult to imagine that this could have been done by someone without a large emotional investment. Could that be why they are saying '2nd degree'? If it had been planned - who would plan to stab someone 75+ times?
added: From that, it seems like someone 'snapped', to me. One of those things where it's totally unexpected, not the usual nature of the person, but something arouses the person to suddenly lash out without control. In a case like that, the regular nature of a person doesn't really matter (really anyone can snap, given the right circumstances/timing/company), and the common sense considerations are out the window, if it was based on a sudden, emotional, primal instinct of some kind - whether rage, or protection, or whatever. So it may not make sense that someone would be that stupid to murder the ex on the night before a custody hearing, or to ditch the purse (presumably with cellphone) along with the body, or to have it be known that he was the one to pick her up - all of that doesn't have a play in it, if he's just suddenly consumed with a primal instinct to do away with the imminent problem. JMO, as being my guess as to why 'second degree' vs first degree murder charges.

 

[deugirtni]

I wonder if KR admitted before or after JRN's body was discovered, that he had driven out to Balzac? It just says 'days later', that he changed his story significantly. If 'before', I would hope that LE went out that way to search for her body? Obviously if that happened, they didn't find it. Would sure be nice to have at least one MSM reporting more of the court testimony, exhibits, etc. in this trial!

 

[deugirtni]

I'm confident that if the CBC reporter added that fact to yesterday's news, then it was stated in court during trial that Kevin Rubletz deliberately withheld that fact [that he picked Jessica up on the night she vanished] until after the body was found, and after his mom was caught red handed trying to destroy the crime scene [the suspect's van]. I believe that he murdered her to prevent her from having half time custody of their son, and that the custody court date on the following morning was the one and only reason that she was murdered and tossed in a ditch.

Sometimes reporters get things wrong.. so it's always nice when there are a few reporters so that things can be confirmed if they seem 'off'. jmo

 

[deugirtni]

"In an analysis done by digital forensic examination expert Const. Ian Whiffen, jurors learned the couple seemed to be getting along fine just hours before Jessica Newman was last heard from.

"On March 9, 2015, Newman and Rubletz exchanged a series of notes on their phones.

"“Are we still doing coffee?” Newman asked Rubletz, shortly before 8 a.m. that day.

"After not getting a reply for nearly 40 minutes, Newman sent a further text.

"“Okay I’m going to assume that’s a no then . . .” she wrote.

"But an hour later, Rubletz responded.

"“Morning beautiful,” he began.

"“Sorry I didnt (sic) text left my phone at Georges (sic) haha I love you babe,” he said.

"Early in the afternoon, Rubletz texted Newman to say he’d be dropping off their son that day for her regular visitation with the boy.

"“Sounds good love you to (sic),” Newman replied.

"Further exchanges indicate the three-year-old was dropped off and later picked up in an amicable text exchange.

"“Like his toe nails? He did them himself LOL,” she told Rubletz, in the last text uploaded to her iCloud account.
....
"Under cross-examination, Whiffen agreed with defence counsel Joshua Sutherland he found nothing to suggest any evidence of violence by the accused toward Newman in the 3,668 texts between the two.
....
"“The last text message sent was March 10, at 8:40 p.m.,” Dyer said."

http://calgarysun.com/news/local-ne...d-loving-texts-with-woman-he-allegedly-killed

 

[deugirtni]

"They called each other "sweetheart," "hunny," "love" and "babe." Those affectionate names are found throughout 3,668 text messages between Jessica Newman and Kevin Rubletz, which capture the intimate relationship between on-again, off-again couple ...
....
"Jurors at Rubletz's second-degree murder trial were presented the text messages retrieved from Newman's iPhone by Const. Ian Whiffen, who is with the Calgary Police Service's digital forensics team.

"The messages span a one-year period from March 2014 to March 2015, during which time the couple is engaged, broken up and engaged again, all the while keeping what Whiffen characterized as a "loving tone" with each other.

"Jurors also viewed a photo of Newman's hand wearing an engagement ring.

A court exhibit of a photo of Jessica Newman's hand wearing an engagement ring. (Court Exhibit)

....
"The following is an exchange between the two on March 4, 2015:

"Newman: court is on the 11 right?
Rubletz: yep
Newman: We gonna go down together like last time?
Rubletz: lol yeah sure
Newman: your still giving me 50/50 even tho your still at your sisters right?
Rubletz: Yeppers
Newman: Ok just making sure "

"On March 9, 2015, the day before Rubletz is accused of murdering Newman, the two woke up and exchanged I love yous before working out the details of Newman's visit with her son. They had even planned to attend a custody hearing together set for March 11, 2015, where Rubletz had planned to support Newman in her efforts to gain 50 per cent custody of their son.
....
"Under cross examination by defence lawyer Joshua Sutherland, Whiffen confirmed that in the messages he'd reviewed between the former couple he'd not seen any threats of violence by Rubletz toward Newman.

"Jurors heard that Calgary police questioned Rubletz several times and noted changes in his version of events."

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calga...-rubletz-murder-trial-text-messages-1.4395962

 

[LoisLane]

I wonder if it was verified that Kevin had left his phone at "Georges". So Kevin does leave and lose phones. I wonder if it was easy to unlock or read Jessica's messages.

“Sorry I didnt (sic) text left my phone at Georges (sic) haha I love you babe,” he said.

Blood letting evidence better be substantial.

http://calgaryherald.com/news/local...lled/wcm/28a9bfb7-997d-453f-a7b5-5cef2a273405