Ceus, dressed in loose white clothing, spent the first two days of her trial mostly slumped back in her chair, gazing straight ahead. Occasionally, she’d blink, or fold her arms across her chest, or rest her cheek in her hand, or close her eyes as if in meditation, as her attorneys vigorously mounted a defense on her behalf.
An all-white, 12-member jury (with two alternates) consisting of nine women and five men ranging in age from 20s to 60s or 70s listened intently to the proceedings, notebooks in hand.
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While it is not yet known whether Ceus will testify at her own trial, Whiting told the jury that they will at some point watch a video of an intake interview, shortly after she was taken into custody, in which she was asked what she thought would happen to two girls left in a car for a prolonged period of time, with no food or water.
Ceus’ alleged answer to that question: “That is not rocket science.”
‘Free will’ at core of Ceus’ defense
Lots of witnesses.
Blair’s friends Adam Horn and River Young
San Miguel County Coroner Emil Sante
Retired San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office investigator Norman Squier
Pathologist Michael Benziger
Forensic pathologists Matthew McMullin and Sherri Kacinko with NMS Labs
Dr. Najmus Ansari - pediatrician from Florida
Dr. Mary Vader
Makayla’s father, Chris Roberts