GUILTY IA - Jessica Gomez, 26, Webster County, 4 Aug 2017 *Arrests*

[Niner]

Monday, March 4th:
*Trial was set to begin-Postponed! (@ am CT) – IA – Jessica Lyne Gomez (26) (Aug. 4, 2017, Fort Dodge; found Aug. 12, 2017) – only for *Phillip Anthony Williams (25) arrested (8/10/17) & charged (7/17/18) with 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. $1M cash bond.
Webster County - Trial in Cerro Gordon County
Waived speedy trial. Was original arrested in Indiana in a stolen car on 8/10/17 & faced charges before being extradited back to Iowa on 7/7/18.
Trial was to start 3/4/19 has been continued. Motion by defense objecting to composition of the jurors in Cerro Gordon County. Next hearing 3/25/19 in Linn County courthouse @ 9am.
*Mackenzie Lee Knigge (26) arrested (8/10/17) & charged (9/25/17) with aiding & abetting 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. $1M cash bond.
Webster County - Trial to Story County
Waived speedy trial. Was original arrested in Indiana in a stolen on 8/10/17 & was extradited back to Iowa on 9/12/17. 8/19/18: Trial was to start 11/26, granted continuance. Trial starts 3/5/19. Trial cancelled on 11/26/18.
11/26/18 Update: Change of Venue granted from Webster County to Story County. Trial will start 6/10/19. Judge Wilke granted a motion to amend the charge against Knigge to aiding & abetting first-degree murder. Both crimes are Class A felonies, and Knigge still faces the possibility of life in prison without parole if convicted.
11/26/18 Update #2: Motion to Amend & Substitute Trial info is sustained. Trial to Story County is set for 6/10/19. Motion to review Knigge’s financial status, hearing set for 1/22/19. 1/22/19 Update: Defense asks for continuance, hearing set for 2/4.

 

[JerseyGirl]

26-year-old Phillip Williams, of Lafayette, Indiana, was scheduled to start trial Monday in Mason City, where the trial had been moved because of pretrial publicity in Fort Dodge. He and Mackenzie Knigge are accused of killing 26-year-old Jessica Gomez in August 2017.

Williams’ attorney objected to the lack of black people in the Mason City jury pool, saying that just one person out of 130 potential jurors was self-identified as black. Flickinger told the judge that Williams “has a legitimate interest in the representation of African-Americans on the jury panel,” and she asked that the trial be moved to a county with a higher black population.

On Wednesday the judge moved the trial to Cedar Rapids in Linn County and scheduled it to start March 25.

Knigge also has pleaded not guilty. She’s scheduled to begin trial June 10.

Trial in Fort Dodge woman’s death moved again, rescheduled

 

[Niner]

Williams:
Event Filed By Filed Create Date Last Updated Action Date
OTHER ORDER BICE THOMAS J. 03/04/2019 03/04/2019 03/04/2019
Comments: IT IS ORDERED THAT A HEARING ON THE MOTIONS WILL BE HELD ON
THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2019 @ 1:30 PM.

OTHER EVENT NUCCIO TODD 03/01/2019 03/01/2019 03/01/2019
Comments: REGARDING JUDGE & CT REPORTER REIMBURSEMENT

ORDER SETTING TRIAL BICE THOMAS J. 02/27/2019 02/27/2019 02/27/2019
Comments: LINN COUNTY COURTHOUSE 3/25/19 9AM.
CC: PARTIES LISTED ON ORDER

link: https://www.iowacourts.state.ia.us/ESAWebApp/TIndexFrm


No updates for Knigge.

 

[Niner]

Thursday, March 14th:
*Motions Hearing (@ 1:30pm CT) – IA – Jessica Lyne Gomez (26) (Aug. 4, 2017, Fort Dodge; found Aug. 12, 2017) – only for *Phillip Anthony Williams (25) arrested (8/10/17) & charged (7/17/18) with 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. $1M cash bond.
Webster County-Trial in Cerro Gordo County then moved to Linn County.
Waived speedy trial. Was original arrested in Indiana in a stolen car on 8/10/17 & faced charges before being extradited back to Iowa on 7/7/18.
Trial was to start 3/4/19 has been continued. Defense argued that there were not enough African-Americans n Cerro Gordo County. Judge has moved the trial to Cedar Rapids in Linn County on 3/25/19.
3/4/19 Update: Motions hearing on 3/14.
*Mackenzie Lee Knigge (26) arrested (8/10/17) & charged (9/25/17) with aiding & abetting 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. $1M cash bond.
Webster County-Trial to Story County
Waived speedy trial. Was original arrested in Indiana in a stolen on 8/10/17 & was extradited back to Iowa on 9/12/17. 8/19/18: Trial was to start 11/26, granted continuance. Trial starts 3/5/19. Trial cancelled on 11/26/18.
11/26/18 Update: Change of Venue granted from Webster County to Story County. Trial will start 6/10/19. Judge Wilke granted a motion to amend the charge against Knigge to aiding & abetting first-degree murder. Both crimes are Class A felonies, and Knigge still faces the possibility of life in prison without parole if convicted.
11/26/18 Update #2: Motion to Amend & Substitute Trial info is sustained. Trial to Story County is set for 6/10/19. Motion to review Knigge’s financial status, hearing set for 1/22/19. 1/22/19 Update: Defense asks for continuance, hearing set for 2/4. No update as of 3/7/19

 

[Niner]

Williams:

Event Filed By Filed Create Date Last Updated Action Date
ORDER FOR TRANSPORTATION BICE THOMAS J. 03/15/2019 03/15/2019 03/15/2019
Comments: FOR WITNESS
CC: 3CC-SHERIFF

ORDER FOR TRANSPORTATION BICE THOMAS J. 03/15/2019 03/15/2019 03/15/2019
Comments: FOR WITNESS
CC: 3CC-SHERIFF

MOTION FLICKINGER KATHERINE 03/15/2019 03/15/2019 03/15/2019
Comments: FOR TRANSPORT ORDER FOR WITNESS

MOTION FLICKINGER KATHERINE 03/15/2019 03/15/2019 03/15/2019
Comments: FOR TRANSPORT ORDER FOR WITNESS

OTHER ORDER BICE THOMAS J. 03/14/2019 03/14/2019 03/14/2019
Comments: COURT HEARD ARGUMENTS AND STATEMENTS. NO FORMAL RULINGS ARE
MADE AT THIS TIME.
COURT REPORTER MEMORANDUM AND CERTIFICATE BICE THOMAS J. 03/14/2019
03/14/2019 03/14/2019
Comments: BICE/PHILLIPS 3/14/19 MOTIONS IN LIMINE

link: https://www.iowacourts.state.ia.us/ESAWebApp/TIndexFrm

But no further court date available.... I'll keep my eye out for it. And nothing knew on Knigge either.

 

[YESorNO]

Man charged with killing Gomez goes on trial Monday
Phillip Williams will face a Linn County jury in Cedar Rapids

MAR 24, 2019

"...The first-degree murder trial of Phillip A. Williams, 26, of Lafayette, Indiana, will start Monday at the Linn County Courthouse in Cedar Rapids.

Jury selection will take place on Monday, with opening arguments expected on Tuesday...

Williams’ trial is being held on the other side of the state because of a series of change of venue motions.

The first motion was filed on behalf of Knigge on Nov. 27, 2018, the day her trial was originally supposed to begin in Webster County.

The trial was ordered moved to Story County after juror questionnaires revealed that more than 40 members of the jury pool had already formed an opinion in the case.

Her trial is now set to begin June 10.

Two days after Knigge’s trial was moved, Williams’ attorneys filed the same motion. His trial was originally moved to Cerro Gordo County, where it was set to begin in Mason City on March 4.

But days before Williams’ trial, his attorneys filed a second change of venue motion on the grounds that the number of African-Americans in Cerro Gordo County was disproportionate to the amount in Webster County....

Judge Thomas Bice, of the 2nd Judicial District, then moved the trial back three weeks to its current trial date of Monday...."

Man charged with killing Gomez goes on trial Monday | News, Sports, Jobs - Messenger News

 

[Niner]

Monday, March 25th:
*Trial set to begin-Jury Selection begins (@ 9am CT) – IA – Jessica Lyne Gomez (26) (Aug. 4, 2017, Fort Dodge; found Aug. 12, 2017) – only for *Phillip Anthony Williams (25) arrested (8/10/17) & charged (7/17/18) with 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. $1M cash bond.
Webster County-Trial in Cerro Gordo County then moved to Linn County.
Jury selection starts 3/25. Opening statements expected to start 3/26.
*Mackenzie Lee Knigge (26) arrested (8/10/17) & charged (9/25/17) with aiding & abetting 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. $1M cash bond. Webster County-Trial to Story County
Waived speedy trial. Was original arrested in Indiana in a stolen on 8/10/17 & was extradited back to Iowa on 9/12/17.
8/19/18 Update: Trial was to start 11/26, granted continuance. Trial starts 3/5/19. Trial cancelled on 11/26/18.
11/26/18 Update: Change of Venue granted from Webster County to Story County. Trial will start 6/10/19. Judge Wilke granted a motion to amend the charge against Knigge to aiding & abetting first-degree murder. Both crimes are Class A felonies, and Knigge still faces the possibility of life in prison without parole if convicted.
11/26/18 Update #2: Motion to Amend & Substitute Trial info is sustained. Trial to Story County is set for 6/10/19. Motion to review Knigge’s financial status, hearing set for 1/22/19. 1/22/19 Update: Defense asks for continuance, hearing set for 2/4.

 

[YESorNO]

Man accused of killing Fort Dodge woman, burning her body pleads guilty to lesser charge

March 25, 2019

"An Indiana man accused of killing a Fort Dodge woman whose body was found burned in a field pleaded guilty Monday to attempt to commit murder.

Phillip Williams, 26, of Lafayette, Indiana, was set to go on trial Monday morning for first-degree murder. He and 27-year-old Mackenzie Knigge, whose trial is set to begin in June, killed Jessica Gomez, 26, in August 2017, prosecutors said.

Williams instead pleaded guilty to attempt to commit murder, a class B felony; desecration of a corpse, a class D felony; and accessory after the fact, an aggravated misdemeanor, court records filed Monday in Webster County show.

As part of his plea agreement, Williams will be sentenced to up to 32 years in prison. Had he gone to trial and been convicted of first-degree murder, he would have been sentenced to life in prison.

Williams will also be ordered to pay a penalty of $150,000 to Gomez's family. ...

Williams will be sentenced April 22 at the Webster County Courthouse in Fort Dodge. "

Man accused of killing Fort Dodge woman, burning her body pleads guilty to lesser charge

 

[Niner]

Update!

Monday, March 25th:
*Trial set to begin-Jury Selection (Day 1) (@ 9am CT) – IA – Jessica Lyne Gomez (26) (Aug. 4, 2017, Fort Dodge; found Aug. 12, 2017) – only for *Phillip Anthony Williams (25) arrested (8/10/17) & charged (7/17/18) with 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. $1M cash bond.
Webster County-Trial in Cerro Gordo County then moved to Linn County.
Jury selection starts 3/25. Opening statements expected to start 3/26.
3/25/19 Update: Trial was supposed to start, Williams instead pleaded guilty to attempt to commit murder, a class B felony; desecration of a corpse, a class D felony; and accessory after the fact, an aggravated misdemeanor on Monday. As part of his plea agreement, Williams will be sentenced to up to 32 years in prison. Had he gone to trial and been convicted of first-degree murder, he would have been sentenced to life in prison. Williams will also be ordered to pay a penalty of $150,000 to Gomez's family. Sentencing scheduled on April 22.
*Mackenzie Lee Knigge (26) arrested (8/10/17) & charged (9/25/17) with aiding & abetting 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. $1M cash bond. Webster County-Trial to Story County-Trial starts 6/10/19.
Knigge's court hearings reference post #67 here:
Found Deceased - IA - Jessica Gomez, 26, Webster County, 4 Aug 2017 *Arrests*

 

[JerseyGirl]

Lafayette man set to go to trial in Iowa for alleged slaying

Jury selection began Monday for Phillip Williams.

Prosecutors say Williams and 27-year-old Mackenzie Knigge killed 26-year-old Jessica Gomez in August 2017.

Knigge's trial is scheduled to begin June 10.

 

[Niner]

That article must be wrong - he plead guilty right before his trial was supposed to start - as I have this from the court site:

ORDER FOR PSI BICE THOMAS J. 03/25/2019 03/25/2019 03/25/2019
Comments: SENTENCING HEARING 04/22/2019 02:00 PM CT1.
COURT REPORTER MEMORANDUM AND CERTIFICATE BICE THOMAS J. 03/25/2019
03/25/2019 03/25/2019
OTHER EVENT FLICKINGER KATHERINE 03/25/2019 03/25/2019 03/25/2019
Comments: MEMORANDUM OF PLEA AGREEMENT

link: https://www.iowacourts.state.ia.us/ESAWebApp/TIndexFrm

 

[Niner]

Monday, April 22nd:
*Sentencing Hearing (@ 9am CT) – IA – Jessica Lyne Gomez (26) (Aug. 4, 2017, Fort Dodge; found Aug. 12, 2017) – only for *Phillip Anthony Williams (25) arrested (8/10/17) & charged (7/17/18) with 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. $1M cash bond. Trial in Cerro Gordo County then moved to Linn County.
3/25/19 Update: Trial was supposed to start, Williams instead pleaded guilty to attempt to commit murder, a class B felony; desecration of a corpse, a class D felony; and accessory after the fact, an aggravated misdemeanor on Monday. As part of his plea agreement, Williams will be sentenced to up to 32 years in prison. Had he gone to trial and been convicted of first-degree murder, he would have been sentenced to life in prison. Williams will also be ordered to pay a penalty of $150,000 to Gomez's family. Sentencing scheduled on April 22.
*Mackenzie Lee Knigge (26) arrested (8/10/17) & charged (9/25/17) with aiding & abetting 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. $1M cash bond.
Trial to Story County-Trial starts 6/10/19.
Knigge's court hearings reference post #67 here:
Found Deceased - IA - Jessica Gomez, 26, Webster County, 4 Aug 2017 *Arrests*

 

[Niner]

Williams:

ORDER OF DISPOSITION BICE THOMAS J. 04/22/2019 04/22/2019 04/22/2019
Comments: CT I ATTEMPT TO COMMIT MURDER-25 YRS PRISON. CT III ABUSE
HUMAN CORPSE-5 YRS. 5 YR NO CONTACT W/IMMEDIATE FAMILY OF
JESSICA GOMEZ FOR 5 YRS. PAY COSTS/NO CA ATTY/VICTIM
RESTITUTION.
CC: DISPATCH, VICTIM

ORDER OF DISPOSITION BICE THOMAS J. 04/22/2019 04/22/2019 04/22/2019
Comments: CT II ACCESSORY AFTER THE FACT-2 YR PRISON. PAY COSTS.

COURT REPORTER MEMORANDUM AND CERTIFICATE BICE THOMAS J. 04/22/2019
Comments: BICE/PHILLIPS 4/22/19 SENTENCING

link: https://www.iowacourts.state.ia.us/ESAWebApp/TIndexFrm

 

[YESorNO]

Mackenzie Knigge pleads guilty to attempted murder

Jun 06, 2019

"FORT DODGE - The woman accused of killing a Webster County woman has entered a plea agreement with prosecutors, according to court records.

27-year-old Mackenzie Knigge, originally charged with Murder in the First Degree in the death of Jessica Gomez, pleaded guilty Thursday to three charges: Attempt to Commit Murder, Robbery in the Second Degree, and Desecration of a Corpse. ...

Knigge was set to go to trial in Story County on Monday following a change of venue, but instead will be sentenced on July 8. Per the plea agreement, a 35-year maximum prison sentence will be recommended.

Williams pleaded guilty to three charges in April—Attempt to Commit Murder, Abuse of a Human Corpse, and Accessory After the Fact—and was sentenced to a maximum 30 years in prison."

Mackenzie Knigge pleads guilty to attempted murder
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gomez’s family speaks out, says they can now have peace

JUN 7, 2019

"It has been 22 months since the family of Jessica Gomez found out they would never have the opportunity to spend time with her again....

On Thursday, the family was able to get at least some closure when Mackenzie Knigge, 27, of Clare, accepted a plea deal and pleaded guilty to attempted murder in connection to the death of Gomez....

The outcomes weren’t exactly what Gomez’s family members had hoped for, but most are accepting of the result...."

Gomez’s family speaks out, says they can now have peace | News, Sports, Jobs - Messenger News

(-Submitted photo/ Jessica Gomez is pictured here as a high school senior.)

 

[Niner]

Thank you @YESorNO for the update!

 

[Niner]

Monday, July 8th:
*Sentencing Hearing (@ 2pm CT) – IA – Jessica Lyne Gomez (26) (Aug. 4, 2017, Fort Dodge; found 8/12/17) – only for *Mackenzie Lee Knigge (26) arrested (8/10/17) & charged (9/25/17) with 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. $1M cash bond. Webster County to Story County
Was original arrested in Indiana in a stolen on 8/10/17 & was extradited back to Iowa on 9/12/17.
Trial was to start 6/19/19.
Trial was to start 11/26, then moved to 3/5/19, now scheduled for 6/10/19. 11/26/18: Change of Venue granted to Story County.
6/6/19 Update: A plea agreement was reached & she plead guilty Thursday to 3 charges: Attempt to Commit Murder, Robbery in the Second Degree, and Desecration of a Corpse. Trial was set to start in Story County on Monday (6/10) following a change of venue, but instead will be sentenced on July 8. Per the plea agreement, a 35-year maximum prison sentence will be recommended.
*Phillip Anthony Williams (25) arrested (8/10/17) & charged (7/17/18) with 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. $1M cash bond.
3/25/19 Update: Trial was supposed to start, Williams instead pleaded guilty 4/22/19 Update: For Count 1 Attempt to commit murder: 25 years in prison. Count 3: Abuse of human corpse: 5 years. 5 year no contact w/immediate family of Jessica. Count 2: Accessory after the fact: 2 years.

 

[YESorNO]

Knigge gets 40 years
Sentenced for role in Jessica Gomez’s death in 2017

July 9, 2019

"The family of Jessica Gomez took the opportunity to tell Mackenzie Knigge how her actions, which played a role in Gomez’s death, have impacted their family.

Knigge, 28, of Clare, was sentenced on Monday to a maximum 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to attempted murder, aiding and abetting second-degree robbery and abuse of a human corpse.

She had admitted that, on Aug. 5, 2017, she was present when Phillip Williams, 26, of Lafayette, Indiana, put Gomez, 26, of Fort Dodge, in a chokehold and that she helped Williams control Gomez. Knigge also admitted to assaulting Gomez, as well as buying gas to help burn Gomez’s body....

Knigge will be eligible for parole after serving 24 and a half years of her sentence. McCollum vowed that her family will make sure Knigge stays in prison for all 40 years of her sentence....

Just before being sentenced, Knigge made her first and only statement to Gomez’s family during the trial proceedings. Standing up and facing them, Knigge read from a handwritten note....

Senior Judge Thomas Bice, of the 2nd Judicial District, explained to Knigge why he was going to order her sentences to run consecutively, or back to back, as opposed to concurrently, or all at once. One reason is because Knigge had signed the plea agreement and understood it....

Bice said Knigge will serve her sentence at the Iowa Correctional Institute for Women, in Mitchellville."

Knigge gets 40 years | News, Sports, Jobs - Messenger News