Curious as to what led them to look in the lake for it. ..
Plans are in the works for an unprecedented amount of security ahead of a high-profile murder trial in Sullivan County.
Johnus Orr is set to face a jury of his peers, for the murder of his step-sister Tiffanie Adams and her unborn son, on March 7th.
Friday morning marked the 3rd pre-trial hearing, which centered on whether incidents in Orr’s past should be allowed during his upcoming trial...
The prosecution stated they have medical records, an audio recording, and body cam video related to a rape allegation, made by Adams against Orr, back in June 2012.
The state is asking the judge to allow those pieces of evidence into trial, as well as a protective order Orr filed against Adams prior to the time she went missing. The prosecution claims it proves there was a “hostile relationship” between the two.
New evidence has delayed the murder trial of Johnus Orr.
Orr, of Sullivan, is accused of strangling his stepsister Tiffanie Adams and her unborn baby boy. Adams was eight months pregnant when she was killed. He is facing two counts of murder.
That new evidence is lab results that even Springer wasn't aware of - but the judge did state that the evidence will be allowed. The continuance is to allow the defense time (90 days) to prepare for it in trial, perhaps even to get their own independent analysis.
The trial is now scheduled for June 27.
A Sullivan man will face a jury of his peers this month in his double murder trial in the strangulation death of his pregnant step-sister.
Johnus Luke Orr's trial is set for June 27 in Sullivan Superior Court, starting with jury selection.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 65 years in prison for each of the two murder counts.
It's been nearly a month since a Sullivan jury found Johnus Orr guilty for the murder of his step sister Tiffanie Adams and her unborn son.
The statute for murder in the state of Indiana is a maximum of 65 years. The Sullivan County judge can give Orr concurrent sentences up to 65 years, meaning Orr will serve both sentences at the same time.
Or the judge can sentence him to consecutive terms, meaning Orr will have to finish one sentence before serving another.
On a beautiful Friday afternoon, family members of Tiffanie Adams never expected to be standing at the foot of her headstone.
“She had always told me that I was like the mom that she never had,” said Sue Adams, Tiffanie’s Aunt.
“I was really happy with the verdict, because I think that he will be in prison for the rest of his life,” said Donna.
Orr faced a maximum of 65 years behind bars for each count of murder. A judge sentenced him to 120 years to be served consecutively.
Johnus Luke Orr, 31, was convicted July 1, 2016, in the death of Tiffanie Adams, 20, and her unborn son. He was sentenced later that month to 120 years in prison.
In a 45-page ruling filed Friday, the Indiana Court of Appeals found the trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting evidence, instructing the jury, or sentencing Johnus. There was sufficient evidence to support Johnuss convictions; his convictions did not violate double jeopardy principles; and his sentence is appropriate given the nature of the offenses and his character.