NE NE - Jessica O'Grady, 19, Omaha, 10 May 2006

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

KETV.com - News - O'Grady's Boyfriend Asks For More Time

... Attorneys for Christopher Edwards, 20, said they need more time to prepare for a second-degree murder trial...

Outside of the courtroom on Tuesday O'Grady's family put out another appeal for help.

"Hunters, if you can keep your eyes open -- that's all our family -- that's all we would ask," said O'Grady's aunt Shauna Stanzel.

Stanzel said the family will never give up looking for O'Grady. She said they just want justice to be served.

 

[mom3dd]

I couldn't find a thread on Jessica searched the news found this
Judge delays murder trial in Jessica O'Grady death
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=1636&u_sid=2276222
I wish someone would break and tell this poor family where their daughter is.

 

[Kelly]

The thread for Jessica is about 10 threads below this one. Perhaps moderators could merge the above post into that thread.

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

Daily Nonpareil - Human remains found in Mills County

Excavators discovered human skeletal remains approximately five miles north of Glenwood Tuesday.

Mills County Sheriff Mack Taylor said that human remains were discovered on private property on 195th Street, approximately four miles south of the Pottawattamie County line, at approximately 9 a.m...

Captain Dean Olson with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office said that his office has talked to the authorities in Mills County, include the Iowa DCI, and based on the factors associated with the body, they are confident it is not that of missing University of Nebraska at Omaha student Jessica O'Grady...

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

The Gateway - Trial delayed for murder suspect in missing UNO student's case

... Prosecutors say that even without a body, the evidence found at Edwards’ residence is enough to obtain a conviction.

Investigators found O’Grady’s blood on Edwards’ mattress, ceiling, walls and car trunk.

(Defense attorney Matt) Higgins said that early media coverage has not allowed for a fair trial.

“We filed a motion for a change of venue,” said Higgins. “Last week they actually had a Douglas County CSI show: how to get a conviction without a body.”

When asked if the defense was considering a plea bargain, Higgins replied, “Here’s the plea: He didn’t do it. Let him out.”

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

Body of missing teen boy found by Jessica search party:

Suburban Newspapers - Missing teen's body found in car in creek

The body in the car found Saturday afternoon submerged in a creek near 117th and Harrison streets is that of the missing Ralston High School senior...

A group of people searching for the body of Jessica O'Grady, former student at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, found the car partially submerged in the creek Saturday afternoon...

The family of Mercado contacted police Wednesday morning. Ralston police referred the matter to Omaha police.

"We're worried because he hasn't been taking his medication for epilepsy," said Harlem Lopez, Mercado's aunt, earlier this week.

Oscar came home from school Tuesday afternoon, then went with his sister, Laura Mercado, to apply for work at Soccer International, Lopez said. He returned home and left again about 5:30 p.m.

"He called his cousin and told him he was going to meet a friend," Harlem Lopez said. "That was the last call we had from him.

 

[SewingDeb]

How sad. I had not heard of this missing teen boy.

Prayers for his family for strength in handling this news.

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

This is just a bit more about the boy. Sounds like he was a wonderful kid.

WOWT - News

 

[Bobbisangel]

The Gateway - Trial delayed for murder suspect in missing UNO student's case

... Prosecutors say that even without a body, the evidence found at Edwards’ residence is enough to obtain a conviction.

Investigators found O’Grady’s blood on Edwards’ mattress, ceiling, walls and car trunk.

(Defense attorney Matt) Higgins said that early media coverage has not allowed for a fair trial.

“We filed a motion for a change of venue,” said Higgins. “Last week they actually had a Douglas County CSI show: how to get a conviction without a body.”

When asked if the defense was considering a plea bargain, Higgins replied, “Here’s the plea: He didn’t do it. Let him out.”

That defense attorney is dreaming! A jury is going to hang that kid.

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

Tip Leads To Lake Search, But No Sign Of O'Grady Found - News - KETV.com | KETV

A tip to authorities on Friday that missing student Jessica O'Grady's body may be in a local pond prompted a water rescue search.

The Lewis Township dive team scoured a pond in a neighborhood near 160th and Potter streets, but found nothing after about two hours of searching...

Deputy Tom Walter ... called Friday's search unique.

"This is the first time we've used a dive team in any of the searches that we've conducted," Walter said...

 

[Trino]

WOWT | Investigation Criticized

As for evidence seized from the home, Lefler says there is an answer but it's not one he'll provide right now."...

I just can't wait to hear his explanation of the bloody mattress, especially if it has her blood type on it.

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

From what we've heard, the blood is not simply her type, it's her blood. It sounds to me as if they've determined that already through forensics. I'm with you, Trino - how on Earth is he going to explain that? Even if there were to be some reasonable explanation of why it's on his mattress, they can't possibly have one as to why it's on the ceiling, the walls, and the trunk of his car.

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

Attorney Asks For O'Grady Case Evidence To Be Thrown Out - News - KETV.com | KETV

...Christopher Edwards' lawyer was in court in Wednesday asking a judge to remove evidence seized during a search of Edwards' residence from the case...

His attorney said police failed to ask Edwards if he wanted a lawyer present when they questioned him.

The prosecution said police didn't have to offer a lawyer because it was only a missing person's investigation at that point, not a criminal investigation...

 

[Bobbisangel]

I'll bet he wants that evidence removed from the trial! Going to be kind of hard to explain a whole blood bath in that room. I wish they could find Jessica but it is doubtful at this late date. He probably threw her body parts in several dumpsters and she is in some land fill. They don't need her body for the trial but it would be nice if her family could give her a buriel and a headstone.

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

God bless these dear searchers ... still going out there regularly after all of this time to look for Jessica.

Workers Search Near 120th, Maple For O'Grady - News Archive

... Searchers focused on an area near 120th and Maple streets on Tuesday. They worked on foot, and some drove all-terrain vehicles to scour the area.

 

[Kymistry35]

Did they ever find out who the other person was that they discovered early on, I believe they said they thought it was a child? I am praying that they find her body soon, so that she can have a proper burial...God bless her family for what they are going through.

 

[mistivon]

i think you are referring to this one ???:

Brianne Flowers Smith, 24, whose body was found near Thomas Lake outside Glenwood on June 10.

 

[Kymistry35]

Thanks mistivon.

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

WOWT - News

A judge has declined to move the trial of Christopher Edwards, accused of the death of Jessica O'Grady. The judge says if there is going to be a change of venue, the question should not be considered until the time comes to choose a jury.

Chris Edwards' trial is scheduled to start March 19...

In another development on Thursday, the judge said he would not throw out evidence collected from the house where Chris Edwards was living at the time that Jessica disappeared...

The 21-year-old Edwards went back to court Thursday while the family of Jessica O'Grady waited for the legal system to work.

Her family goes to every hearing at the Douglas County Courthouse, calling the wait until the March 19th trial, "a necessary evil..."

Jury selection is set for March 19.

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

Judge Denies Edwards' Request For New Venue - News

... The judge said now is not the time to request the venue change. Under Nebraska law, the Supreme Court has ruled the defendant should wait until jury selection to ask for a change of venue because only then can the court decide whether it can find 12 impartial jurors. Edwards will get another chance to ask for a change of venue...