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

[Kelly]

Edwards does have an attorney. He's the clown that was making those ridiculous statements about how his client not only claims innocence but also acts like he's innocent. He also claimed that he and his family were cooperating fully with police and wanted them to either charge him or leave him alone.

I can't remember ... is this the case where the first attorney ditched him?

Yes. He had a big name/high-powered attorney who said "adios" to him.

 

[dannyodie]

Yes. He had a big name/high-powered attorney who said "adios" to him.

makes me wonder that if an attorney ditched him, that the attorney knows that this is going to be a case that is going to be difficult to win. with so much evidence against him, such as the large amount of blood and dna evidence, the attorney wasn't about to get mixed up in this sort of case. I just hope this idiot finally comes to his senses and tell what he did with jessica. cause it looks like to me, that he is going to be going down for a murder rap even without a body. the family has as much blood on their own hands as did the boyfriend!!

 

[longwayaround]

Edwards is being charged with second degree murder. This means that he is not facing a possible death penalty. In the state of Nebraska, second degree murder charge faces 20 yrs to life sentence. He is also facing the charge of committing a felony with a weapon other than a gun. Not sure what the charge is for that, but its definitely not death penalty. If investigators can determine that the murder was pre-meditated, he would face first degree murder charges which does come with a possible death penalty sentence. If Jessica's body is found he can possibly face a charge for the murder of an unborn child. This is why it is so crucial to find her body, so he can face a longer sentence for committing a second murder. Investigators are only charging what they can prove.

Unless he gives a confession, I don't think there's any way of knowing if Edwards planned this murder ahead of time. If it was planned, he did a very poor job of planning. If found guilty, I feel he will be given a life sentence. But he will probably get out on parole after several years with good behavior. It's sad, and I feel that he should suffer harsher consequences, but that is how the justice system works.

I actually think Edwards "fired" his initial attorney, James Martin Davis, who said the two held a difference of opinion. Davis is probably the best defense attorney in this state, why anyone would fire him I don't know. Maybe he informed Edwards that there was no way of winning this case because of all the circumstantial evidence.

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

I was under the impression that Edwards' attorney was the one that decided to part ways. I wish that I could find the old article to figure it out for sure.

Also, I think that they CAN charge for the murder of the unborn child even without her body. If there are medical records somewhere, etc., that state that Jessica was pregnant, they can charge for that crime as well. In fact, I've read it hinted that there is a possibility that the charges will be bumped up to double homicide and first-degree murder depending on what happens between now and trial.

 

[mom3dd]

forgive me if this was posted before
omaha.com June 21
I saw this guy wasserburger on one of the videos and he sat there slouched in the chair hat on (pet-peeve) saying Edwards didn't have any intrest in swords and he didn't own one.? At least that's the way I remember it. Riley Wasserburger, who said he has known Edwards since third grade,

"I told them that I knew that he had two swords," Wasserburger said. "That doesn't mean he killed anybody. I have a sword that a friend gave me as a present, but it doesn't mean I will murder someone."

Wrong friend Alex Ehly, a friend of Edwards, said he didn't think his friend had any swords."I've never known him to have any weapons. That's bizarre to me," .

Authorities seized three types of knives from the home where Edwards was staying, as well as a catalog and a brochure for knives, according to court documents made public Tuesday.

In court-authorized searches, deputies confiscated two pocket knives with 21/2-inch blades, three throwing knives and a double set of 11/2-foot swords with gold inlays.

 

[Kelly]

In a story dated 5/24, James Martin Davis was noted as being Edwards attorney. No other attorney or mention of Davis occurs until June 2nd, when Lefler is mentioned. I could have missed something, but this is what I found.

http://www.truckingboards.com/trucking/upload/showthread.php?t=1214

 

[mom3dd]

From the omaha.com site these are the attorneys I found Lefler and Higgins could be partners
May 25,2006 Attorney James Martin Davis, who had been but is no longer representing the boyfriend and his aunt
June 12,2006 Edwards' attorney, Steve Lefler, has said Edwards is an innocent man who can't lead authorities to O'Grady's body because he doesn't know where she is.

June 13 2006 Christopher Edwards turned himself into the Douglas County Sheriff's Department on Friday afternoon with his father, Robert, left, and attorney Matthew Higgins.

June 21
Neither attorney representing Edwards could be reached for comment Tuesday

 

[longwayaround]

Geez, what was this guy doing with so many sharp objects? And a knive brochure?

I found this article which states:

Meanwhile, attorney James Martin Davis says he is no longer representing Chris Edwards. He says they had a difference of opinion.

I'm not sure what to conclude from that but, I don't think well-paid defense attorneys just up and quit very often.

Lefler and Higgins are partners currently representing Edwards.

As for determining if Jessica was pregnant, all I remember is that her uncle came forward and said that friends of Jessica mentioned she had recently taken an at-home pregnancy test. There was no mention of a doctor's visit, and testing the blood as previously discussed in this thread cannot be definitive. How it will be determined without a body, I don't know.

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

Meanwhile, attorney James Martin Davis says he is no longer representing Chris Edwards. He says they had a difference of opinion.

I'm not sure what to conclude from that but, I don't think well-paid defense attorneys just up and quit very often.

Yeah, it's hard to know what exactly that means. But I do think that well-paid defense attorneys can afford to up and quit if there's a conflict. I find it very intriguing in any case.

As for determining if Jessica was pregnant, all I remember is that her uncle came forward and said that friends of Jessica mentioned she had recently taken an at-home pregnancy test. There was no mention of a doctor's visit, and testing the blood as previously discussed in this thread cannot be definitive. How it will be determined without a body, I don't know.

Receipts verifying that she bought a pregnancy test and testimony from friends would be circumstantial at best but it could be used if the prosecution chose. I would hope more for medical records - whether or not they exist, none of us know for sure. I find it interesting that initially, the reports didn't mention pregnancy. Then they mention that she might have been pregnant. Now they say that friends/family have confirmed that she was pregnant. What's happened from the beginning to now? Have they found definitive proof that she was?

 

[ketel0ne]

I am by no means defending this guy, I am convinced he did this. But I own a family handed down civil war sword, 3 medievil replica swords and fencing sword, each year at renfest I look and sometimes buy 1 they are all over 42 inches long and some are out in a display rack in my living room. I don't really consider myself a collector or a user of them, I just have them.

 

[longwayaround]

Yeah, it's hard to know what exactly that means. But I do think that well-paid defense attorneys can afford to up and quit if there's a conflict. I find it very intriguing in any case.

Receipts verifying that she bought a pregnancy test and testimony from friends would be circumstantial at best but it could be used if the prosecution chose. I would hope more for medical records - whether or not they exist, none of us know for sure. I find it interesting that initially, the reports didn't mention pregnancy. Then they mention that she might have been pregnant. Now they say that friends/family have confirmed that she was pregnant. What's happened from the beginning to now? Have they found definitive proof that she was?

Actually, the possibility of her being pregnant was mentioned by her uncle very early on in her disappearance. I can't find an article as of yet, but I do remember it from local news casts. The prosecution asked the family to stop mentioning a possible pregnancy, I believe. It was not until charges were filed againts Edwards and some evidence released to the public that the family confirmed the pregnancy. I think it was speculated all along that she was pregnant, even before they searched the suspects home I think. I just think it was pretty hush hush because prosecution may have wanted to use it as evidence/possible motive in one form or another.

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

My point is only that the reports have changed a lot between the beginning and now. I'm very curious about why things changed regarding the publicly released information. In the earliest articles that I read, pregnancy was not mentioned at all although it's entirely possible that we've read different articles. In any case, I'm hoping with everything I am that the prosecution has found definitive proof that Jessica was pregnant.

 

[longwayaround]

My point is only that the reports have changed a lot between the beginning and now. I'm very curious about why things changed regarding the publicly released information. In the earliest articles that I read, pregnancy was not mentioned at all although it's entirely possible that we've read different articles. In any case, I'm hoping with everything I am that the prosecution has found definitive proof that Jessica was pregnant.

That has me curious too. Maybe they found Jessica's pregnancy test in the garbage, or maybe she did in fact see a doctor. I guess we won't know for sure until the trial begins.

I did read the other day that an open pack of Birth Control pills was found in Jessica's car when it was searched by investigators. This could be a bad thing for the prosecution.

 

[dannyodie]

That has me curious too. Maybe they found Jessica's pregnancy test in the garbage, or maybe she did in fact see a doctor. I guess we won't know for sure until the trial begins.

I did read the other day that an open pack of Birth Control pills was found in Jessica's car when it was searched by investigators. This could be a bad thing for the prosecution.

isn't it possible for a woman to get pregnant even if she is taking birth control? I would think that the only time she could possibly conceive is during the time that she would be on a menstral cycle since that is the one time of the month that birth control pills are not taken. the open pack of pills could hurt the case a little, but depending on if those pills were all used up, or an older date on the box, or pills stilll in there that should have been used and were skipped.

 

[MagicRose99]

isn't it possible for a woman to get pregnant even if she is taking birth control? I would think that the only time she could possibly conceive is during the time that she would be on a menstral cycle since that is the one time of the month that birth control pills are not taken. the open pack of pills could hurt the case a little, but depending on if those pills were all used up, or an older date on the box, or pills stilll in there that should have been used and were skipped.

Nothing but abstinence is 100% full-proof! Yes, you can get pregnant even while on the pill.

 

[OriginalJerseyGirl]

Nothing but abstinence is 100% full-proof! Yes, you can get pregnant even while on the pill.

Exactly and we have no idea if Jessica's name was on the prescription, if she was prone to forgetting to take them, etc. I believe that those pills have the potential to hurt the case a little regarding the pregnancy (if they were going for double murder - perhaps this is one of the reasons that they aren't so far) but I don't see how it could affect the case against Edwards for murdering Jessica.

I wonder if and how this could relate to the comment about a reaction to a very human situation. I worry that they might try to use the notion that Jessica tried to trap Edwards.

 

[Megs]

Exactly and we have no idea if Jessica's name was on the prescription, if she was prone to forgetting to take them, etc. I believe that those pills have the potential to hurt the case a little regarding the pregnancy (if they were going for double murder - perhaps this is one of the reasons that they aren't so far) but I don't see how it could affect the case against Edwards for murdering Jessica.

I wonder if and how this could relate to the comment about a reaction to a very human situation. I worry that they might try to use the notion that Jessica tried to trap Edwards.

I'm very anxious to see if they get him to talk and also what this "reaction to a very human situation" that Edwards' attorney talked about. He says that he didn't kill her and that he doesn't know where she is...:waitasec: How can you explain all of the blood and clean-up? How can he say that he doesn't know where her body is? Man, if I could be a fly on the wall....wish I could hear what his explanation for that night is.... What was the "reaction" that he is talking about? I don't think it will matter if they say that she tried to trap him, unless he is talking and goes for a temporary insanity case or something because she may have told him she was preggers. In that case, he would have to admit that he did something, though.........I just wish he would talk and tell them where she is so that her family could have some closure.

 

[dannyodie]

I'm very anxious to see if they get him to talk and also what this "reaction to a very human situation" that Edwards' attorney talked about. He says that he didn't kill her and that he doesn't know where she is...:waitasec: How can you explain all of the blood and clean-up? How can he say that he doesn't know where her body is? Man, if I could be a fly on the wall....wish I could hear what his explanation for that night is.... What was the "reaction" that he is talking about? I don't think it will matter if they say that she tried to trap him, unless he is talking and goes for a temporary insanity case or something because she may have told him she was preggers. In that case, he would have to admit that he did something, though.........I just wish he would talk and tell them where she is so that her family could have some closure.

not to mention that her blood dna was also confirmed to be on those knives, so how would he explain that away? thats it!! he can't. why would her blood and dna both be at the same location where a very large blood bath was? oh, I guess he will say something retarded like, " well she cut her finger" or something dumb like that!!! this jerk killed her, I am very convinced of that. if he gets out of this, someone will see to it that he doesn't live to enjoy his pitiful little life. what a jerk edwards is. maybe he was high on drugs or something like that? to bad hangins are outlawed in this country. sorry for going on like this, but jessica was such a beautiful young vibrant living person and to get mixed up with a sorry loser like this edwards guy just makes me sick.

 

[Bobbisangel]

I can't even imagine two girls being hung up on this scawny little loser. Can't imagine what they saw in him. I wonder if he had a horrible temper? The way he killed her sounds like he just went into a full blown rage. Sounds like over kill to me with the blood all over the walls and ceiling and the bed drenched with it. I'm just afraid that he cut her up with that sword and they will never find her. He could have spread garbage bags in dumpsters for blocks and they are long gone. He may as well tell LE what he did with her because they have enough evidence to hang him. I'll bet that other pregnant girl is thanking her lucky stars every single day. It could have been her instead of Jessica if he had decided he liked Jessica the best!

 

[Megs]

I just saw on the news last night that the Douglas County Sheriff's Dept. (I think it was sheriff's) asked an atv search team to search standing bear lake again. Wonder if they have any new info? This is the second time they have searched this area....:waitasec: