For the week of Monday, Dec. 5th thru Friday, Dec. 9th:
Monday, Dec. 5th:
*Sentencing Hearing (@ 9am ET) – PA -
*Jasmine Jean (4) &
Nicole Elisabeth (6)
Snyder (missing/last seen since Sept. 2015 & found Nov. 6 & 7, 2021 buried in Williamsport City, Lycoming County; Jasmine: died/was killed on around Aug. 11, 2017 & subsequently buried in 2017 & Nicole: died/was killed around May 10, 2016 & subsequently buried in 2016, both in the back yard on Livermore Rd.) –
*Michele Lee Butler (43 @ time of first crime/48/now 49) (mother of Echo) arrested & charged (11/9/21) , recharged & arraigned (1/7/22) with 2 counts of 3rd degree murder, 2 counts of felony endangering the welfare of children, obstruction in child abuse cases, abuse of corpse, concealing the death of a child & tampering with evidence. Bond denied, reason: flight risk & danger to society. Plead guilty. Sentencing date 6/21/22.
Case info, affidavit & court info from 11/6/21 to 8/30/22 reference post #164 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...lycoming-co-10-sep-2021-arrests.600153/page-9
10/12/22 Update: Butler is now scheduled to plead guilty on 10/14/22. She is charged with 3rd degree murder, endangering the welfare of children, obstruction in child abuse cases, abuse of corpse, concealing the death of child & tampering with evidence.
10/14/22 Update: Butler’s sentencing date has been rescheduled on 12/5/22.
*Marie Sue Snyder (27 @ time of first crime/32/now 33) “mom” – Fraud: Plead guilty on 10/31/22. Murder: Plead guilty on 10/31/22 & will be sentenced after she testifies at Echo Butler’s trial.
*Echo Lane Butler (21 @ time of first crime/26/now 27) – Pretrial hearing on 12/13/22.
*Ronald Ray Butler (53/now 54) (father of Echo) – Pretrial hearing on 12/13/22.
*Trial continues with Penalty Phase (@ CT) – TX –
Infant (4 mos.) (July 12, 2018, San Antonio) – *Terrence Wayne Harper (30/now 34) arrested &
charged (7/16/18), indicted (12/18/18) & arraigned (12/21/18) with causing serious injuries to a child (son). Plead not guilty. $150K bond, released.
Trial began on 11/14/22 for 4 month old infant. State rested their case 11/22/22. Defense rested their case 12/1/22.
Court info from 1/23/19 thru 11/10/22 & Trial Days 11/14 & 11/18 to 12/1/22 reference post #125 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...12-baby-death-bexar-co-dec-2018.407789/page-7
12/2/22 Friday, Trial: Closing arguments. Jury finds Harper guilty. The punishment phase is scheduled to resume on Monday, 12/5/22. Harper could get up to 99 years or life in prison.
*Ethan Rodriguez (5 mos.) (Mar. 12, 2012, San Antonio) – *Terrence Wayne Harper (30/now 34) rearrested &
charged (12/19/18), indicted (12/17/18) & arraigned (12/21/18) with capital murder of a child under 10. Plead not guilty. $500K bond.
Court info from 1/23/19 thru 11/10/22 reference post #125 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...12-baby-death-bexar-co-dec-2018.407789/page-7
*Trial set to begin (@ 9:30am ET) – FL –
Kameela Russell (41) (May 15, 2019, last see in driveway of Aunt’s house, found 5/25/19 in Snake Creek canal) - *Ernest Joseph Roberts (39/now 43) arrested (6/14/19), charged (6/13/19), indicted (7/17/19) & arraigned (7/18/19) with 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. No bond. (5/18/20: bond denied due to COVID). DP Case. DA has waived the DP.
Trial was set to begin on 8/15/22 continued on 12/5/22.
Court info from 10/13/20 thru 7/18/22 reference post #170 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...iami-gardens-15-may-2019-arrest.445549/page-9
8/15/22 Update: Motion for trial continuance filed. Oral arguments set for 8/15/22. Trial continuance-granted. Trial is now set to begin on 12/5/22.
11/4/22: Notice of taking deposition. 11/7/22: 54 subpoenas served.
*Trial set to begin for both (@ 8:30am PT) – CA –
Anthony Avalos (10) (June 20, 2018, Lancaster; died 6/21/18) –
*Heather Maxine Barron (29/now 33) (“mom”) arrested & charged (6/29/18), arraigned (7/2/18), indicted (10/31/18) & recharged & indicted (2/27/19) with 1st degree capital murder, torture (special circumstance allegation of murder involving the infliction of torture) & 2 counts of child endangerment resulting in death. Plead not guilty. Held on $2M bond. DA will not seek DP. Possible sentence 22 yrs to life.
CA –
Anthony Avalos (10) (June 20, 2018, Lancaster; died June 21, 2018) –
*Kareem Ernesto Leiva (32/now 36) (BF) arrested (6/27/18), charged (6/29/18), arraigned (7/2/18), indicted (10/31/18) & recharged & indicted (2/27/19) with 1st degree capital murder, torture (special circumstance allegation of murder involving the infliction of torture) & 2 counts of child endangerment resulting in death. Plead not guilty. Held on $2M bond. DA will not seek DP. Maximum sentence 32 yrs to life.
Trial set to begin on 12/5/22. Will be tried together, but will have 2 separate juries.
Court information from 8/6/18 thru 9/26/22 reference post #143 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...r-lancaster-20-june-2018-arrest.378137/page-8
10/25/22 Update: Next pretrial conference hearing on 11/1/22 & trial set to begin on 12/5/22. 11/1/22 Update: Next pretrial conference hearing on 11/17/22 & trial set to begin on 12/5/22.
*Trial continues (Day 6) (@ 8:30am CT) - TX –
Melissa Ramirez (29) (found off of Hwy 255, Sept. 4, 2018, Laredo),
Claudine Anne Luera (42) (found alive but died later in hospital off of Hwy 255, Sept. 13, 2018, Laredo),
Guiselda Alicia Hernandez Cantu aka “Jane Doe” (35) (found off of Hwy I35, Sept. 15, 2018, Laredo) &
Nicky Enriquez aka Janelle Ortiz aka Humberto Ortiz aka “John Doe” (28) (found early Sept. 15, 2018 off Hwy I35, transgender woman, Laredo) &
Erika Pena () (escaped his assault on Sept. 14, 2018) – *Juan David Ortiz (35/now 39) arrested & charged (9/15/18) & arraigned (1/10/19) with 4 counts of capital (Felony) murder, 1 count of 2nd degree aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, 1 count of 3rd degree unlawful restraint & evading arrest detention (Class A misdemeanor). Plead not guilty. $2.63M bond. Denied bond reduction (10/18/18 & 10/3/19). DA will not seek DP. Transferred from Webb County jail to Bexar County jail to stand trial in Bexar County (10/19/22).
The Webb County Sheriff’s Office said Ortiz (ex-Border Patrol agent) video confession to the slayings, revealing an anger at the local sex trade & saying he wanted to clean it up, vigilante-style.
Trial began on 10/21/22 with jury selection in San Antonio, Bexar County. Jury selected.
Trial began on 11/28/22. (~2 weeks)
Court hearings from 10/17/18 thru 10/27/22 & Trial Days 1-4 (11/28 to 12/1/22) reference post #166 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...lling-4-women-15-september-2018.390840/page-9
12/2/22 Friday, Trial Day 5: State witnesses: Webb Co. Sheriff Office Capt. Federico Calderon was one of the lead investigators on this case back on stand. Jury continues watching interrogation video. On Disk 7 of 10. Cross exam for Calderon began.
For more info see post #169 & 170 here:
https://www.ksat.com/news/local/202...on-trial-for-killing-4-women-in-laredo/page-9
Trial continues on Monday, 12/5/22.
Tuesday, Dec. 6th:
*Trial set to begin (@ am CT) – TX –
King Jay Davila (8 mos.) (reported missing Jan. 4, 2019, San Antonio; found Jan. 10, 2019 in a field wrapped in a blanket inside of a black backpack) –
for *Beatrice Sampayo Davila (65/now 68) arrested & charged (1/10/19) & arraigned (4/5/19) with 3rd degree tampering with evidence. Plead not guilty. $250K bond reduced (2/8/19) to $50K. Released (2/10/19) with ankle monitor. Removal of ankle monitor on 7/6/21.
Trial was set to begin on 9/21/22 continued on 11/17/22 & continued to 12/6/22.
Info & court hearings from 1/10/19 thru 10/21/22 reference post #154 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...an-antonio-4-jan-2019-arrests-2.532029/page-8
11/17/22 Update: Trial was continued to 12/6/22.
*Angie Torres (45/now 48) – Plead guilty (10/15/21) & sentenced to 8 years in prison.
*Christopher Sampayo Davila (34/now 37) “father” – Found guilty (6/29/21) & sentenced to 40 years in prison.
Wednesday, Dec. 7th:
*Sentencing Hearing (@ 10am PT) - CA –
*Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani (53/now 57) (CFO & President of Theranos) indicted & charged (6/14/18) & arraigned (6/15/18) with 9 counts of wire fraud & 2 counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Another count of wire fraud was added in 2020, bringing the total number of felony charges to 12. Plead not guilty. Unsecured bon $500K was modified (7/7/22) to secured $750K bond. Faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison & a fine of $2.75 million, plus restitution, & $250K for each individual count of wire fraud & conspiracy. Plead not guilty.
Defrauding investors out of $700 million in funding for their blood-testing startup Theranos.
Trial began on 3/22/22 & ended 7/7/22. Jury left: 12 jurors (8 women & 4 men) & 2 alternates (2 men). Jury change: Judge excused #10 (vacation plans) & replaces her with alternate #5. Jury Self: 12 jurors (7 women & 5 men) & 1 alternate (man). See post #203 here for jury eliminations:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...56-theranos-wire-fraud-charges.614821/page-11
Jury Deliberations: 6/24/22 Day 1: ~2 hours. Total: ~2 hours. 6/28/22 Day 2: ~8 hours. Total: ~10 hours. 6/29/22 Day 3: ~8 hours. Total: ~18 hours. 7/5/22 Day 4: ~8 hours. Total: ~26 hours. 7/6/22 Day 5: ~7 hours. 7/7/22 Day 6: ~2 hours. Total: ~35 hours of deliberations. Returned with a verdict of guilty of all 12 charges. Sentencing hearing on 12/7/22 @ 10am.
Indictment & court info from 4/11/20 thru 3/8/22 & Jury selection (Day 1-4) 3/9/22 to 3/21/22 & Trial Days 1-2 (3/22 to 3/23/22) & hearing on 3/29/22 & 4/12/22 & Trial Days 3-14 (3/30 to 4/29/22) & 5/3/22 & Trial Days 15-20 (5/4 & 5/20/22) & 5/17, 5/19, 5/23 & 6/10/22 (no jurors) & Trial Days 21-30 (6/21 & 6/28-6/29, 7/5-7/7/22) & Jury Deliberations Day 1-6 (6/24 & 6/28-6/29, 7/5 & 7/7/22) reference post #259 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...56-theranos-wire-fraud-charges.614821/page-13
10/25/22 Update: Motion to continue hearing on 11/7/22 @ 10am. 11/4/22 Update: Hearing changed to 9:30am.
11/7/22 Update: A California federal judge on Monday agreed to delay convicted former Theranos executive Balwani's 11/15/22 sentencing until 12/7/22 after Balwani argued in a heavily redacted motion that. This is to give probation officers more time to recommend his punishment for engineering a scam tied to Theranos’ blood-testing technology.
*Elizabeth A. Holmes (34/now 38) (CEO of Theranos) – Trial began on 9/8/21 & ended 1/3/22 with a verdict of guilty on 4 counts of 11. Sentencing hearing was to be on 10/17/22 but was delayed with motions for new trial Filed (5/27/22) for dismissal of all charges. All 3 motions for dismissal/new trial-denied. Sentenced on 11/18/22 to 11.25 years (135 months) in prison & 3 years supervised release. Report to prison on 4/27/23.
Thursday, Dec. 8th:
*Trial set to begin (@ am CT) – TX –
Cecilia Huerta Gallegos (30) (missing July 7, 2019, reported missing July 8, 2019 by husband, San Antonio, not found) - *Reyes Huerta Gallegos (36/now 37) arrest & charged (8/24/21) & indicted (11/16/21) & arraigned (11/19/21) with murder (by manner & means unknown to the grand jury). $250K bond lowered (1/14/22) to $200K.
Previous charges: 1/13/20: Assault with bodily injury was dismissed as a material witness was missing. Plead guilty to filing a false police report & was sentenced to 6 months on the false report, but it only shows a credit for time served of 132 days - just over 4 months.
Trial was set to begin on 8/5/22 continued to 12/8/22.
Court info from 8/24/21 thru 5/20/22 reference post #174 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...-san-antonio-7-july-2019-arrest.459637/page-9
8/5/22 Friday, Trial has been rescheduled – again – to 12/8/22.
Friday, Dec. 9th:
*Sentencing Hearing (@ 10:30am ET) - PA –
Nichole Pumphrey (31), her daughter,
Ameriah Emery (10) &
Lawrence Cannon (31) possibly BF (Oct. 16, 2018, New Castle) –
*Steven Procopio (19/now 22) arrested & charged (10/17/18) with 3 counts of criminal homicide, 3 counts of criminal conspiracy, attempted murder & gun offense. Plead not guilty. Bail denied.
Trial began on 10/11/22. Jury: 7 women & 5 men & 2 women alternates. Jury deliberations: 10/26/22: ~5 ½ hours. 10/27/22: 9a-10:30a ~1 ½ hours. Total: ~7 hours. Found guilty of 2 counts of 2nd degree murder & 1 count of 3rd degree murder. Sentencing hearing on 12/9/22.
Court info from 7/8/19 thru 10/7/22, Jury Selection (10/11/22) & Trial Days 1-6 (10/12 to 10/22/22) reference post #381 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...astle-home-16-oct-2018-arrests.394845/page-20
10/26/22 Wednesday, Trial Day 7/Jury Deliberations Day 1: Closing arguments by Procopio’s court-appointed defense attorney, John Bongivengo & then by Lawrence County District Attorney Joshua Lamancusa. Jury instructions read & jurors were retired to deliberate at 12 noon. The jury returned to the courtroom around 4pm to ask the difference between first- and third-degree murder. Common Pleas President Judge Dominick Motto, the presiding judge, gave them an explanation, than they went back behind closed doors again for another 1 ½ hours, without resolve. The jurors were sent home around 5:30pm. They are to reconvene at 9am to continue deliberations on 10/27/22.
10/27/22 Thursday, Trail Day 8/Jury Deliberations Day 2: Jury continues deliberations. Started at 9am & ended at 10:30am. The jury found Procopio guilty of 2 counts of second-degree murder & 1 count of third-degree murder in the deaths of Amariah Emery & her mother, Nichole Pumphrey. The jury deliberated for a total of seven hours. The second-degree murder convictions carry a sentence of life without parole & a sentencing date will be scheduled. 10/31/22 Update: Sentencing hearing on 12/9/22 @ 10:30am.
*Anthony Lavon “Mook” Cooper, Jr. (19/now 22) – Plead guilty on 1/18/22 & was sentencing to 15 to 30 years in prison.
*Jody Lynn Hammer - 4/1/19: All charges are dismissed.
*Probation &
Sentencing Hearing (@ 8:30am PT) - CA -
Kris Anderson (57) (June 11, 2016, Santa Monica, stabbed in the head) - *Theo Andrew Krah (28 @ time of crime/31/now 34, Navy SEAL) indicted & arrested (6/13/16) & arraigned (10/21/16) with 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. $2M bond.
Trial began on 6/15/22 & restarted on 6/21 thru 6/30/22 (Day 1-8), 7/5 thru 7/8/22 (Day 9-12) & Jury deliberations Day 1-2 (7/7-7/8/22).
Jurors reached a verdict (7/8/22) guilty on 2nd degree murder. Sentencing on 8/1/22 reset on 9/9/22 & reset to 12/9/22.
Court info from 7/31/18 thru 4/12/22 & Trial Days 1-12 (6/15–6/30, 7/5-7/8/22) reference post #407 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/threads/my-friend-was-murdered-last-saturday.310412/page-21
8/1/22 Monday: Sentencing on guilty verdict on 2nd degree murder. Probation & sentencing hearing has been reset on 9/9/22. 9/9/22 Update: Jail site says next hearing on 12/9/22.
*Sentencing Hearing (
State) (@ 8:30am CT) - MN –
George Perry Floyd, Jr. (46) (May 25, 2020, Minneapolis, arrested for forgery & killed in police custody) –
for *J. Alexander Kueng (26/now 29) were fired (5/26/20), arrested (6/3/20) & charged (6/4/20) with aiding & abetting 2nd degree murder-unintentional-while committing a felony & aiding & abetting 2nd degree manslaughter-culpable negligence creating unreasonable risk. Bond set at $1M for all or bond conditions @ $750K. Kueng released (6/19/20) on $750K bond with conditions.
*Tou Thao (34/now 36) & was fired (5/26/20), arrested (6/3/20) & charged (6/4/20) with aiding & abetting 2nd degree murder-unintentional-while committing a felony & aiding & abetting 2nd degree manslaughter-culpable negligence creating unreasonable risk. Bond set at $1M for all or bond conditions @ $750K. Thao released (7/4/20) on $750K bond with conditions.
As of 10/7/22 Kueng is in custody at the Elkton, Ohio, federal prison & Thao remains at the federal medical center in Lexington.
Trial was set to begin on 10/24/22 with jury selection, but Kueng plead guilty on 10/24/22 to aiding & abetting 2nd degree manslaughter. Sentencing hearing on 12/9/22. Thao requested a Bench Trial. Judge will have decision in 90 days after 11/17/22 when evidence is submitted.
Bond conditions & court info from 6/3/20 to 10/11/22 reference post #415 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...ody-minneapolis-25-may-2020-21.586952/page-21
10/24/22 Update: Kueng: Was changed to a plea hearing. Kueng agreed Monday, October 24 to enter a guilty plea to aiding & abetting 2nd degree manslaughter. A pre-sentence investigation has been ordered. No further dates available. Kueng accepted a plea deal in which he will plead guilty to aiding & abetting second-degree manslaughter of Floyd & the charge of his aiding & abetting Floyd's murder will be dropped. The deal calls for Kueng to be sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison. Kueng's plea will allow him to serve his state and federal terms concurrently.
Thao: Trial hearing reset as a pretrial hearing & held on record. Thao has elected to have a bench trial. Bail to stand as previously ordered. Thao agreed to a trial by stipulated evidence. Parties have until 11/17/22 to submit the evidence the Judge will consider. The Judge will have 90 days to issue a verdict. The State agreed to drop the aiding & abetting murder charge if he received a conviction at the bench trial. Witnesses won't need to testify again. The presumed sentence if Thao is convicted of the aiding & abetting manslaughter charge will be approximately 48 months.
10/25/22 Update: Kueng: 10/24/22: #643: Order-Presentence Investigation. #644: Notice of visual or audio coverage. eService (State 1 & Kueng 4). 10/25/22: #645: Notice of visual or audio coverage. eService (State 2 & Kueng 8). #646: Notice of visual or audio coverage. 10/26/22: Correspondence (#647), Discovery disclosure (#648), affidavit of Service (#649). eService (State 3; Kueng 9). 10/27/22: Notice of visual or Audio Coverage (#650), eService (State 1; Kueng 4). 10/28/22: Notice of visual or audio coverage (#651). eService (State 1; Kueng 4). Sentencing hearing on 12/9/22 @ 8:30am.