Trials & Sentencings set to begin in June, 2021

[Niner]

For the week of Tuesday, June 1st thru Friday, June 4th:

Tuesday, June 1st:
*Trial set to begin with Jury Selection (@ am ET) – KY – Edward Dansereau (63), Pamela J. Phillips (58) & Calvin Lee Phillips (53) (Nov. 19, 2015, Pembroke) - *Christian “Kit” Richard Martin (51/now 52) arrested & charged (5/11/19), indicted (5/10/19) & arraigned (5/22/19) with 3 counts of 1st degree murder, 1 count of arson, 1 count of attempted arson, 2 counts of 2nd degree burglary & 3 counts of tampering with evidence. Plead not guilty. Held without bond, changed (10/16/19) to $3M bond.
May, 2016 was convicted of 2 counts of mishandling classified materials & 2 count of assault on a child; sentenced to 6 months in jail & discharged from the military.
Trial set to begin on 6/1/21 with jury selection. Trial will be in Hardin County moved from Christian County due to pretrial publicity.
Court info from 5/22/19 thru 5/21/21 reference post #99 here:
KY - Ed Dansereau, 63, Pamela, 58, & Calvin Phillips, 53, murdered, Pembroke, 19 Nov 2015 *arrest*

*Trial set to begin (@ am ET) – TN – Joseph “Joe Clyde” Daniels III (5) (April 3, 2018, Dickson) – for *Joseph Ray Daniels (28/now 31) “father” arrested & charged (4/7/18) & indicted (6/8/18) with 1 count of 1st degree murder, felony murder, aggravated child abuse, filing a false report & tampering with evidence. $1M bond.
Confessed on 4/6/18. Waived rights to Prelim hearing. Joseph Daniels told officers that he beat his son to death after his son urinated on the floor. But recanted his confession saying he was coerced.
Trial set to begin on 6/1/21 for Joseph only. Jury will be sequestered during trial. Jury picked from Hamilton County not from Dickson County due to pretrial publicity. The trial will run Monday thru Saturday 9am to 5 or 6pm.
Court hearings from 6/4/18 thru 5/14/21 reference post #724 here:
Still Missing - TN - Joseph "Joe Clyde" Daniels, 5, Dickson, 3 Apr 2018 *autistic* *arrests* #2
5/21/21 Update: Judge David Wolfe issued his ruling Friday afternoon in court that Daniels’ taped confession is admissible during trial, which is set to begin on June 1. He also ruled that the state will have to meet the “Bishop standard” — corroborating evidence that backs up a confession — at trial, not during pretrial motions. Wolfe says they can still dismiss the confession at trial if the state doesn’t provide that evidence. During motions hearings last week, Daniels' attorneys argued that law enforcement acted with bias in their investigation & may have missed a lead in the case. However, Judge Wolfe disagreed.
5/25/21 Update: Prosecutors & defense attorneys will begin jury selection in the trial next Tuesday, 6/1/21 in Hamilton County in Chattanooga. Jurors will board a bus to bring them from Chattanooga to the courthouse in Charlotte. And will be sequestered at a hotel. The trial will run Monday thru Saturday 9am to 5 or 6pm.
*Krystal Nicole Daniels (27/now 30) “mom” arrested & charged (4/8/18) & indicted (6/8/18) with criminal responsibility aggravated child neglect & filing a false report. Charged (5/26/20) with criminal responsibility aggravated child neglect, accessory after the fact & making false reports to officers. $1M bond.
Trial will be set after Joseph’s trial ends.

*Trial set to begin (@ 9am CT) – IN - Thomas Grill, Jr. (18) & Molley R. Lanham (19) (Feb. 25, 2019, St. John; found in Hebron, in burned out car) – for *John Salvadore Silva II (17/now 19) arrested & charged (5/22/20 with 2 felony counts of murder in the perpetration of a robbery. Plead not guilty. No bond.
Trial set to begin on 6/1/21 (9 days: 6/1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16 & 17).
Court info from 8/10/20 thru 1/4/21 reference post #141 here:
IN - Thomas Grill Jr., 18, & Molley Lanham, 19, murdered, Lake County, 25 Feb 2019 *arrests*
4/29/21 Update: Next pretrial hearing on 5/3/21. 5/3/21 Update: Pretrial conference hearing re pretrial motions on 5/14/21. 5/17/21: State's request to substitute previously admitted evidence. Order issued on 404(B) hearing. 5/25/21; Motion filed by State. Order issued: Certificate of Judge. Certificate regarding court of record & clerks authority. Trial set to begin on 6/1/21.
Accomplice:
*Connor Ralland Kerner (17/now 19) – Found guilty. 12/8/20: Sentenced to 179 years in prison. Filed an appeal on 5/13/21.

*Trial continues (Day 8) (@ 9am PT) – CA – Susan Berman (55) (Dec. 24, 2000, Beverly Hills) – *Robert Alan Durst (57 @ time of crime/72/now 78) arrested (3/14/15) extradited (11/1/16 from Indiana prison to Calif.) & charged with 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. $4M Bond.
Was serving a 7 year federal prison term for illegal possession of a revolver at the time of his New Orleans’ arrest.
Trial began on 2/11/20 with pretrial motions & jury selection started on 2/19/20. Trial started on 3/4/20. Jury: 8 women & 4 men. 11 alternates. (1 alternate excused on 5/18/21) Now 10 alternates. (Trial expected to last 5 months). Trial stopped 3/16/20 due COVID-19 & will restart on 7/27/20 & retrial was to restart on 4/12/21 continued to 5/17/21 continued to 5/18/21. No court on Fridays.
Jury Selection from 2/19/20 thru 3/3/20 (Days 1-8) & Trial Days 1-6 (3/4/20 thru 3/12/20) & Court info from 3/16/20 thru 5/12/21 & Trial Days 1-6 (5/18/21 thru 5/26/21) reference post #272 here:
CA - Susan Berman, 55, fatally shot, Los Angeles, 23 Dec 2000 *Arrest*
5/27/21 Thursday, Trial Day 7: State witnesses: Ruth Mayer, friend of Kathie Durst. Bill Mayer, ex-wife is Ruth. Prosecutors played the rest of Kuperman’s video taped testimony. Trial continues on Tuesday, 6/1/21.

*Trial continues (Day 6)-Maybe! (@ 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) – only for *Christopher Sampayo Davila (34/now 36) “father” arrested (1/10/19), charged (1/11/19), indicted (4/3/19) & arraigned (4/4/19) with injury to a child, child endangerment, tampering with evidence, & altering/destroying/concealing a human corpse. Indicted (4/3/19) with possession of a controlled substance & being a felon in possession of a firearm. Plead not guilty. $1.25M Bond.
Tried to stage a fake kidnapping. Police Chief William McManus said Davila was pressured by the evidence against him & ultimately confessed to burying his son in an open field. Investigators later found the burial site near Davila's Northeast Side home & recovered the baby's body on 1/10/19.
Trial began on 5/24/21. Trials will take place in the 227th District Court by Judge Kevin O’Connell.
Court info from 1/11/19 thru 3/29/21 reference post #49 here:
Found Deceased - TX - King Jay Davila, 8 months, taken by a woman from the car, San Antonio, 4 Jan 2019 *Arrests* #2
5/24/21 Monday, Day 1 of trial: Jury Selection? Trial continues on 5/25/21.
5/25/21 Tuesday, Day 2 of trial: No info available. Trial continues on 5/26/21.
5/26/21 Wednesday, Day 3 of trial: No info available. Trial continues on 5/27/21.
5/27/21 Thursday, Day 4 of trial: No info available. Trial continues on 5/28/21.
5/28/21 Friday, Day 5 of trial: No info available. Trial, I guess, continues on 6/1/21.
Have not been able to find anything on this trial - if someone does - please post on the thread - link above. TIA!
*Angie Torres (45/now 47) (Davila’s cousin) – Case on hold. Last hearing on 5/24/21 awaiting trial.
*Beatrice Sampayo Davila (65/now 67) – Case on hold. Last hearing on 5/24/21 awaiting trial.


Wednesday, June 2nd:
*Sentencing Hearing (Day 1 of 2) (@ am AKST) - AK - Kristy Manzanares (39) (July 25, 2017 on Alaskan cruise ship) - *Kenneth Ray Manzanares (39/now 42), (husband) charged (7/27/17) & indicted (8/17/17) on 1st degree Federal Murder. Plead not guilty on 8/23/17. DA will not seek DP.
Trial date was set for 10/23/17, was delayed on 9/18/17; new trial date is 11/5/18, was delayed to 5/20/19 & delayed to 9/9/19 which was vacated for change of plea of guilty (2/7/20).
Court info from 6/14/19 thru 10/8/20 reference post #687 here:
GUILTY - AK - Kristy Manzanares, 39, killed aboard Emerald Princess, Juneau, 25 July 2017 *husband arrested*
10/9/20 Update: Order setting hearing as to Kenneth Manzanares. The continued video Evidentiary Hearing is set for March 4, 2021 at 8:30am & continuing through March 5, 2021, in Virtual Courtroom 3 before Judge Timothy M. Burgess. The Court expects all parties to appear via video conference unless they do not have video capabilities. To avoid delays, the Court encourages counsel to assist & advise potential witnesses before the hearing about how to access the virtual courtroom by video. Participating parties should refer to the Courtroom Quick Guide for instructions on accessing the virtual courtroom docketed separately under seal.
2/26/21: #155 TMB TEXT ORDER as to Manzanares. In preparation for the continued video Evidentiary Hearing set for March 4-5, 2021, the parties are directed to submit a proposed order of witnesses & materials the Court will be asked to review on or before 5:00 PM AKST March 2, 2021. 3/2/21: #156 NOTICE of United States Witness Order by USA as to Manzanares re 155 Order. 3/2/21: #157 NOTICE of Filing Order of Witnesses & Exhibits 5-7 by Kenneth Manzanares re 155 Order. 3/4/21 Update: Witness sworn in & exhibits admitted. Evidentiary hearing via virtual courtroom continued to 3/5/21.
3/5/21 Update: #159: proceedings held before Judge Timothy M. Burgess. Witness sworn & exhibits admitted. #160: Witness list & exhibit list re evidentiary hearing 105, 158 & 159. Judge will make a decision & sentencing will be on June 3 & 4, 2021. 5/7/21 Update: The filing by federal public defender Jamie McGrady states that this, combined with what was at the time an undiagnosed bipolar disorder & “a problematic combination of prescribed medication & alcohol resulted in an aberrant episode of violence” by Manzanares. Manzanares played football, wrestled & boxed when he was younger & had a history of “testosterone supplementation,” the filing states. Had brain abnormalities a defense expert deemed consistent with injuries caused by playing contact sports, according to a court filing in the case. Manzanares’ attorneys, in the filing, say they plan to seek a 7 1/2 year prison sentence. Prosecutors, in a separate filing, say they will recommend a life sentence, saying Manzanares had committed “the most serious crime a person can commit against another.” Both filings cite a presentence report that calculated a sentencing guideline range between 14 years & 17 1/2 years.
5/6/21 Update: The defendant's "Sentencing Memorandum" by his defense -- asking the court to impose a sentence of 90 months & that he be placed on supervised release for a period of five years. Sentencing is scheduled for June 2-3, 2021 before Judge Timothy Burgess.


Thursday, June 3rd:
*Sentencing Hearing (via Webex) (@ 8:30am CT) – IN – Kimberly Dyer (31) (occurred from Oct. 21 to Oct. 22, 2019, Elkhart); not found & Robert Curtis Porter (32/now 33) serious injuries during robbery (Oct. 21-22, 2019) - for *Matthew A.P. Murzynski (24/now 25) arrested & charged (12/19/19) with robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, 2 counts of criminal confinement & current felony while member of/at direction of criminal gang enhancement (one related to Dyer; the other to an unrelated case). $5M bond.
*Charged (5/4/20) with domestic battery by means of a deadly weapon.
*Charged with driving while suspended, knowing violation & prior conviction w/in 10 years.
Trial was set to begin on 4/19/21 & Bench trial for driving while suspended on 4/19/21 were cancelled with guilty plea on 3/25/21.
Court info from 12/19/19 thru 5/3/21 reference post #326 here:
GUILTY - IN - Kimberly Dyer, 31, burned, tortured, mutilated, murdered, Elkhart, 22 Oct 2019 *Arrests*
5/4/21: Motion for continuance filed by State. Motion to continue set for hearing on 5/6/21 @ 8:30am & sentencing hearing. 5/6/21 Update: Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Katelyn Doyle sought the delay, arguing in a motion that Angulo & Owen's trial should be resolved first. She pointed out information that wasn't used at trial may come up during Murzynski's sentencing, & that the jury wasn't told of Murzynski's plea. The filing cited concerns jurors could be unintentionally exposed to the information before the hearing on the 17th. Judge Michael Christofeno approved the motion & reset Murzynski's sentencing hearing to June 3.
*Donald R. Owen, Jr. (20/now 22) - Trial began on 4/19/21 & ended 4/29/21 with guilty on all counts. Phase II: Sentencing hearing on 6/10/21.
*Mario M. Angulo, Jr. (19/now 20) – Trial began on 4/19/21 & ended 4/29/21 with guilty on all counts. Phase II: Sentencing hearing on 6/24/21.


Friday, June 4th:
*Sentencing Hearing (@ am ET) - NY - Valerie Reyes (24) (missing Jan. 29, 2019, New Rochelle; reported missing Jan. 30; found Feb. 5, 2019 in Port Chester/Greenwich border in CT (13 miles away)) - *Javier Enrique da Silva Rojas (24/now 25) arrested & charged (2/12/19) with federal kidnapping resulting in death. (Which carries a potential penalty of death or life in prison. Prosecutors have not yet indicated if they will seek death if he is convicted). Held without bond.
On 2/5/20: Plead guilty.
Information & court dates from 2/12/19 thru 8/6/20 reference post #484 here:
GUILTY - NY - Valerie Reyes, 24, found deceased, New Rochelle, 29 Jan 2019 *Arrest*
8/6/20 Update: Sentencing has been continued due to the COVID-19 to 11/4/20.
10/29/20 Update: Da Silva’s lawyers asked for the sentencing to be postponed, due to the public-health restrictions set to limit the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Judge Vincent Bricetti approved the adjournment & set deadlines for the sentencing submissions from Da Silva’s lawyers & federal prosecutors to be filed in January. The submissions spell out the legal background in the case & why a defendant should or should not be held to the maximum prison sentence allowed, and whether certain conditions should be imposed.
1/9/21 Update: Sentencing is set on 1/27/21. 1/27/21 Update: Due to COVID-19 has once again delayed the sentencing. New sentencing date on 6/4/21.

 

[Niner]

Update!

Monday, June 1st:
*Trial was set to begin-CANCELLED! *Pretrial Hearing instead (@ am ET) – KY – Edward Dansereau (63), Pamela J. Phillips (58) & Calvin Lee Phillips (53) (Nov. 19, 2015, Pembroke) - *Christian “Kit” Richard Martin (51/now 53) arrested & charged (5/11/19), indicted (5/10/19) & arraigned (5/22/19) with 3 counts of 1st degree murder, 1 count of arson, 1 count of attempted arson, 2 counts of 2nd degree burglary & 3 counts of tampering with evidence. Plead not guilty. Held without bond, changed (10/16/19) to $3M bond.
May, 2016 was convicted of 2 counts of mishandling classified materials & 2 count of assault on a child; sentenced to 6 months in jail & discharged from the military.
Trial was set to begin on 6/1/21 with jury selection was vacated. Trial will be in Hardin County moved from Christian County due to pretrial publicity.
Court info from 5/22/19 thru 5/21/21 reference post #99 here:
KY - Ed Dansereau, 63, Pamela, 58, & Calvin Phillips, 53, murdered, Pembroke, 19 Nov 2015 *arrest*
6/1/21 Update: Trial was rescheduled with no future dates. Pretrial hearing held instead.

 

[Niner]

Update!

Friday, June 4th:
*Sentencing Hearing-CONTINUED! (@ am ET) - NY - Valerie Reyes (24) (missing Jan. 29, 2019, New Rochelle; reported missing Jan. 30; found Feb. 5, 2019 in Port Chester/Greenwich border in CT (13 miles away)) - *Javier Enrique da Silva Rojas (24/now 26) arrested & charged (2/12/19) with federal kidnapping resulting in death. (Which carries a potential penalty of death or life in prison. Prosecutors have not yet indicated if they will seek death if he is convicted). Held without bond.
On 2/5/20: Plead guilty.
Information & court dates from 2/12/19 thru 8/6/20 reference post #484 here:
GUILTY - NY - Valerie Reyes, 24, found deceased, New Rochelle, 29 Jan 2019 *Arrest*
8/6/20 Update: Sentencing has been continued due to the COVID-19 to 11/4/20.
10/29/20 Update: Da Silva’s lawyers asked for the sentencing to be postponed, due to the public-health restrictions set to limit the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Judge Vincent Bricetti approved the adjournment & set deadlines for the sentencing submissions from Da Silva’s lawyers & federal prosecutors to be filed in January. The submissions spell out the legal background in the case & why a defendant should or should not be held to the maximum prison sentence allowed, and whether certain conditions should be imposed.
1/9/21 Update: Sentencing is set on 1/27/21. 1/27/21 Update: Due to COVID-19 has once again delayed the sentencing. New sentencing date on 6/4/21.
6/1/21 Update: Sentencing has been delayed for a fifth time for Da Silva. His newest sentencing date was this Friday, 6/4/21, but that too has been put off until 9/23/21. A federal judge says there will be no more postponements. Da Silva is expected to be sentenced to at least 30 years in prison.

 

[Niner]

Update! This trial DID start on 6/2/21.

Tuesday, June 2nd:
*Trial continues with Jury Selection (@ am ET) – KY – Edward Dansereau (63), Pamela J. Phillips (58) & Calvin Lee Phillips (53) (Nov. 19, 2015, Pembroke) - *Christian “Kit” Richard Martin (51/now 53) arrested & charged (5/11/19), indicted (5/10/19) & arraigned (5/22/19) with 3 counts of 1st degree murder, 1 count of arson, 1 count of attempted arson, 2 counts of 2nd degree burglary & 3 counts of tampering with evidence. Plead not guilty. Held without bond, changed (10/16/19) to $3M bond.
May, 2016 was convicted of 2 counts of mishandling classified materials & 2 count of assault on a child; sentenced to 6 months in jail & discharged from the military.
Trial set to begin on 6/2/21 with jury selection. Trial will be in Hardin County moved from Christian County due to pretrial publicity.
Court info from 5/22/19 thru 6/1/21 reference post #113 here:
KY - Ed Dansereau, 63, Pamela, 58, & Calvin Phillips, 53, murdered, Pembroke, 19 Nov 2015 *arrest*

 

[Niner]

Update!

Thursday, June 3rd:
*Sentencing Hearing (@ 8:30am CT) – IN – Kimberly Dyer (31) (occurred from Oct. 21 to Oct. 22, 2019, Elkhart); not found & Robert Curtis Porter (32/now 33) serious injuries during robbery (Oct. 21-22, 2019) - for *Matthew A.P. Murzynski (24/now 25) arrested & charged (12/19/19) with robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, 2 counts of criminal confinement & current felony while member of/at direction of criminal gang enhancement (one related to Dyer; the other to an unrelated case). $5M bond.
*Charged (5/4/20) with domestic battery by means of a deadly weapon.
*Charged with driving while suspended, knowing violation & prior conviction w/in 10 years.
Trial was set to begin on 4/19/21 & Bench trial for driving while suspended on 4/19/21 were cancelled with guilty plea on 3/25/21.
Court info from 12/19/19 thru 5/4/21 reference post #350 here:
GUILTY - IN - Kimberly Dyer, 31, burned, tortured, mutilated, murdered, Elkhart, 22 Oct 2019 *Arrests*
5/6/21 Update: Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Katelyn Doyle sought the delay, arguing in a motion that Angulo & Owen's trial should be resolved first. She pointed out information that wasn't used at trial may come up during Murzynski's sentencing, & that the jury wasn't told of Murzynski's plea. The filing cited concerns jurors could be unintentionally exposed to the information before the hearing on the 17th. Judge Michael Christofeno approved the motion & reset Murzynski's sentencing hearing to June 3.
6/3/21 Update: Kim's mom, aunt & best friend gave victim impact statements. Her mom also read 2 from Kim's 2 daughters. Murzynski received 60 years in prison.
*Donald R. Owen, Jr. (20/now 22) - Trial began on 4/19/21 & ended 4/29/21 with guilty on all counts. Phase II: Sentencing hearing on 6/10/21.
*Mario M. Angulo, Jr. (19/now 20) – Trial began on 4/19/21 & ended 4/29/21 with guilty on all counts. Phase II: Sentencing hearing on 6/24/21.

 

[Niner]

Update!

Thursday, June 3rd:
*Sentencing Hearing (Day 2 of 2) (@ 9am AKST) - AK - Kristy Manzanares (39) (July 25, 2017 on Alaskan cruise ship) - *Kenneth Ray Manzanares (39/now 42), (husband) charged (7/27/17) & indicted (8/17/17) on 1st degree Federal Murder. Plead not guilty on 8/23/17. DA will not seek DP.
Trial date was set for 10/23/17, was delayed on 9/18/17; new trial date is 11/5/18, was delayed to 5/20/19 & delayed to 9/9/19 which was vacated for change of plea of guilty (2/7/20).
Court info from 6/14/19 thru 5/6/21 reference post #705 here:
GUILTY - AK - Kristy Manzanares, 39, killed aboard Emerald Princess, Juneau, 25 July 2017 *husband arrested*
5/7/21 Update: The defendant's "Sentencing Memorandum" by his defense -- asking the court to impose a sentence of 90 months & that he be placed on supervised release for a period of five years. Sentencing is scheduled for June 2-3, 2021 before Judge Timothy Burgess.
6/2/21 Update: Jeff Hunt, Kristy father & Kristy's daughters gave testimony. Also Cody Hunt, Kristy's brother & her other brother gave testimony. Sentencing continues on 6/3/21. Court documents are sealed. No other info available.
6/3/21 Update: District judge Timothy Burgess sentenced Manzanares to 30 years in prison with 5 years of supervised release. The plea agreement Manzanares signed allows for an appeal of 'the reasonableness' of the sentence. Jamie McGrady, a federal public defender representing Manzanares, said an appeal would be filed, claiming the judge ignored scientific evidence.

 

[Niner]

For the week of Monday, June 7th thru Friday, June 11th:

Monday, June 7th:
*Formal Sentencing Hearing (@ 2:30pm CT) – MO – Kara Elise Kopetsky (17) (last seen at Belton High, May 4, 2007, Belton; found by a mushroom hunter in rural Cass County near East 223rd & State Route Y on April 3, 2017) & Jessica S. Runions (21) (missing Sept. 8, 2016, Raymore; her car was found burned near Bannister & Blue River Rds. on Sept. 10, 2016. Found by mushroom hunters in rural Cass County near East 223rd & State Route Y on April 4, 2017) – *Kylr Charles Yust (18 in 2007/29/now 32) indicted (3/1/18) & arraigned (6/18/18) on 2 counts of 1st degree & 2 counts of abandonment of a corpse. Plead not guilty. $1M cash only bond. Originally charged with felony arson for burning Jessica’s car was dismissed on 10/5/17. Charges of 2 counts of abandonment of a corpse-dismissed on 3/4/21).
Trial began 4/5/21. Jury Selection started on 3/29/21 & ended on 3/31/21. Court will be held on Saturdays also. Held in Cass County & jurors from St. Charles County. Jurors will be sequestered throughout the trial (expected to last 3 weeks). Jury: 12 jurors & 3 alternates (12 women & 3 men). One alternate was released on 4/5/21. State rested their case on 4/10/21 & had 53 witnesses. Defense rested their case on 4/14/21 & had 28 witnesses. Jury deliberations: 4/14/21: 6:15pm to 10pm (~ 3 hours & 45 mins). 4/15/21: 8am to 7:30pm (~10 hours & 30 mins.) Total deliberations: 14 hours & 15 mins. Verdict: Guilty of voluntary manslaughter of Kara Kopetsky & guilty of 2nd degree murder of Jessica Runions.
Court info from 3/1/18 thru 3/11/21 & jury selection (3/31/21) & Day 1 thru Day 9 of trial (4/5 – 4/14/21) reference post #326 here:
GUILTY - MO - Kara Kopetsky, 17 in 2007; Jessica Runions, 21 in 2016; found deceased - *ARREST* #2
4/16/21 Friday: Sentencing: Verdict on 4/15/21 was: Yust has been found guilty of voluntary manslaughter of Kara Kopetsky & guilty of 2nd degree murder in the death of Jessica Runions. Ben Butler, prosecutor addresses the jury. Matt Vigil, defense attorney speaks to the jury. State calls to stand: Rhonda Beckford, Kara's mother. Showed pictures of Kara growing up. Mike Kopetsky, Kara’s father. Jim Beckford, Kara’s stepfather. Thomas Beckford, Kara’s little brother. He was 8 when she died. Jamie Runions, Jessica’s mother. Showed pictures of Jessica growing up. John Runions, Jessica’s father. Megan Runions, Jessica’s sister. She was 14 when Jessica disappeared. The State rests. Defense will not let cameras on their witnesses. Logan Walsh, Kylr’s friend since he was 4 or 5. Ciara West, friend of Kylr’s since she was 15. AG, friend of Kylr’s met him in 2006. LW neighbor of Kylr’s & mother of previous witness. Defense rests. The jury is given instructions for sentencing. Ben Butler gave closing arguments. Reference post #370 here:
GUILTY - MO - Kara Kopetsky, 17 in 2007; Jessica Runions, 21 in 2016; found deceased - *ARREST* #2
Defense attorney Hastings gave closing arguments. Reference post #372 & #373 here:
GUILTY - MO - Kara Kopetsky, 17 in 2007; Jessica Runions, 21 in 2016; found deceased - *ARREST* #2
Butler back up — “Call him what you want to. Call Jessica Runions, Jessica Runions. Call Kara Kopetsky, Kara Kopetsky. I'm done. There are two girls that will never be seen again. If he's an artist he took the bones of Kara and Jessica and he painted them across the woods and left him there to rot. That's not life”.
Jury started deliberations ~10:45pm CT to 12:15pm (~1 hour 30 mins). Sentence: For Count 1: Declare punishment 15 years & Count 2: Declare punishment life in prison. Judge accepts sentencing. Formal sentencing will be on 6/7/21 @ 2:30pm CT.
5/11/21 Update: Attorneys for convicted murderer Yust have filed a motion in Cass County court for a new trial.

*Trial set to begin (@ am ET) – NY – Wendy Jerome (14) (Nov. 22, 1984, raped & severely beaten to death, found later that night lying in an alcove of Schools 33 & 11 at Webster Ave. a couple of blocks from her home) - *Timothy Lee Williams (20 @ time of crime/56/now 57) arrested & charged (9/9/20), indicted (9/28/20) & arraigned (10/22/20) with 2 counts of 2nd degree murder & intention. Plead not guilty. Held without bond.
DNA familial search/Williams became a suspect after the New York state crime lab uploaded DNA from the crime scene to a database and came up with profiles of relatives.
Trial is set to begin on 6/7/21.
Court info from 9/9/20 thru 10/2/20 reference post #86 here:
NY - Wendy Jerome, 14, raped and killed, Rochester, 22 Nov 1984 *Arrest in 2020*

*Trial continues (Day 3) (@ am ET) – KY – Edward Dansereau (63), Pamela J. Phillips (58) & Calvin Lee Phillips (53) (Nov. 19, 2015, Pembroke) - *Christian “Kit” Richard Martin (51/now 53) arrested & charged (5/11/19), indicted (5/10/19) & arraigned (5/22/19) with 3 counts of 1st degree murder, 1 count of arson, 1 count of attempted arson, 2 counts of 2nd degree burglary & 3 counts of tampering with evidence. Plead not guilty. Held without bond, changed (10/16/19) to $3M bond.
May, 2016 was convicted of 2 counts of mishandling classified materials & 2 count of assault on a child; sentenced to 6 months in jail & discharged from the military.
Trial began on 6/2/21 with jury selection & concluded. Trial started on 6/3/21 (Day 1) & will be in Hardin County moved from Christian County due to pretrial publicity. Jurors: 10 men & 4 women (2 are alternates).
Court info from 5/22/19 thru 6/1/21 & Jury selection (6/2/21) & Trial Day 1 (6/3/21) reference post #144 here:
KY - Ed Dansereau, 63, Pamela, 58, & Calvin Phillips, 53, murdered, Pembroke, 19 Nov 2015 *arrest*
6/4/21 Friday, Day 2 of Trial: State witnesses: Matt Phillips, son of slain couple Cal & Pam Phillips. Defense attorney Tom Griffiths on cross. Sally Jackson, Ed Dansereau's partner. Christian County lead investigator Lt. Leonard Scott Smith showed the jury crime scene photos. Fiery cross from Public Advocate Tom Griffiths accusing Lt. Smith of lying to the grand jury & mishandling evidence. Smith says he had incorrect cell phone data analysis at the time of the 2019 grand jury hearing. He admits he “overpackaged” the arson evidence sent to lab. Judge Adkins sharply reprimands defense attorney in front of the jury during re-cross of Lt. Smith. Attorney Griffiths was repeatedly urging the witness to admit to being wrong. Trial continues on Monday, 6/7/21.

*Trial continues (Day 11) (@ 8:30am PT) – CA – Susan Berman (55) (Dec. 24, 2000, Beverly Hills) – *Robert Alan Durst (57 @ time of crime/72/now 78) arrested (3/14/15) extradited (11/1/16 from Indiana prison to Calif.) & charged with 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. $4M Bond.
Was serving a 7 year federal prison term for illegal possession of a revolver at the time of his New Orleans’ arrest.
Trial began on 2/11/20 with pretrial motions & jury selection started on 2/19/20. Trial started on 3/4/20. Jury: 8 women & 4 men. 11 alternates. (1 alternate excused on 5/18/21) Now 10 alternates. (Trial expected to last 5 months). Trial stopped 3/16/20 due COVID-19 & will restart on 7/27/20 & retrial was to restart on 4/12/21 continued to 5/17/21 continued to 5/18/21. No court on Fridays.
Jury Selection from 2/19/20 thru 3/3/20 (Days 1-8) & Trial Days 1-6 (3/4/20 thru 3/12/20) & Court info from 3/16/20 thru 5/12/21 & Trial Days 1-9 (5/18/21 thru 6/2/21) reference post #288 here:
CA - Susan Berman, 55, fatally shot, Los Angeles, 23 Dec 2000 *Arrest*
6/3/21 Thursday, Trial Day 10: Attorneys are expected to argue before the jury arrives regarding admissibility of elevator operator statements. State witnesses: Elizabeth Jones. She cleaned the South Salem cottage for Bob & Kathie Durst. Next video testimony of Dr. Struk continues. Trial continues on Monday, 6/7/21.

*Trial continues (Day 4) (@ 9am CT) – TN – Joseph “Joe Clyde” Daniels III (5) (April 3, 2018, Dickson) – for *Joseph Ray Daniels (28/now 31) “father” arrested & charged (4/7/18) & indicted (6/8/18) with 1 count of 1st degree murder, 1st degree felony murder, aggravated child abuse, filing a false report & tampering with evidence. $1M bond.
Confessed on 4/6/18. Waived rights to Prelim hearing. Joseph Daniels told officers that he beat his son to death after his son urinated on the floor. But recanted his confession saying he was coerced.
Trial began on 6/1/21 to 6/2/21 with jury selection for Joseph only. Jury will be sequestered during trial. Jury picked from Hamilton County not from Dickson County due to pretrial publicity. Trial began on 6/3/21. The trial will run Monday thru Saturday 9am to 5 or 6pm. 12 jurors & 4 alternates.
Court hearings from 6/4/18 thru 5/25/21 & Jury Selection from 6/1/21 & 6/2/21 & Trial Day 1-2 (6/3/21 & 6/4/21) reference post #880 here:
Still Missing - TN - Joseph "Joe Clyde" Daniels, 5, Dickson, 3 Apr 2018 *autistic* *arrests* #2
6/5/21 Saturday, Day 3 of Trial: No info yet. Court adjourn, return on Monday, 6/7/21.
*Krystal Nicole Daniels (27/now 30) “mom” arrested & charged (4/8/18) & indicted (6/8/18) with criminal responsibility aggravated child neglect & filing a false report. Charged (5/26/20) with criminal responsibility aggravated child neglect, accessory after the fact & making false reports to officers. $1M bond.
Trial will be set after Joseph’s trial ends.

Tuesday, June 8th:
*Trial was set to begin-MAYBE! (@ 9am ET) – OH – Baby Boy Doe (2 mos. or younger) (found May 11, 2017 decomposing in a 1988 Ford Mustang, South Toledo) & Giovanna Gabrielle Cisneros (was Baby Jane Doe) (infant) (found Feb. 10, 2020 decomposing in PT Cruiser which had been towed to police lot) – for *Jacob Andrew Cisneros (33/now 34) arrested & charged (2/3/20) & arraigned (2/4/20) with involuntary 1st degree manslaughter & endangering children. Those charges were dismissed (on 2/13/20) , indicted (2/13/20), Charged & arraigned (2/19/20) with 2 counts of 1st degree involuntary manslaughter, 2 counts of 3rd degree endangering children, 2 counts of 3rd degree tampering with evidence & 2 counts of 3rd degree obstruction of justice. Plead not guilty. $400K bond. Bond changed (2/19/20) to $1,225,000.
Trial was set to begin on 1/19/21 rescheduled to 3/30/21 & continued to 6/8/21.
DNA & court info from 4/7/20 thru 1/19/21 reference post #121 here:
OH - Toledo, WhtMale, 2 months, UP17671, May '17 & Baby Jane Doe, Feb '20 - found in cars *arrests*
3/30/21 Update: Trial rescheduled per defense request. Hearing held: Judge Linda J. Jennings, Asst. Prosecutor Frank Spryszak by video, Peter G. Boyer by video on behalf of defendant & defendant present by video. Motion granted pursuant to the request of defendant to continue trial date. Trial has been vacated & rescheduled on 6/8/21 @ 9am. Bond continued with electronic monitoring.
*Jenna Nicole Cisneros (34) – 8/17/20: Plead no contest. Sentenced on 9/9/20: 10 years in prison as to Count 1 (Invol. Manslaughter); 30 months in prison as to Count 3 (tampering w/evidence); 30 months in prison as to Count 4 (Obstructing justice); 10 years in prison as to Count 5 (Invol. manslaughter; 30 months in prison as to Count 7 (tampering w/evidence); and 30 months in prison as to Count 8 (obstructing justice). The sentences in Counts 3 & 4 are ordered to be served concurrently to each other. Counts 2 & 8 endangering children dismissed.
4/20/21: Jenna files pro se Affidavit of indigency; Motion: notice of appeal filed pro se; Praecipe filed pro se; Docketing statement filed pro se; Pleading filed: statement, praecipe & notice to court; Motion filed preparation of complete transcripts at State expense file pro se & motion for appointment of counsel filed pro se.

*Trial continues (Day 4) (@ 9am CT) – IN - Thomas Grill, Jr. (18) & Molley R. Lanham (19) (Feb. 25, 2019, St. John; found in Hebron, in burned out car) – for *John Salvadore Silva II (17/now 18) arrested & charged (5/22/20) with 2 felony counts of murder in the perpetration of a robbery. Plead not guilty. No bond.
Trial set to begin on 6/1/21 (9 days: 6/1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16 & 17).
Court info from 8/10/20 thru 5/25/21 & Jury selection (6/1/21) & Trial Day 1 (6/2/21) reference post #165 here:
IN - Thomas Grill Jr., 18, & Molley Lanham, 19, murdered, Lake County, 25 Feb 2019 *arrests*
6/4/21 Friday, Day 3 of Trial: State witness: No info yet. Trial continues on 6/8/21.
Accomplice:
*Connor Ralland Kerner (17/now 19) – Found guilty. 12/8/20: Sentenced to 179 years in prison. Filed an appeal on 5/13/21.

*Trial continues (Day 3) (@ 8:30m PT) - UT - Peggy Sue Ellsworth Case (28) (disappeared July 8, 1988, Spanish Fork; found May 22, 2017 buried where Peggy & BF used to live) - *Michael Ignatius Kufrin (32 @ time of crime/61/now 64) (BF) - arrested (10/17/17), charged (7/17/17) & indicted (10/30/17) with 1st degree felony murder. Has not entered a plea. $250K Cash only bond.
Case was last seen leaving a party in Payson with Kufrin on July 9, 1988.
Trial began on 6/2/21. (will last 5 weeks). No court on Mondays.
Court info from 11/6/17 thru 5/11/21 & Trial Day 1 (6/2/21) reference post #168 here:
UT - Peggy Case, 26, Spanish Fork, 9 July 1988 *Arrest in 2017*
6/4/21 Friday, Trial Day 2: No other info available. Trial continues on Tuesday, 6/8/21.

Wednesday, June 9th:
*Sentencing Hearing (@ 10am CT) - NE - Sydney Loofe (24) (Nov. 15, 2017, Lincoln; found Dec. 4 & 5, 2017 in Edgar, east of Clay Center) – for *Aubrey C. Trail (51/now 54) charged & indicted (6/11/18) & arraigned (7/13/18) with 1st degree murder & improper disposal of human remains (plead guilty to this charge 6/18/19) & charged (3/1/19) with conspiracy to commit murder. Plead not guilty. No bond. DA will seek DP.
Trial started 6/17/19 with jury selection. Trial started on 6/18/19 & runs thru 7/8/19. Jurors: 7 women & 5 men, with 3 women alternates. One juror was excused for family emergency on 6/28/19 (no gender available). Jurors could be 8 women & 4 men. Now 2 women alternates. Jurors deliberating for about 2 ½ hours & found Trail GUILTY of all charges.
Court info & Trial info from Day 1-14 (6/11/19 to 7/10/19) & thru 3/10/21 reference post #595 here:
GUILTY - NE - Sydney Loofe, 24, brutally murdered, Lincoln, 15 Nov 2017 #4
3/11/21 Update: Opening statements by State attorney Doug Warner argues that the killing of Sydney "manifested exceptional depravity" & was done for sexual gratification. And her body was needlessly segmented into 14 parts. Defense attorney Ben Murray said the State cherry picked statements from Trail. The evidence points to an accidental killing. Prosecutors allege the killing showed exception depravity, an aggravating circumstance that would make his case eligible for a death sentence. Testified: Dr. Michelle Eileff, a forensic pathologist who examined Sydney’s remains & determined she was killed by homicidal strangulation. And was cross examined. FBI Special Agent Mike Maseth, one of two FBI agents who led the investigation into Sidney’s disappearance & murder. Investigator Matthew Franken with the Lincoln Police Dept. Franken for the state has wrapped up presenting its aggravating factors, the defense began presenting mitigating factors with no opening statement. A defense attorney for Trail said her killing was not planned & presented the panel with exhibits intended to show Trial had been a troubled kid who endured a rough family life & abuse. After the defense presented its evidence in briefs the hearing was adjourned. Sentencing date is to be set on further order of the court so no exact date yet for when Trail will be sentenced. Trail is not in court. District Judges Vicky Johnson, Michael A. Smith & Susan Strong will ultimately decide. Arguments for & against the death penalty in the case concluded Thursday, in Saline County District Court. Trail waived his appearance at the hearing in Wilber, which had been scheduled for two days. It could be several weeks before the panel decides Trail’s fate.
4/16/21 Update: Sentencing scheduled on 6/9/21.
*Bailey M. Boswell (23/now 27) – Trial was on 9/23/20, verdict on 10/14/20-Guilty of all charges. Sentencing on 6/30 to 7/2/21.

*Sentencing Hearing (@ 1:30pm CT) – IN – Nicole Lynn Bowen (30) (missing March, 29, 2019, Jefferson Township, Newton County, found March 30, 2019) – for *Ashley N. Garth (26/now 27) arrested (4/3/19) & charged (3/29/19) with felony count of assisting a criminal. Plead not guilty. $25K bond. Posted bond (1/30/21) & out.
*Charged (3/29/19) with murder, conspiracy to commit murder conspiracy results in death (Felony 1) & assisting a criminal in committing murder. Count 4: Involuntary manslaughter was severed for purposes of trial. Held without bond. Judge reduces bond (1/10/20) to $50K.
Trial began on 5/17/21 with jury selection & trial started on 5/18/21 & ended on 5/21/21 when the jury deliberated for 3 hours & came back with a verdict of guilty of all charges.
Court info from 7/29/19 thru 5/13/21 & jury selection on 5/17/21 & trial on 5/18/21 thru 5/24/21 (Day 1-4) reference post #804 here:
GUILTY - IN - Newton County, Fem, 30 Mar 2019 - Nicole Bowen
5/24/21 Update: Sentencing hearing is set for June 9th.
*Talitha Ann Beckley (36/now 38) – Fact Finding Hearing on 6/14/21. Pretrial hearing on 6/28/21. Trial begins on 7/26/21.
*Garrett Kenneth Kirts (21/now 22) – 9/4/20: Plead guilty. Sentenced on 1/11/21 to 55 years in prison.
*Christopher Channing Mathis (27/now 28) – 9/18/20: Plead guilty & sentenced to time served (912 days). Out of jail. Cooperating with White County on Hanish case.
*Nicole Parker (34/now 36) – 10/8/19: Plead guilty. According to the plea agreement, Parker also will serve 4 years in prison for being a habitual offender, based on felony convictions in 2018 for unlawful possession of a syringe in Jasper County & in 2004 for burglary in Tippecanoe County. Earliest release date 1/4/23.

*Trial set to begin (@ 9am ET) – VA – Stephen Dale Meek II (2) (Jan. 11, 2019, Christiansburg; sexually abused & blunt force trauma, died Jan. 13, 2019) – for *Kayla Nicole Thomas (25/now 26) “mom” arrested & charged (1/16/19) & arraigned (8/20/20) with 1 count of Abuse & neglect of children; abandoned infant, 1 count of possession, reproduction, distribution, solicitation, & facilitation of child , 1 count of production, publication, sale, financing, etc., of child ; presumption as to age, 1 count of forcible sodomy, and 1 count of Object sexual penetration. Plead not guilty. Held without bond.
Trial set to begin on 6/9/21 (to 6/11/21).
Court info from 2/28/19 thru 3/18/20 reference post #92 here:
VA - Steven Dale Meek II, 2, sexually abused, died of brutal trauma, Jan 11 2019 *arrests*
8/20/20 Update: Plea hearing she plead not guilty. Trial set for 1/20 thru 1/22/21. Review hearing on 11/12/20 continued to 12/10/20. 12/10/20 Update: Motion for trial continuance-granted. Trial is now scheduled on 6/9 to 6/11/21. Next motions hearing on 5/27/21. Next on court site is trial on 6/9/21.
*McKenzie Kyle Hellman (25/now 26) (BF) – 3/15/21: Jury found him guilty of all 5 charges: producing child , reproducing child , animate object sexual penetration, producing child & forcible sodomy. Sentencing on 6/29/21. Murder & child abuse: Trial set to begin on 8/10/21.

*Re-Trial set to begin (@ 9am CT) – OH – DelVante Johnson (19), Toshaun Banks (21) & DeVaughn Gibson (23) (Dec. 31, 2018, Cleveland) - *Tevin Biles-Thomas (24/now 26) arrested (9/11/19), indicted (8/29/19), charged (8/29/19) & arraigned (9/13/19) with 6 counts of murder (2 counts for Johnson, 2 counts for Banks & 2 counts for Gibson) was changed (5/11/21) to 5 counts of murder (2 counts Johnson, 2 counts Banks & 1 count Gibson). 1 count Gibson: Count 9 (murder for Gibson) was dismissed (5/11/21) by DA’s oral motion with prejudice), 3 counts of voluntary manslaughter (1 count for Johnson, 1 count for Banks & 1 count for Gibson), 4 counts of felonious assault (1 count for Johnson, 1 count for Gibson, 1 count for Banks, 1 count for physical harm for Brown & 1 count for physical harm to Seawright; update: 5/19/21 Judge Synenberg dismissed 1 count of felonious assault regarding shooting of Brown) & 1 count of perjury. Plead not guilty. $1M Cash/Surety bond. Bond modified (12/18/19) to $100K. Posted bond (12/19/19).
Trial began on 5/11/21 & ended in mistrial on 5/24/21. Copies of legal briefs from prosecutors & Biles-Thomas' attorneys somehow ended up among the trial evidence the court gave the jury to consult during its deliberations.
New trial was set to begin on 5/26/21 with jury selection continued to 6/9/21.
Court info from 8/30/19 thru 5/6/21 & trial from 5/11 to 5/19/21 (Day 1-7) & Jury deliberations from 5/19 to 5/24/21 (Day 1-4) reference post #171 here:
OH - Delvante Johnson, Toshaun Banks, Devaughn Gibson dead, Tevin Biles-Thomas *charged, 30 Aug 2019
5/25/21 Update: State's motion to continue trial; Brief filed in opposition to State's Motion for continuance. 5/26/21: Motion for Trial continuance-granted. Trial will begin on 6/9/21.

Thursday, June 10th:
*Sentencing Hearing (@ am MT) – ID – Ruya Kadir (3) (June 30, 2018, Boise) – *Timmy Earl Kinner, Jr. (30/now 32) arrested (6/30/18) & charged (7/3/18) & re-arraigned (10/30/19) with 1st degree murder, 8 counts of felony aggravated battery, 1 count of burglary, 2 counts of aggravated assault & 1 count of enhancement use of deadly weapon in commission of felony. Plead not guilty. Held without bond. DA will seek DP.
Victims at Ruya 3rd B’day party: 2- 4 yr. olds, 6 yr. old, 8 yr. old, 12 yr. old & 3 adults. 3 still with life threatening injuries, 8 yr. old treated & released as of 7/3/18; as of 7/18 5 of 9 have been released from hospital.
Trial was set to begin on 2/2/21 continued to 9/7/21 (for 8 weeks), but was cancelled due to guilty plea on 3/30/21.
Previous court hearings from 7/16/18 thru 2/26/20 reference post #130 here:
ID - 9 stabbed 4 critical at apartment complex that houses refugee families, Boise, June 2018
8/11/20 Update: Hearing was held to postpone the 2/2/21 trial date. Will happened in Sept. 2011. No date given. Next closed hearing re questionnaire on 1/5/21 & pretrial conference hearing re proposed jury instructions & objections on 1/26/21 @ 9am.
1/5/21 Update: Next pretrial conference hearing re proposed jury instructions & objections on 1/26/21. 3/26/21 Update: Kinner Jr., who is accused of stabbing nine people at a Boise apartment complex in June 2018, has filed a complaint against Ada County prosecutors, law enforcement & jail staff alleging an inappropriate cell search. In a handwritten complaint filed Friday (3/26/21), Kinner alleged harassment & violation of his equal protection rights under the Fourth Amendment due to what he said were repeated searches of his cell. The case has been filed conditionally, as Kinner is incarcerated & is pending a judge’s order on whether it will move forward. Kinner previously filed two petitions for a writ of habeas corpus, one in 2020 & another in 2021, both of which were dismissed by Ada County Magistrate Judge Ransom Bailey. Kinner also filed a petition to change his name to “Eternal Love,” which records show was dismissed. Kinner has requested an attorney due to “mental limitations caused by internal & external problems such as restlessness, anxiety, depression, lack of focus” & said he was “not legally competent to understand the required processes.” His trial is scheduled for Sept. 7.
3/30/21 Update: Kinner has plead guilty to first-degree murder. In addition, the Ada County Prosecutor's Office said Tuesday that Kinner pleaded guilty to 8 counts of aggravated battery, 2 counts of aggravated assault & 1 count of use of deadly weapon in the commission of a crime. Sentencing is on 6/10/21.

*Sentencing Hearing (@ 8:30am CT) – IN – Kimberly Dyer (31) (occurred from Oct. 21 to Oct. 22, 2019, Elkhart, found stuffed in a trash bin & dumped & covered in a marshy area near Constantine, Michigan) & Robert Curtis Porter (32/now 33) serious injuries during robbery (Oct. 21-22, 2019) - *Mario M. Angulo, Jr. (19/now 20) arrested & charged (12/19/19) with murder, robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, 2 counts of criminal confinement & life without parole enhancement. Held without bond. DA will seek life without parole.
for *Donald R. Owen, Jr. (20/now 22) arrested & charged (12/19/19) with murder, robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, 2 counts of criminal confinement & life without parole enhancement. Held without bond. DA will seek life without parole.
Trial began on 4/19/21 with jury selection. Jury deliberated ~2 ½ hours reached a guilty of all counts for both. Phase II-LWOP began on 5/17/21.
Kimberly info & court info from 12/19/19 thru 5/13/21 (Trial 4/19 thru 4/29/21) & Phase II 5/17/21 (Day 1) reference post #333 here:
GUILTY - IN - Kimberly Dyer, 31, burned, tortured, mutilated, murdered, Elkhart, 22 Oct 2019 *Arrests*
See post #345 for Phase II sentencing hearings here:
GUILTY - IN - Kimberly Dyer, 31, burned, tortured, mutilated, murdered, Elkhart, 22 Oct 2019 *Arrests*
Circuit Court Judge Michael Christofeno set Owen’s sentencing for June 10 & Angulo’s for June 24.
*Matthew A.P. Murzynski (24/now 25) – Plead guilty to counts of aiding, inducing or causing a robbery that resulted in serious bodily injury; and aiding, inducing or causing criminal confinement; along with a criminal gang sentencing enhancement, in an agreement that sets a total sentence of 60 years. Murzynski was not required to testify at the trial as part of his plea bargain. Sentencing hearing on 6/3/21. 6/3/21 Update: Sentenced to 60 years in prison.

 

[Niner]

Update!

Monday, June 7th:
*Formal Sentencing Hearing (@ 2:30pm CT) – MO – Kara Elise Kopetsky (17) (last seen at Belton High, May 4, 2007, Belton; found by a mushroom hunter in rural Cass County near East 223rd & State Route Y on April 3, 2017) & Jessica S. Runions (21) (missing Sept. 8, 2016, Raymore; her car was found burned near Bannister & Blue River Rds. on Sept. 10, 2016. Found by mushroom hunters in rural Cass County near East 223rd & State Route Y on April 4, 2017) – *Kylr Charles Yust (18 in 2007/29/now 32) indicted (3/1/18) & arraigned (6/18/18) on 2 counts of 1st degree & 2 counts of abandonment of a corpse. Plead not guilty. $1M cash only bond. Originally charged with felony arson for burning Jessica’s car was dismissed on 10/5/17. Charges of 2 counts of abandonment of a corpse-dismissed on 3/4/21).
Trial began 4/5/21. Jury Selection started on 3/29/21 & ended on 3/31/21. Court will be held on Saturdays also. Held in Cass County & jurors from St. Charles County. Jurors will be sequestered throughout the trial (expected to last 3 weeks). Jury: 12 jurors & 3 alternates (12 women & 3 men). One alternate was released on 4/5/21. State rested their case on 4/10/21 & had 53 witnesses. Defense rested their case on 4/14/21 & had 28 witnesses. Jury deliberations: 4/14/21: 6:15pm to 10pm (~ 3 hours & 45 mins). 4/15/21: 8am to 7:30pm (~10 hours & 30 mins.) Total deliberations: 14 hours & 15 mins. Verdict: Guilty of voluntary manslaughter of Kara Kopetsky & guilty of 2nd degree murder of Jessica Runions.
Court info from 3/1/18 thru 3/11/21 & jury selection (3/31/21) & Day 1 thru Day 9 of trial (4/5 – 4/14/21) reference post #326 here:
GUILTY - MO - Kara Kopetsky, 17 in 2007; Jessica Runions, 21 in 2016; found deceased - *ARREST* #2
4/16/21 Friday: Sentencing: Verdict on 4/15/21 was: Yust has been found guilty of voluntary manslaughter of Kara Kopetsky & guilty of 2nd degree murder in the death of Jessica Runions. Ben Butler, prosecutor addresses the jury. Matt Vigil, defense attorney speaks to the jury. State calls to stand: Rhonda Beckford, Kara's mother. Showed pictures of Kara growing up. Mike Kopetsky, Kara’s father. Jim Beckford, Kara’s stepfather. Thomas Beckford, Kara’s little brother. He was 8 when she died. Jamie Runions, Jessica’s mother. Showed pictures of Jessica growing up. John Runions, Jessica’s father. Megan Runions, Jessica’s sister. She was 14 when Jessica disappeared. The State rests. Defense will not let cameras on their witnesses. Logan Walsh, Kylr’s friend since he was 4 or 5. Ciara West, friend of Kylr’s since she was 15. AG, friend of Kylr’s met him in 2006. LW neighbor of Kylr’s & mother of previous witness. Defense rests. The jury is given instructions for sentencing. Ben Butler gave closing arguments. Reference post #370 here:
GUILTY - MO - Kara Kopetsky, 17 in 2007; Jessica Runions, 21 in 2016; found deceased - *ARREST* #2
Defense attorney Hastings gave closing arguments. Reference post #372 & #373 here:
GUILTY - MO - Kara Kopetsky, 17 in 2007; Jessica Runions, 21 in 2016; found deceased - *ARREST* #2
Butler back up — “Call him what you want to. Call Jessica Runions, Jessica Runions. Call Kara Kopetsky, Kara Kopetsky. I'm done. There are two girls that will never be seen again. If he's an artist he took the bones of Kara and Jessica and he painted them across the woods and left him there to rot. That's not life”.
Jury started deliberations ~10:45pm CT to 12:15pm (~1 hour 30 mins). Sentence: For Count 1: Declare punishment 15 years & Count 2: Declare punishment life in prison. Judge accepts sentencing. Formal sentencing will be on 6/7/21 @ 2:30pm CT.
5/11/21 Update: Attorneys for convicted murderer Yust have filed a motion in Cass County court for a new trial.
6/7/21 Update: Yust was sentenced to life (30 years) & 15 years in prison in the deaths of Kara Kopetsky and Jessica Runions. Sentences will run consecutively. Total of 45 years in prison.

 

[Niner]

Update!

Monday, June 8th:
*Trial set to begin-CONTINUED! (@ 9am ET) – OH – Baby Boy Doe (2 mos. or younger) (found May 11, 2017 decomposing in a 1988 Ford Mustang, South Toledo) & Giovanna Gabrielle Cisneros (was Baby Jane Doe) (infant) (found Feb. 10, 2020 decomposing in PT Cruiser which had been towed to police lot) – for *Jacob Andrew Cisneros (33/now 34) arrested & charged (2/3/20) & arraigned (2/4/20) with involuntary 1st degree manslaughter & endangering children. Those charges were dismissed (on 2/13/20) , indicted (2/13/20), Charged & arraigned (2/19/20) with 2 counts of 1st degree involuntary manslaughter, 2 counts of 3rd degree endangering children, 2 counts of 3rd degree tampering with evidence & 2 counts of 3rd degree obstruction of justice. Plead not guilty. $400K bond. Bond changed (2/19/20) to $1,225,000.
Trial was set to begin on 6/8/21 continued to 8/17/21.
DNA & court info from 4/7/20 thru 1/19/21 reference post #121 here:
OH - Toledo, WhtMale, 2 months, UP17671, May '17 & Baby Jane Doe, Feb '20 - found in cars *arrests*
3/30/21 Update: Trial rescheduled per defense request. Hearing held: Judge Linda J. Jennings, Asst. Prosecutor Frank Spryszak by video, Peter G. Boyer by video on behalf of defendant & defendant present by video. Motion granted pursuant to the request of defendant to continue trial date. Trial has been vacated & rescheduled on 6/8/21 @ 9am. Bond continued with electronic monitoring.
6/8/21 Update: Defense files motion for trial continuance-granted. Trial now set to begin on 8/17/21.
*Jenna Nicole Cisneros (34) – 8/17/20: Plead no contest. Sentenced on 9/9/20: 10 years in prison as to Count 1 (Invol. Manslaughter); 30 months in prison as to Count 3 (tampering w/evidence); 30 months in prison as to Count 4 (Obstructing justice); 10 years in prison as to Count 5 (Invol. manslaughter; 30 months in prison as to Count 7 (tampering w/evidence); and 30 months in prison as to Count 8 (obstructing justice). The sentences in Counts 3 & 4 are ordered to be served concurrently to each other. Counts 2 & 8 endangering children dismissed.
4/20/21: Jenna files pro se Affidavit of indigency; Motion: notice of appeal filed pro se; Praecipe filed pro se; Docketing statement filed pro se; Pleading filed: statement, praecipe & notice to court; Motion filed preparation of complete transcripts at State expense file pro se & motion for appointment of counsel filed pro se.

 

[Niner]

Update!

Wednesday, June 9th:
*Sentencing Hearing (@ 10am CT) - NE - Sydney Loofe (24) (Nov. 15, 2017, Lincoln; found Dec. 4 & 5, 2017 in Edgar, east of Clay Center) – for *Aubrey C. Trail (51/now 54) charged & indicted (6/11/18) & arraigned (7/13/18) with 1st degree murder & improper disposal of human remains (plead guilty to this charge 6/18/19) & charged (3/1/19) with conspiracy to commit murder. Plead not guilty. No bond. DA will seek DP.
Trial started 6/17/19 with jury selection. Trial started on 6/18/19 & runs thru 7/8/19. Jurors: 7 women & 5 men, with 3 women alternates. One juror was excused for family emergency on 6/28/19 (no gender available). Jurors could be 8 women & 4 men. Now 2 women alternates. Jurors deliberating for about 2 ½ hours & found Trail GUILTY of all charges.
Court info & Trial info from Day 1-14 (6/11/19 to 7/10/19) & thru 3/11/21 reference post #612 here:
GUILTY - NE - Sydney Loofe, 24, brutally murdered, Lincoln, 15 Nov 2017 #4
4/16/21 Update: Sentencing scheduled on 6/9/21.
6/9/21 Update: Judge Johnson: The murder of Sydney Loofe meets the definition of exceptional depravity. The evidence overwhelmingly suggests Trail intended to mutilate Loofe's body before she was dead. The hacksaw, tools & bleach wouldn't be necessary for a simple strangulation. That fact weighs heavily against Trail. "here is no reasonable doubt that this aggravating circumstance against Trail justifies an imposition of a sentence of death. The panel finds no statutory mitigating factor or circumstance exists. Trail is sentenced to death for the murder of Sydney Loofe.
*Bailey M. Boswell (23/now 27) – Trial was on 9/23/20, verdict on 10/14/20-Guilty of all charges. Sentencing on 6/30 to 7/2/21.

 

[novo8085]

Aubrey Trail sentenced for gruesome murder, dismemberment of Nebraska store clerk Sydney Loofe

 

[Niner]

Update!

Wednesday, June 9th:
*Sentencing Hearing (@ 1:30pm CT) – IN – Nicole Lynn Bowen (30) (missing March, 29, 2019, Jefferson Township, Newton County, found March 30, 2019) – for *Ashley N. Garth (26/now 27) arrested (4/3/19) & charged (3/29/19) with felony count of assisting a criminal. Plead not guilty. $25K bond. Posted bond (1/30/21) & out.
*Charged (3/29/19) with murder, conspiracy to commit murder conspiracy results in death (Felony 1) & assisting a criminal in committing murder. Count 4: Involuntary manslaughter was severed for purposes of trial. Held without bond. Judge reduces bond (1/10/20) to $50K.
Trial began on 5/17/21 with jury selection & trial started on 5/18/21 & ended on 5/21/21 when the jury deliberated for 3 hours & came back with a verdict of guilty of all charges.
Court info from 7/29/19 thru 5/13/21 & jury selection on 5/17/21 & trial on 5/18/21 thru 5/24/21 (Day 1-4) reference post #804 here:
GUILTY - IN - Newton County, Fem, 30 Mar 2019 - Nicole Bowen
5/24/21 Update: Sentencing hearing is set for June 9th.
6/9/21 Update: Garth gets 48 years for Murder: 30 years for conspiracy to commit murder & 3 years for assisting a criminal - charges run concurrently.
*Talitha Ann Beckley (36/now 38) – Fact Finding Hearing on 6/14/21. Pretrial hearing on 6/28/21. Trial begins on 7/26/21.
*Garrett Kenneth Kirts (21/now 22) – 9/4/20: Plead guilty. Sentenced on 1/11/21 to 55 years in prison.
*Christopher Channing Mathis (27/now 28) – 9/18/20: Plead guilty & sentenced to time served (912 days). Out of jail. Cooperating with White County on Hanish case.
*Nicole Parker (34/now 36) – 10/8/19: Plead guilty. According to the plea agreement, Parker also will serve 4 years in prison for being a habitual offender, based on felony convictions in 2018 for unlawful possession of a syringe in Jasper County & in 2004 for burglary in Tippecanoe County. Earliest release date 1/4/23.

 

[Niner]

Update!

Wednesday, June 9th:
*Trial continues-VERDICT REACHED! (@ 9am ET) – VA – Stephen Dale Meek II (2) (Jan. 11, 2019, Christiansburg; sexually abused & blunt force trauma, died Jan. 13, 2019) – for *Kayla Nicole Thomas (25/now 26) “mom” arrested & charged (1/16/19) & arraigned (8/20/20) with 1 count of Abuse & neglect of children [charged dismissed 5/27/21]; abandoned infant, 1 count of possession, reproduction, distribution, solicitation, & facilitation of child , 1 count of production, publication, sale, financing, etc., of child ; presumption as to age, 1 count of forcible sodomy, and 1 count of Object sexual penetration. Plead not guilty. Held without bond.
Trial began on 6/9/21 (to 6/11/21) with jury selection on 6/8/21.
Court info from 2/28/19 thru 5/27/21 & trial 6/9/21 (Day 1) reference post #110 here:
VA - Steven Dale Meek II, 2, sexually abused, died of brutal trauma, Jan 11 2019 *arrests*
6/9/21 Wednesday, Trial Day 1: Thomas testified Wednesday. No other witness info available. A Montgomery County jury found Thomas guilty Wednesday of four counts of sexually abusing her late son. The jury recommended a sentence of two life terms plus 10 years. A sentencing hearing is set for 7/23/21.
*McKenzie Kyle Hellman (25/now 26) (BF) – 3/15/21: Jury found him guilty of all 5 charges: producing child , reproducing child , animate object sexual penetration, producing child & forcible sodomy. Sentencing on 6/29/21. Murder & child abuse: Trial set to begin on 8/10/21.

 

[Niner]

Update!

Thursday, June 10th:
*Sentencing Hearing (@ 8:30am CT) – IN – Kimberly Dyer (31) (occurred from Oct. 21 to Oct. 22, 2019, Elkhart, found stuffed in a trash bin & dumped & covered in a marshy area near Constantine, Michigan) & Robert Curtis Porter (32/now 33) serious injuries during robbery (Oct. 21-22, 2019) - *Mario M. Angulo, Jr. (19/now 20) arrested & charged (12/19/19) with murder, robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, 2 counts of criminal confinement & life without parole enhancement. Held without bond. DA will seek life without parole.
for *Donald R. Owen, Jr. (20/now 22) arrested & charged (12/19/19) with murder, robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, 2 counts of criminal confinement & life without parole enhancement. Held without bond. DA will seek life without parole.
Trial began on 4/19/21 with jury selection. Jury deliberated ~2 ½ hours reached a guilty of all counts for both. Phase II-LWOP began on 5/17/21.
Kimberly info & court info from 12/19/19 thru 5/13/21 (Trial 4/19 thru 4/29/21) & Phase II 5/17/21 (Day 1) reference post #333 here:
GUILTY - IN - Kimberly Dyer, 31, burned, tortured, mutilated, murdered, Elkhart, 22 Oct 2019 *Arrests*
See post #345 for Phase II sentencing hearings here:
GUILTY - IN - Kimberly Dyer, 31, burned, tortured, mutilated, murdered, Elkhart, 22 Oct 2019 *Arrests*
Circuit Court Judge Michael Christofeno set Owen’s sentencing for June 10 & Angulo’s for June 24.
6/10/21 Update: Owen is sentenced to life without parole + 62 years.
*Matthew A.P. Murzynski (24/now 25) – Plead guilty to counts of aiding, inducing or causing a robbery that resulted in serious bodily injury; and aiding, inducing or causing criminal confinement; along with a criminal gang sentencing enhancement, in an agreement that sets a total sentence of 60 years. Murzynski was not required to testify at the trial as part of his plea bargain. Sentencing hearing on 6/3/21. 6/3/21 Update: Sentencing to 60 years in prison.

 

[Niner]

Update!

Thursday, June 10th:
*Sentencing Hearing (@ am MT) – ID – Ruya Kadir (3) (June 30, 2018, Boise) – *Timmy Earl Kinner, Jr. (30/now 32) arrested (6/30/18) & charged (7/3/18) & re-arraigned (10/30/19) with 1st degree murder, 8 counts of felony aggravated battery, 1 count of burglary, 2 counts of aggravated assault & 1 count of enhancement use of deadly weapon in commission of felony. Plead not guilty. Held without bond. DA will seek DP.
Victims at Ruya 3rd B’day party: 2- 4 yr. olds, 6 yr. old, 8 yr. old, 12 yr. old & 3 adults. 3 still with life threatening injuries, 8 yr. old treated & released as of 7/3/18; as of 7/18 5 of 9 have been released from hospital.
Trial was set to begin on 2/2/21 continued to 9/7/21 (for 8 weeks), but was cancelled due to guilty plea on 3/30/21.
Previous court hearings from 7/16/18 thru 3/26/21 reference post #154 here:
ID - 9 stabbed 4 critical at apartment complex that houses refugee families, Boise, June 2018
3/30/21 Update: Kinner has plead guilty to first-degree murder. In addition, the Ada County Prosecutor's Office said Tuesday that Kinner pleaded guilty to 8 counts of aggravated battery, 2 counts of aggravated assault & 1 count of use of deadly weapon in the commission of a crime. Sentencing is on 6/10/21.
6/10/21 Update: Fourth District Judge Nancy Baskin has sentenced Kinner to life in prison plus another 120 years for the brutal attack. Judge saying she didn't think he could ever be safely released.

 

[Niner]

Update!

Saturday, June 12th:
*Trial continues (Day 10)-Jury deliberations (Day 2-VERDICT! (@ 8am CT) – TN – Joseph “Joe Clyde” Daniels III (5) (April 3, 2018, Dickson) – for *Joseph Ray Daniels (28/now 31) “father” arrested & charged (4/7/18) & indicted (6/8/18) with 1 count of 1st degree murder, 1st degree felony murder, aggravated child abuse, filing a false report & tampering with evidence. $1M bond.
Confessed on 4/6/18. Waived rights to Prelim hearing. Joseph Daniels told officers that he beat his son to death after his son urinated on the floor. But recanted his confession saying he was coerced.
Trial began on 6/1/21 to 6/2/21 with jury selection for Joseph only. Jury will be sequestered during trial. Jury picked from Hamilton County not from Dickson County due to pretrial publicity.
Trial began on 6/3/21 & ended 6/11/21. The trial will run Monday thru Saturday 9am to 5 or 6pm. 12 jurors & 4 alternates. After alternates excused – 12 jurors (7 women, 5 men). Jury deliberations for Day 1 (6/11/21): 4½ hours; Day 2 (6/12/21): 3 hours & ~30 minutes. Total deliberations: 8 hours.
Court hearings from 6/4/18 thru 5/25/21 & Jury Selection from 6/1/21 & 6/2/21 & Trial Day 1-8 (6/3/21 & 6/11/21) & Jury deliberations (Day 1) 6/11/21) reference post #146 here:
Still Missing - TN - Joseph "Joe Clyde" Daniels, 5, Dickson, 3 Apr 2018 *autistic* *arrests* #3
6/12/21 Saturday, Day 9 of Trial & Day 2 of Jury deliberations: Jurors started deliberations at 9:07am to ~12:45pm – with verdict!
Verdict: First degree murder - NOT GUILTY, Second degree murder (lesser offense) - GUILTY, First degree murder in perpetration of a felony - GUILTY, Aggravated child abuse - GUILTY, Initiating a false report - GUILTY and Tampering with evidence - GUILTY
See post #182, 183, 188 & 189 for more info here:
Still Missing - TN - Joseph "Joe Clyde" Daniels, 5, Dickson, 3 Apr 2018 *autistic* *arrests* #3
Sentencing hearing on Sept. 14, 1pm CT.
*Krystal Nicole Daniels (27/now 30) “mom” arrested & charged (4/8/18) & indicted (6/8/18) with criminal responsibility aggravated child neglect & filing a false report. Charged (5/26/20) with criminal responsibility aggravated child neglect, accessory after the fact & making false reports to officers. $1M bond.
Trial will be set after Joseph’s trial ends.

 

[Niner]

For the week of Monday, June 14th thru Friday, June 18th:

Monday, June 14th:
*Jury Selection set to begin (@ 8am MT) - CO - Dylan Nicholas Redwine (13) (last seen alive Nov. 18, 2012 when he arrived at airport, reported missing on Nov. 19, 2012, Broomfield; found about 8 miles up Middle Mountain Road, a dirt road that cuts through the San Juan National Forest, about 100 yards from the road, directly off an ATV trail on June 27, 2013 & Nov. 1, 2015 his skull was found) - *Mark Allen Redwine (50 @ time of crime/55/now 58), "father" indicted (6/20/17) & arrested & charged (7/2017) with 2nd degree murder & child abuse resulting in death. Plead not guilty. $750K bond.
Jury Trial began on 10/29/20 with jury selection & ended 11/5/20 after Judge Wilson declared mistrial on 11/9/20.
Re-Trial was reset to begin on 6/14/21 with jury selection, trial will probably start on 6/21/21 (thru 8/2/21).
Previous court hearings from 9/10/17 thru 10/27/20 & Jury Selection (Day 1-6) 10/29/20 to 11/5/20 & 11/9/20 & info to 5/18/21 reference post #234 here:
Found Deceased - CO - Dylan Nicholas Redwine, 13, Broomfield, 19 Nov 2012 *father arrested*
6/11/21 Update: The Court held a status conference that included a brief run-through of jury selection on June 11, 2021, at 1:30 PM. The prosecution will be allowed to set up their re-creation of Mr. Redwine's living room on June 23, 2021, in Division 5. The prosecution shall return Division 5 to its original state by the end of the day on June 25, 2021. The parties shall have one hour for opening statements. A sequestration order shall be in effect. Elaine Hall, Mike Hall & Corey Redwine (after he testifies) are exempt from the sequestration order pursuant to the Victim's Rights Amendment. Advisory witnesses for the prosecution shall be Chuck Heidel, Jim Ezzell & Nicole Dean. Defense advisory witnesses shall be Les Lister, Grady King, Mike Kubicek & Nicole Fortin. The defense team shall be allowed access into the courthouse at a separate entrance from the public with the same conditions & restrictions as previously ordered. Defense counsel shall contact the Court Executive to arrange for such access at least one week before the trial begins. 135 people, 45 people in three groups, have been called to the La Plata County Courthouse as potential jurors. Judge Jeffrey Wilson’s goal is to have attorneys trim the pool down to about 28 potential jurors from each group to move on to individual questioning & selection of a 14-member jury, 12 jurors & 2 alternates. A jury is expected to be selected by the morning of June 21, with opening arguments expected to get under way that afternoon. The trial is expected to last until Aug. 2. At a pretrial conference on Friday, District Attorney Christian Champagne said 5-inch thick binders will be provided for jurors to keep track of exhibits & defense attorney Justin Bogan said the defense team plans to follow a similar procedure. Jury selection begins on 6/14/21.

*Trial set to begin (@ 9am MT) - CO - Makayla Victoria Roberts (10) & Hannah Elizabeth Rosaline Marshall (8) (June, 2017, Norwood; found Sept. 8, 2017) – for *Ika Eden (53/now 56) (from Jamaica) charged with 2 counts felony child abuse causing death, bond $125K; plead not guilty. Found incompetent to stand trial; in State hospital in Pueblo.
Trial set to begin on 6/14/21 (6/14-6/18, 6/21-6/23 & 6/29/21). Trial moved from San Miguel County to Mesa County.
Court info from 5/21/29 thru 5/25/21 reference post #320 here:
CO - Makayla Roberts, 10, & Hannah Marshall, 8, slain, Norwood, June 2017 *Arrests*
6/10/21 Update: Next trial set to begin on 6/14/21.
*Madani "Ama" Ceus – Child: Termination of parental rights hearing on 8/20 & 8/21/20. Sentenced for murder on 6/19/20 to 64 years in prison. Restitution hearing on 9/11/20. No longer in court system.
*Ashford Nathaniel Archer aka Nathan Yah aka Nathanyah Nitchitu (50) – found guilty & sentenced to 24 years in prison. 5/8/19: Appealing his guilty verdict. 1/29/20: The notice of appeal document from July is for now restricted to case parties; the opening for appeal 4/14/20. The appeal will be handled through the Colorado Attorney General’s Office.
*Nashika Leonie Bramble (36) – Jury verdict guilty of 2 counts of 1st degree murder. Sentenced to two consecutive life terms in prison without parole. Bramble’s appeal brief had been due Thursday 2/27/20, but the Court of Appeals granted an extension until July 16. Until the appeal is filed, the specifics of what Bramble is contesting are not public.
*Frederick "Alec" A. Blair – Plead guilty. Sentenced to 12 years in prison.

*Trial continues (Day 14) (@ 9am PT) – CA – Susan Berman (55) (Dec. 24, 2000, Beverly Hills) – *Robert Alan Durst (57 @ time of crime/72/now 78) arrested (3/14/15) extradited (11/1/16 from Indiana prison to Calif.) & charged with 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. $4M Bond.
Was serving a 7 year federal prison term for illegal possession of a revolver at the time of his New Orleans’ arrest.
Trial began on 2/11/20 with pretrial motions & jury selection started on 2/19/20.
Trial started on 3/4/20. Jury: 8 women & 4 men. 11 alternates. (1 alternate excused on 5/18/21) Now 10 alternates. (Trial expected to last 5 months). Trial stopped 3/16/20 due COVID-19 & will restart on 7/27/20 & retrial was to restart on 4/12/21 continued to 5/17/21 continued to 5/18/21. No court on Fridays.
Jury Selection from 2/19/20 thru 3/3/20 (Days 1-8) & Trial Days 1-6 (3/4/20 thru 3/12/20) & Court info from 3/16/20 thru 5/12/21 & Trial Days 1-13 (5/18/21 thru 6/9/21) reference post #301 here:
CA - Susan Berman, 55, fatally shot, Los Angeles, 23 Dec 2000 *Arrest*
6/10/21 Thursday, Trial Day xx: No court today – Durst has been hospitalized. The last witness Douglas Olivier’s mother has been hospitalized & he will return for testimony on 6/16/21. Court continues on Monday, 6/14/21.

*Re-Trial continues (Day 3) (@ 9am CT) – OH – DelVante Johnson (19), Toshaun Banks (21) & DeVaughn Gibson (23) (Dec. 31, 2018, Cleveland) - *Tevin Biles-Thomas (24/now 26) arrested (9/11/19), indicted (8/29/19), charged (8/29/19) & arraigned (9/13/19) with 6 counts of murder (2 counts for Johnson, 2 counts for Banks & 2 counts for Gibson) was changed (5/11/21) to 5 counts of murder (2 counts Johnson, 2 counts Banks & 1 count Gibson). 1 count Gibson: Count 9 (murder for Gibson) was dismissed (5/11/21) by DA’s oral motion with prejudice), 3 counts of voluntary manslaughter (1 count for Johnson, 1 count for Banks & 1 count for Gibson), 4 counts of felonious assault (1 count for Johnson, 1 count for Gibson, 1 count for Banks, 1 count for physical harm for Brown & 1 count for physical harm to Seawright; update: 5/19/21 Judge Synenberg dismissed Count 13: 1 count of felonious assault regarding shooting of Brown) & on 6/8/21: Count 14 dismissed: felonious assault on Seawright) & 1 count of perjury (perjury charge was dismissed on 6/8/21). Plead not guilty. $1M Cash/Surety bond. Bond modified (12/18/19) to $100K. Posted bond (12/19/19).
After all dismissals Biles-Thomas is charged with 4 counts of murder (2 counts for Johnson, 2 counts for Banks) & 3 counts of voluntary manslaughter (1 count for Johnson, 1 count for Banks & 1 count for Gibson).
Trial began on 5/11/21 & ended in mistrial on 5/24/21. Copies of legal briefs from prosecutors & Biles-Thomas' attorneys somehow ended up among the trial evidence the court gave the jury to consult during its deliberations.
New trial began on 6/8/21 with jury selection ended on 6/10/21.
Trial began on 6/10/21.
Court info from 8/30/19 thru 5/6/21 & trial from 5/11 to 5/19/21 (Day 1-7) & Jury deliberations from 5/19 to 5/24/21 (Day 1-4) & Court info from 5/25/21 to 6/8/21 & re-trial from 6/8/21 to 6/10/21 (Day 1-3) of jury selection & trial began on 6/10/21 reference post #185 here:
OH - Delvante Johnson, Toshaun Banks, Devaughn Gibson dead, Tevin Biles-Thomas *charged, 30 Aug 2019
6/8/21 Tuesday, Jury Selection Day 1: Prosecutors dismissed the perjury charge. Jury selection began Tuesday morning. No other info available. Jury selection continues on 6/9/21.
6/9/21 Wednesday, Jury Selection Day 2: The court requests the presence of a deputy for trial. Defendant in court, counsel Joe Patituce & Megan Patituce present. Prosecutors Greg Mussman, Kevin Bringman & Chad Cleveland present. Det. Shapiro, present. Plea offer place on the record. Trial called & commenced. Motion to dismiss, filed. Motion to dismiss-Count 12 of the indictment (perjury)-unopposed & granted 6/11/21. No other info yet. Jury selection continues on 6/10/21.
6/10/21 Thursday, Jury Selection Day 3 & Trial Day 1: Jury selection is complete. Motion filed by State, attorney Chad Cleveland for bench warrant-withdrawn. Assistant Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Gregory Mussman gave opening statements & attorney Joe Patituce gave opening statements for defense. Trial continues on 6/11/21.
6/11/21 Friday, Trial Day 2: On Friday, the prosecution asked the judge to issue arrest warrants for three people (Demarco Williams, Macquise Lewis & Dejonte Seawright) who are supposed to testify. State's motion filed by Greg Mussman-opposition to request for material witness warrants, motion for use of prior testimony-withdrawn. Reply brief filed: reply to defendant's opposition to request for material witness warrants motion for use of prior testimony. No other info available. Trial continues on Monday, 6/14/21.

*Trial continues (Day 7) (@ 9am ET) – KY – Edward Dansereau (63), Pamela J. Phillips (58) & Calvin Lee Phillips (53) (Nov. 19, 2015, Pembroke) - *Christian “Kit” Richard Martin (51/now 53) arrested & charged (5/11/19), indicted (5/10/19) & arraigned (5/22/19) with 3 counts of 1st degree murder, 1 count of arson, 1 count of attempted arson, 2 counts of 2nd degree burglary & 3 counts of tampering with evidence. Plead not guilty. Held without bond, changed (10/16/19) to $3M bond.
May, 2016 was convicted of 2 counts of mishandling classified materials & 2 count of assault on a child; sentenced to 6 months in jail & discharged from the military.
Trial began on 6/2/21 with jury selection & concluded. Trial started on 6/3/21 (Day 1) & will be in Hardin County moved from Christian County due to pretrial publicity. Jurors: 10 men & 4 women (2 are alternates). Juror is excused (6/7/21) for medical reasons. 1 alternate left.
Court info from 5/22/19 thru 6/1/21 & Jury selection (6/2/21) & Trial Day 1 to 5 (6/3/21 to 6/9/21) reference post #291 here:
KY - Ed Dansereau, 63, Pamela, 58, & Calvin Phillips, 53, murdered, Pembroke, 19 Nov 2015 *arrest*
6/10/21 Thursday, Day 6 of Trial: Note for yesterday (6/9/21): Medical examiner was Dr. Jeffrey Springer. Also on the stand former Deputy Coroner Zack Lamb & Christian County Sheriff's Deputy Scott Noisworthy & Lt. Scott Smith. State witnesses on 6/10: Cell phone examiner, no name given. The Commonwealth did not have their witnesses ready to go. Retired KSP ballistics expert Jeffrey Scott Doyle, who analyzed the shell casing. The Attorney General’s Office rested its case Thursday after calling their final witness in the afternoon & 2 motions put forth by the defense were denied. Following the conclusion of the Commonwealth’s case, the defense renewed their motion to dismiss the charges against Martin due to information involving cell phone tracking evidence given to the grand jury in error resulting in the indictment. Judge John Atkins denied that motion, saying his stance on that has not changed & he believes the grand jury acted accordingly. Public defender Doug Moore then requested the judge make a directed verdict, which is a ruling entered by a trial judge after determining that there is no legally sufficient evidentiary basis for a reasonable jury to reach a verdict. He argued that the prosecution has provided no evidence that puts his client at either scene involved in the murders or was involved, either alone or in complicity. Judge Atkins declined to make a directed verdict, saying it will be up to a jury to decide. The defense is set to begin its case to the jury on Monday, 6/14/21.


Tuesday, June 15th:
*Trial continues (Day 6) (@ 9am CT) – IN - Thomas Grill, Jr. (18) & Molley R. Lanham (19) (Feb. 25, 2019, St. John; found in Hebron, in burned out car) – for *John Salvadore Silva II (17/now 18) arrested & charged (5/22/20) with 2 felony counts of murder in the perpetration of a robbery. Plead not guilty. No bond.
Trial began on 6/1/21 (9 days: 6/1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16 & 17).
Court info from 8/10/20 thru 5/25/21 & Jury selection (6/1/21) & Trial Day 1-2 (6/2/21 & 6/3/21) reference post #170 here:
IN - Thomas Grill Jr., 18, & Molley Lanham, 19, murdered, Lake County, 25 Feb 2019 *arrests*
6/10/21 Thursday, Day 5 of Trial: State witness: No info available. Trial continues on Tuesday, 6/15/21.
Accomplice:
*Connor Ralland Kerner (17/now 19) – Found guilty. 12/8/20: Sentenced to 179 years in prison. Filed an appeal on 5/13/21.

*Trial continues (Day 8) (@ 8:30m PT) - UT - Peggy Sue Ellsworth Case (28) (disappeared July 8, 1988, Spanish Fork; found May 22, 2017 buried where Peggy & BF used to live) - *Michael Ignatius Kufrin (32 @ time of crime/61/now 64) (BF) - arrested (10/17/17), charged (7/17/17) & indicted (10/30/17) with 1st degree felony murder. Has not entered a plea. $250K Cash only bond.
Case was last seen leaving a party in Payson with Kufrin on July 9, 1988.
Trial began on 6/2/21. (will last 5 weeks). No court on Mondays.
Court info from 11/6/17 thru 5/11/21 & Jury selection (6/1/21) & Trial Day 1-6 (6/2/21 to 6/10/21) reference post #174 here:
UT - Peggy Case, 26, Spanish Fork, 9 July 1988 *Arrest in 2017*
6/11/21 Friday, Trial Day 7: No info available. Trial continues on Tuesday, 6/15/21.

 

[Niner]

Update!

Tuesday, June 15th:
*Re-Trial continues (Day 4) (@ 9am CT) – OH – DelVante Johnson (19), Toshaun Banks (21) & DeVaughn Gibson (23) (Dec. 31, 2018, Cleveland) - *Tevin Biles-Thomas (24/now 26) arrested (9/11/19), indicted (8/29/19), charged (8/29/19) & arraigned (9/13/19) with 6 counts of murder (2 counts for Johnson, 2 counts for Banks & 2 counts for Gibson) was changed (5/11/21) to 5 counts of murder (2 counts Johnson, 2 counts Banks & 1 count Gibson). 1 count Gibson: Count 9 (murder for Gibson) was dismissed (5/11/21) by DA’s oral motion with prejudice), 3 counts of voluntary manslaughter (1 count for Johnson, 1 count for Banks & 1 count for Gibson), 4 counts of felonious assault (1 count for Johnson, 1 count for Gibson, 1 count for Banks, 1 count for physical harm for Brown & 1 count for physical harm to Seawright; update: 5/19/21 Judge Synenberg dismissed Count 13: 1 count of felonious assault regarding shooting of Brown) & on 6/8/21: Count 14 dismissed: felonious assault on Seawright) & 1 count of perjury (perjury charge was dismissed on 6/8/21). Plead not guilty. $1M Cash/Surety bond. Bond modified (12/18/19) to $100K. Posted bond (12/19/19).
After all dismissals Biles-Thomas is charged with 4 counts of murder (2 counts for Johnson, 2 counts for Banks) & 3 counts of voluntary manslaughter (1 count for Johnson, 1 count for Banks & 1 count for Gibson).
Trial began on 5/11/21 & ended in mistrial on 5/24/21. Copies of legal briefs from prosecutors & Biles-Thomas' attorneys somehow ended up among the trial evidence the court gave the jury to consult during its deliberations.
New trial began on 6/8/21 with jury selection ended on 6/10/21.
Trial began on 6/10/21 & ended 6/15/21 with acquittal by Judge.
Court info from 8/30/19 thru 5/6/21 & trial from 5/11 to 5/19/21 (Day 1-7) & Jury deliberations from 5/19 to 5/24/21 (Day 1-4) & Court info from 5/25/21 to 6/8/21 & re-trial from 6/8/21 to 6/10/21 (Day 1-3) of jury selection & trial began from 6/10/21 to 6/11/21 (Day 1-2) reference post #196 here:
OH - Delvante Johnson, Toshaun Banks, Devaughn Gibson dead, Tevin Biles-Thomas *charged, 30 Aug 2019
6/14/21 Monday, Trial Day 3: State witness: Prosecutors rested their case on Monday morning without calling their main witness, Macquise Lewis. Defense attorneys asked to dismiss murder, voluntary manslaughter & felonious assault charges due to a lack of evidence. Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Joan Synenberg sent jurors home early on Monday so she could spend the afternoon deciding whether to throw out murder charges against Biles-Thomas. Said she needed more time to decide whether prosecutors presented enough evidence against Biles-Thomas during a three-day trial to send the case to the jury. 6/14/21: Motion for jury instruction filed by defense-withdrawn.
6/15/21 Tuesday, Trial Day 4: Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Joan Synenburg acquitted Biles-Thomas on all charges.

 

[Niner]

Update!

Thursday, June 17th:
*Trial continues (Day 10)/Sentencing Phase (Day 1)-VERDICT! (@ 9am ET) – KY – Edward Dansereau (63), Pamela J. Phillips (58) & Calvin Lee Phillips (53) (Nov. 19, 2015, Pembroke) - *Christian “Kit” Richard Martin (51/now 53) arrested & charged (5/11/19), indicted (5/10/19) & arraigned (5/22/19) with 3 counts of 1st degree murder, 1 count of arson, 1 count of attempted arson, 2 counts of 2nd degree burglary & 3 counts of tampering with evidence. Plead not guilty. Held without bond, changed (10/16/19) to $3M bond.
May, 2016 was convicted of 2 counts of mishandling classified materials & 2 count of assault on a child; sentenced to 6 months in jail & discharged from the military.
Trial began on 6/2/21 with jury selection & concluded the same day. Trial started on 6/3/21 (Day 1) & ended 6/16/21 (Day 9) & was held in Hardin County moved from Christian County due to pretrial publicity. Jurors: 10 men & 4 women (2 are alternates). Juror is excused (6/7/21) for medical reasons. 1 alternate left. For deliberations: 8 men & 4 women.
Senior Judge John Atkins presided. The prosecution rested its case Thursday, 6/10/21 after 6 days & 26 witnesses. Defense rested their case on Tuesday, (6/16/21) after 2 days & 11 witnesses. Jury deliberations started & ended on 6/16/21. Total time: 7 hours 27 minutes. Verdict: Guilty of 1st degree murder, 2nd degree burglary, arson & attempted arson & physical tampering with evidence. Sentencing phase started 6/17/21. Jurors recommended LWOP (deliberated for about 1½ hours).
Court info from 5/22/19 thru 6/1/21 & Jury selection (6/2/21) & Trial Day 1 to 9 (6/3/21 to 6/16/21) reference post #455 here:
GUILTY - KY - Ed Dansereau, 63, Pamela, 58, & Calvin Phillips, 53, murdered, Pembroke, 19 Nov 2015 *arrest*
6/17/21 Thursday, Day 10 of Trial/Day 1 of Sentencing Phase: Penalty phase has started. The same jury that found him guilty will decide his sentence, the charges carry a max of life without parole on each murder count. Openings by Commonwealth DA Barbara Whaley & Defense attorney Olivia Adams. Victim impact statements: Probation person with sentencing report. John Phillips, Calvin’s father. Matt Phillips, son of the Phillips' & Ed Dansereau's daughter Erin Hilton. Defense had no witnesses. Closings by both sides. Jury went to deliberations at ~11am & ended ~12:30pm (1½ hours) & recommended Life without parole. Formal sentencing hearing on 9/2/21.

 

[Niner]

Trials & Sentencings for the week of Monday, June 21st thru Friday, June 25th:

Monday, June 21st:
*Trial set to begin (Sanders case) (@ 1pm CT) - IN (under Javon Blackwell) – *Maurtreyviaum “Troy” Sanders (19) (Nov. 6, 2018, Marion) – for *Brittany Diann Drake (29/now 31) arrested & charged (1/28/19) with conspiracy to commit armed robbery in connection with the 1 death. Plead not guilty. $30K Surety bond. Out on bond (1/28/19).
Trial set to begin on 6/21/21.
Court info from 9/16/20 thru 1/7/21 reference post #214 here:
IN - Javon Blackwell, 42, Javon Jr., 12, & Jayzon, 11, fatally shot, Marion, 30 Dec 2018 *Arrests*
2/8/21 Update: Trial has been continued due to COVID. Next pretrial hearing on 5/20/21 & trial now scheduled to begin on 6/21/21.
*Lemere Joseph Jones (29/now 30) – Sanders: Trial set to begin on 7/12/21.
*Demetrius Jemere Jackson (25/now 26) – Sanders: Trial set to begin on 7/12/21.

*Trial continues (Day 9) (@ 9am CT) – IN - Thomas Grill, Jr. (18) & Molley R. Lanham (19) (Feb. 25, 2019, St. John; found in Hebron, in burned out car) – for *John Salvadore Silva II (17/now 18) arrested & charged (5/22/20) with 2 felony counts of murder in the perpetration of a robbery. Plead not guilty. No bond.
Trial began on 6/1/21 (9 days: 6/1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16 & 17 & 21, 22 & 23).
Court info from 8/10/20 thru 5/25/21 & Jury selection (6/1/21) & Trial Day 1-7 (6/2/21 & 6/16/21) reference post #178 here:
IN - Thomas Grill Jr., 18, & Molley Lanham, 19, murdered, Lake County, 25 Feb 2019 *arrests*
6/17/21 Thursday, Day 8 of Trial: No info available. Trial continues on Monday, 6/21/21.
Accomplice:
*Connor Ralland Kerner (17/now 19) – Found guilty. 12/8/20: Sentenced to 179 years in prison. Filed an appeal on 5/13/21.

*Trial continues (Day 18) (@ 9am PT) – CA – Susan Berman (55) (Dec. 24, 2000, Beverly Hills) – *Robert Alan Durst (57 @ time of crime/72/now 78) arrested (3/14/15) extradited (11/1/16 from Indiana prison to Calif.) & charged with 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. $4M Bond.
Was serving a 7 year federal prison term for illegal possession of a revolver at the time of his New Orleans’ arrest.
Trial began on 2/11/20 with pretrial motions & jury selection started on 2/19/20. Trial started on 3/4/20. Jury: 8 women & 4 men. 11 alternates. (1 alternate excused on 5/18/21) Now 10 alternates. (Trial expected to last 5 months). Trial stopped 3/16/20 due COVID-19 & will restart on 7/27/20 & retrial was to restart on 4/12/21 continued to 5/17/21 continued to 5/18/21. No court on Fridays.
Jury Selection from 2/19/20 thru 3/3/20 (Days 1-8) & Trial Days 1-6 (3/4/20 thru 3/12/20) & Court info from 3/16/20 thru 5/12/21 & Trial Days 1-16 (5/18/21 thru 6/16/21) reference post #323 here:
CA - Susan Berman, 55, fatally shot, Los Angeles, 23 Dec 2000 *Arrest*
6/17/21 Thursday, Trial Day 17: State witnesses: Richard Markey, recorded testimony continues from yesterday. David Izenman, Susan's hair stylist. Retired LAPD homicide detective Brad Roberts, was lead investigator in Susan's murder. Alfred Clethen recorded video testimony played. Friend of Susan's. Emily Altman, her husband was good friends with Durst & Durst's attorney at one time. Trial continues on Monday, 6/21/21.

*Jury Selection continues (Day 4)/Trial set to begin (afternoon) (@ 8am MT) - CO - Dylan Nicholas Redwine (13) (last seen alive Nov. 18, 2012 when he arrived at airport, reported missing on Nov. 19, 2012, Broomfield; found about 8 miles up Middle Mountain Road, a dirt road that cuts through the San Juan National Forest, about 100 yards from the road, directly off an ATV trail on June 27, 2013 & Nov. 1, 2015 his skull was found) - *Mark Allen Redwine (50 @ time of crime/55/now 58), "father" indicted (6/20/17) & arrested & charged (7/2017) with 2nd degree murder & child abuse resulting in death. Plead not guilty. $750K bond.
Jury Trial began on 10/29/20 with jury selection & ended 11/5/20 after Judge Wilson declared mistrial on 11/9/20.
Re-Trial began on 6/14/21 with jury selection & ended 6/21/21 selecting the final 16 & trial will start with opening statements in the afternoon on 6/21/21 (thru 8/2/21). 12 jurors & 4 alternates.
Previous court hearings from 9/10/17 thru 10/27/20 & Jury Selection (Day 1-6) 10/29/20 to 11/5/20 & 11/9/20 & info to 5/18/21 to 6/11/21 & new jury selection (Day 1-2) 6/14/21 to 6/15/21 reference post #339 here:
Found Deceased - CO - Dylan Nicholas Redwine, 13, Broomfield, 19 Nov 2012 *father arrested*
UPDATE!! 6/16/21 Wednesday, Jury Selection Day 3: They never resumed jury selection this afternoon as scheduled. Court (web ex) is done for the week & potential jurors were questioned during voir dire in private on Thursday, 6/17 & Friday, 6/18 & will resume at 8am on Monday, 6/21/21 to pick the final 16 & opening statements in afternoon.

*Trial continues (Day 5) (@ 10:30am MT) - CO - Makayla Victoria Roberts (10) & Hannah Elizabeth Rosaline Marshall (8) (June, 2017, Norwood; found Sept. 8, 2017) – for *Ika Eden (53/now 56) (from Jamaica) charged with 2 counts felony child abuse causing death, bond $125K; plead not guilty. Found incompetent to stand trial; in State hospital in Pueblo. Found competent to stand trial (5/25/21).
Trial began on 6/14/21 with jury selection & trial began on 6/15/21 (6/14-6/18, 6/21-6/23 & 6/29/21). Trial moved from San Miguel County to Mesa County. Eden is representing herself with a court-appointed attorney as advisory counsel.
Court info from 5/21/19 thru 6/10/21, Jury selection (Day 1-2) 6/14/21 to 6/15/21 & Trial (Day 1-3) 6/15/21 to 6/17/21 reference post #332 here:
CO - Makayla Roberts, 10, & Hannah Marshall, 8, slain, Norwood, June 2017 *Arrests*
Update for 6/16/21 Wednesday, Trial Day 2: Sheriff Horn. Frederick "Alex" Blair. River Young, Blair’s friend. Hannah Joy Sutherland, Eden's daughter. Lisa Bloome. All testified Wednesday, 6/16.
6/18/21 Friday, Trial Day 4: No info available yet. Trial continued on Monday, 6/21/21.
*Madani "Ama" Ceus – Child: Termination of parental rights hearing on 8/20 & 8/21/20. Sentenced for murder on 6/19/20 to 64 years in prison. Restitution hearing on 9/11/20.
*Ashford Nathaniel Archer aka Nathan Yah aka Nathanyah Nitchitu (50) – found guilty & sentenced to 24 years in prison. 5/8/19: Appealing his guilty verdict. 1/29/20: The notice of appeal document from July is for now restricted to case parties; the opening for appeal 4/14/20. The appeal will be handled through the Colorado Attorney General’s Office.
*Nashika Leonie Bramble (36) – Jury verdict guilty of 2 counts of 1st degree murder. Sentenced to two consecutive life terms in prison without parole. Bramble’s appeal brief had been due Thursday 2/27/20, but the Court of Appeals granted an extension until July 16. Until the appeal is filed, the specifics of what Bramble is contesting are not public.
*Frederick "Alec" A. Blair – Plead guilty. Sentenced to 12 years in prison.


Tuesday, June 22nd:
*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 41) 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.
Trial was set to begin on 4/26/21 continued to 6/22/21.
Court info from 10/13/20 thru 3/10/21 reference post #151 here:
Found Deceased - FL - Kameela Russell, 41, Miami Gardens, 15 May 2019 *Arrest*
3/29/21: 54 subpoenas served. Trial is to begin on 4/26/21.
4/26/21 Update: Motion for trial continuance-granted. Trial hearing on 6/21/21 @ 9am. 5/10/21 Update: Trial set to begin on 6/22/21.

*Trial continues (Day 12) (@ 8:30m PT) - UT - Peggy Sue Ellsworth Case (28) (disappeared July 8, 1988, Spanish Fork; found May 22, 2017 buried where Peggy & BF used to live) - *Michael Ignatius Kufrin (32 @ time of crime/61/now 64) (BF) - arrested (10/17/17), charged (7/17/17) & indicted (10/30/17) with 1st degree felony murder. Has not entered a plea. $250K Cash only bond.
Case was last seen leaving a party in Payson with Kufrin on July 9, 1988.
Trial began on 6/2/21. (will last 5 weeks). No court on Mondays.
Court info from 11/6/17 thru 5/11/21 & Jury selection (6/1/21) & Trial Day 1-10 (6/2/21 to 6/17/21) reference post #180 here:
UT - Peggy Case, 26, Spanish Fork, 9 July 1988 *Arrest in 2017*
6/18/21 Friday, Trial Day 11: No info available. Trial continues on Tuesday, 6/22/21.


Wednesday, June 23rd:
*Sentencing Hearing (@ 1:30pm MT) – CO – Jordan Vong (7) (reported missing August 6, 2018, Denver, found Aug. 8, 2018) – *Jennie Bunsom (16/now 18) arrested (8/8/18) & charged (8/9/18) as an adult with 1st degree murder after deliberation & 1st degree murder by a person in a position of trust (victim under the age of 12). Plead not guilty. Held without bond.
Previous court hearings from 8/13/18 thru 11/14/20 reference post #307 here:
GUILTY - CO - Jordan Vong, 7, found deceased, Denver, 6 Aug 2018 *arrests*
3/22/21 Update: Bunsom plead guilty on Monday to 2nd degree murder & tampering with a deceased body. She is scheduled for sentencing on May 21. 5/21/21 Update: Sentencing was moved to 6/23/21.


Thursday, June 24th:
*Sentencing Hearing (@ 8:30am CT) – IN – Kimberly Dyer (31) (occurred from Oct. 21 to Oct. 22, 2019, Elkhart, found stuffed in a trash bin & dumped & covered in a marshy area near Constantine, Michigan) & Robert Curtis Porter (32/now 33) serious injuries during robbery (Oct. 21-22, 2019) - for *Mario M. Angulo, Jr. (19/now 20) arrested & charged (12/19/19) with murder, robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, 2 counts of criminal confinement & life without parole enhancement. Held without bond. DA will seek life without parole.
Kimberly info & court info from 12/19/19 thru 4/28/21 (Trial 4/19 thru 4/28/21) reference post #324 here:
GUILTY - IN - Kimberly Dyer, 31, burned, tortured, mutilated, murdered, Elkhart, 22 Oct 2019 *Arrests*
Trial began on 4/19/21 with jury selection. Jury deliberated ~ 2 ½ hours reached a guilty of all counts for both. Phase II-LWOP began on 5/17/21. Jury recommended terms of years in prison.
See post #346 for Phase IV sentencing hearings here:
GUILTY - IN - Kimberly Dyer, 31, burned, tortured, mutilated, murdered, Elkhart, 22 Oct 2019 *Arrests*
Circuit Court Judge Michael Christofeno set Owen’s sentencing for June 10 & Angulo’s for June 24.
*Donald R. Owen, Jr. (20/now 22) – Trial (4/29/21): found guilty of all counts (murder, robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, 2 counts of criminal confinement & life without parole enhancement). Jury recommended life in prison without parole on 5/17/21. Sentenced on 6/10/21 to life without parole + 62 years.
*Matthew A.P. Murzynski (24/now 25) – Plead guilty on 3/25/21 to counts of aiding, inducing or causing a robbery that resulted in serious bodily injury; and aiding, inducing or causing criminal confinement; along with a criminal gang sentencing enhancement, in an agreement that sets a total sentence of 60 years. Murzynski was not required to testify at the trial as part of his plea bargain. Sentenced on 6/3/21 to 60 years in prison.


Friday, June 25th:
*Sentencing Hearing (@ 1:30pm CT) - MN – George Perry Floyd, Jr. (46) (May 25, 2020, Minneapolis, arrested for forgery & killed in police custody) - *Derek Michael Chauvin (44/now 45) police officer who held his knee on Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes & 46 seconds (Note: on 10/14/20 this has been changed to 9 minutes & 29 seconds) (& non responsive for 2 minutes & 53 seconds before officer took his knee off his neck; from 8:19pm to 8:28pm his knee was on Floyd’s neck; has been fired (5/26/20) & arrested & charged (5/29/20) with 3rd degree murder & 2nd degree manslaughter. Charges changed (6/3/20) to 2nd degree murder-unintentional-while committing a felony, 3rd degree murder-perpetrating eminently dangerous act (3rd degree charge was dismissed on 10/22/20 & reinstated on 3/11/21) & evincing depraved mind & 2nd degree manslaughter-culpable negligence creating unreasonable risk. $500K bond, reset (6/8/20) @ $1.25M & $1M with conditions. Posted non-cash $1M bond (10/7/20) & has been released from jail.
Trial began on 3/8/21 with jury selection. Jury selection ran through March 23, 2021. Trial with opening statements & the commencement of the State’s case began on March 29, 2021. Experts anticipate the trial could last 2-4 weeks. Jurors: 12 & 2 alternates (9 women & 5 men). Jurors will be sequestered during deliberations. None of the other officers will be testifying at Chauvin’s trial. The State rested their case on 4/13/21 & had 38 witnesses. Defense started their case on 4/13/21 & rested their case on 4/15/21 & 7 witnesses.
Closing arguments will begin Monday, 4/19/21. The jury will be sequestered then. 4/21/21: Judge Cahill orders the Chauvin trial juror names will remain confidential for at least 180 days (10/20/21).
Judge Cahill said the jury will begin their deliberations at 9am & go as late until 7:30pm CT. 4/19/21: Jury started deliberations @ 4pm to 8pm (for ~4 hours). 4/20/21: Jury started deliberations @ 8am to ~1:45pm (for ~ 5 hours & 45 mins). Total deliberations: 9 hours & 45 mins. – Verdict: Guilty of all charges. Sentencing on 6/16/21 & changed to 6/25/21. Remanded to custody & bond revoked & held @ MCF Oak Park Heights.
Appeal possibilities - see post #65 here:
GUILTY - MN - George Floyd, 46, killed in police custody, Minneapolis, 25 May 2020 #20
List of aggravating & mitigating factors listed by State - see post #81 here:
MN - George Floyd, 46, Minneapolis, 25 May 2020 **Media & Timeline - NO DISCUSSION
Bond conditions & court info 12/19/20 thru 3/23/21 & jury selection (3/9 thru 3/23) & Day 1 to 14 of Trial & closing arguments & deliberations (3/29 to 4/20/21) reference post #2 here:
GUILTY - MN - George Floyd, 46, killed in police custody, Minneapolis, 25 May 2020 #20
4/20/21 Tuesday, Trial Day 16/Day 2 of deliberations: Count 1-- Guilty of unintentional murder. Penalty: Up to 40 years in prison; Count 2-- Guilty of 3rd degree murder. Penalty: Up to 25 years in prison; Count 3-- Guilty of 2nd degree manslaughter. Penalty: Up to 10 years in prison. Chauvin is remanded to custody & bail revoked & will be held MCF Oak Park Heights. PSI due in 4 weeks (~5/18/21), briefing in 6 weeks (~ 6/1/21) & sentencing in 8 weeks (on 6/16/21).
4/20/21: Interim Order for Commitment & return (no dates) filed. 4/23/21: Federal investigators are looking at videos from Sept. 4, 2017, where Chauvin is reportedly seen, "striking a Black teenager in the head so hard that the boy needed stitches, then allegedly holding the boy down with his knee for nearly 17 minutes & allegedly ignoring complaints from the boy that he couldn't breathe." 4/23/21: Order sealing certain juror info, redacting foreperson signature on publicly-filed verdict forms & filing under seal of original signed verdict forms.
4/27/21 Update: The court initially set Chauvin's sentencing for June 16 but has now moved it to the afternoon of June 25. 4/26/21: Notice of visual or audio coverage on trial by KSTP & WCCO-TV. 4/27/21: Notice of visual or audio coverage of trial by CBS News, PBS Frontline, Washington Post, Associated Press, Star Tribune, CNN, Fox 9 & ABC News.
4/28/21 Update: Federal prosecutors want to indict Chauvin in connection to 2 cases: for pinning Floyd down by his neck for more than 9 ½ minutes in May 2020 & for the violent arrest of a 14-year-old boy in 2017. In the latter case, Chauvin struck the teen on the head with his flashlight, then grabbed him by the throat & hit him again. A grand jury has been meeting to consider those charges, and if he were to be charged and convicted in federal court, that sentence could be up to life in prison.
4/30/21 Update: State's Memo of Law in Support of Blakely Aggravated Sentencing factors: In their filing, the prosecution argues there are five factors that warrant an increased sentence:
State files request for aggravated sentence for Derek Chauvin.
Floyd was a particularly vulnerable victim because he was handcuffed.
Floyd was treated with particular cruelty because Chauvin "inflicted gratuitous pain," his actions caused "psychological distress" for Floyd and the bystanders, and Chauvin did not provide Floyd medical aid.
Chauvin abused his position of authority as a police officer.
Chauvin committed the crime as a part of a group of at least three people. Three other former Minneapolis police officers have been charged in connection to the incident.
The crime happened in front of children.
Defendant's Memo of Law in Opposition to Upward Durational Sentencing Departure: Because the State has failed to meet its burden of proving the existence of the alleged aggravating factors beyond a reasonable doubt, the Court may not consider them in making its sentencing determination.
5/2/21: A number of legal sources, including those familiar with the trial, told WCCO this juror, Brandon Mitchell at minimum will have to be questioned in what’s called a Schwartz hearing. And depending on his answers, a mistrial could be declared. Before being selected, Mitchell filled out this questionnaire. On it, he said he never attended protests over police brutality in Minnesota or beyond. He also answered a question on Black Lives Matter, saying, “Black lives just want to be treated as equals & not killed or treated in an aggressive manner simply because they are Black.” “If he had been asked about it & he tried to hide it, that could be an issue,” Moran said. “But at this point, I don’t see anything, any evidence that he tried to hide it.” The defense does now have the right to ask Judge Peter Cahill to go back & question Mitchell, then Cahill can decide if the verdict will stand.
5/3/21: Notice of visual or audio coverage filed by New York Times. 5/4/21: Defense files Defendant’s Notice of Motions & Post-Verdict Motions (for a new trial). Chauvin’s attorney, Eric Nelson, is alleging pretrial publicity affected Chauvin's right to a fair trial. The motion alleges the court abused its discretion by denying the requests for a change in venue & a new trial. Because the court failed to sequester the jurors or "admonish them to avoid all media," Nelson's filing said, they were subjected not only to prejudicial publicity but also to "jury intimidation or potential fear of retribution." "The court has already rejected many of these arguments & the State will vigorously oppose them," John Stiles, deputy chief of staff for Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, said in a statement Tuesday evening. In total, the motion alleges eight abuses of discretion by the court. The filing also requested an order “to impeach the verdict” on “the grounds that the jury committed misconduct, felt threatened or intimidated, felt race-based pressure during the proceedings, and/or failed to adhere to instructions during deliberations.” Asked for a hearing to impeach the verdict. 5/6/21: Notice of Visual or Audio coverage filed by Entertainment Tonight & CourtTV. 5/11/21: Verdict & Findings of Fact regarding Aggravated Sentencing Factors filed by State. 5/12/21: Order allowing audio & video coverage of sentencing hearing.
5/12/21 Update: Judge Peter Cahill said in an order made public Wednesday that four aggravating factors are present in the case: Chauvin abused a position of trust & authority as a police officer, treated Floyd with "particular cruelty," committed the crime as part of a group with at least three other people & that children were present during the commission of the offense. A finding that could pave the way for a longer sentence. The maximum sentence for that charge is 40 years, but state sentencing guidelines recommend 12.5 years in prison for a conviction on unintentional 2nd degree murder for someone with no criminal history. Prosecutors sought an upward departure from that duration, arguing there were multiple aggravating factors in the case. 5/12/21: Order allowing audio & video coverage of sentencing hearing.
6/2/21: Defendant's Motions for mitigated departure & sentencing memorandum filed. Per Motion: A presentencing investigation (PSI) was completed, and the officer who conducted the PSI concluded that Mr. Chauvin’s criminal history score is zero. Because all three crimes of conviction arose from the same behavioral incident, they merge, and the Court must pronounce a sentence only on the highest-level offense, which, in this case, is 2nd degree, unintentional felony murder. The sentencing range for this offense is 128 months to 180 months, with a presumptive duration of 150 months. Asking for probation.
6/2/21: Memorandum of Law in support of defendant's post-verdict motions filed. Asking for new trial. 6/2/21: State's memorandum of law on sentencing. Asking for 30 years. 6/16/21: State's memorandum in opposition to defendant's post-verdict motions (of 5/4/21).
*Federal Grand Jury indicted & charged (5/7/21) Derek Michael Chauvin (44/now 45) for violated Floyd’s civil rights. Charged with violating Floyd's right to be free from unreasonable seizure, unreasonable force by a police officer & for failure to provide Floyd with medical care. Also indicted & charged (5/7/21) in a second indictment (stemming from the arrest & neck restraint of a 14-year-old boy in 2017) with Count 1 without legal justification held the teenager by the throat & struck the teenager multiple times in the head with a flashlight. Alleges that this offense included the use of a dangerous weapon-a flashlight & resulted in bodily injury to teenager. Count 2 charges that Chauvin held his knee on the neck & the upper back of teenager even after the teenager was lying prone, handcuffed & unresisting, also resulting in bodily injury.
Court info from 5/7/21 reference post #640 here:
GUILTY - MN - George Floyd, 46, killed in police custody, Minneapolis, 25 May 2020 #20
5/31/21 Update: Initial appearance Tuesday (6/1/21) in federal court to face charges alleging he violated Floyd’s civil rights by pinning the Black man to the pavement with his knee. Chauvin is scheduled to appear in federal court via video conference from Minnesota’s maximum-security prison in Oak Park Heights, where he’s being held as he awaits sentencing following his April conviction on murder and manslaughter charges.
6/1/21 Update: Chauvin said he's financially unable to employ counsel in Federal case, so U.S. Magistrate Judge Becky R. Thorson appointed Eric Nelson (his lawyer from State case) to be his counsel. Chauvin also waived his right to contest Federal detention given his current situation as a convicted murderer. Asst. attorney Manda Sertich said the government had no objection to holding the initial appearance via video conference. Judge Thorson reminded the government of its obligation to hand exculpatory evidence to the defense under Brady vs. Maryland. Chauvin has not yet entered a plea on the civil rights charges, & an arraignment has not yet been scheduled.
6/4/21 Update: Magistrate Judge Tony Leung said the four men would be arraigned Sept. 14, subject to any further orders from the court. A date for trial has not been set.
*Charged (7/22/20) with 6 counts of aiding & abetting taxes-false or fraudulent returns-filed with commissioner & 3 counts of aiding & abetting taxes-failure to file return, report, document. Omnibus hearing on 6/30/21.