Trials & Sentencings set to begin July, 2021

[Niner]

Update from June


*Sentencing Hearing (re child plus) (@ 9am ET) – VA – Stephen Dale Meek II (2) (Jan. 11, 2019, Christiansburg; sexually abused & blunt force trauma, died Jan. 13, 2019) – for *McKenzie Kyle Hellman (25/now 26) (BF) arrested (1/13/19) & charged (1/17/19) & indicted (1/28/20) with 2nd degree felony murder (accidental), 2 counts of child abuse, 2 counts aggravated sexual battery, inanimate sexual penetration, accessory to forcible sodomy, possession of child & 2 counts of accessory before the fact to produce, distribution & possession of child . Held without bond.
Trial began on 3/15/21-Jury found him guilty of all 5 charges: producing child , reproducing child , animate object sexual penetration, producing child & forcible sodomy. Sentencing hearing on 6/29/21 to 2 life sentences.
Trial for murder & child abuse set to begin on 8/10/21 (thru 8/11/21)-cancelled, plead guilty on 7/26/21. Sentencing on 8/10/21.
Court info from 2/28/19 thru 3/15/21 reference post #104 here:
GUILTY - VA - Steven Dale Meek II, 2, sexually abused, died of brutal trauma, Jan 11 2019 *arrests*
3/16/21 Update: The 2nd degree murder & child abuse charges will be tried later. 4/22/21 Update: Murder & child abuse: next hearing via video on 4/26/21. 4/26/21 Update: Hearing via video. Trial for murder & child abuse has been set to begin on 8/10/21 thru 8/11/21, was cancelled, plead guilty to murder & child abuse. Sentencing on 8/10/21.
6/29/21 Update: Sentencing hearing on child charges was sentence to two life sentences.

 

[Niner]

Update!

Monday, July 26th:
*Sentencing Hearing (Nicole’s case) (@ 10am CT) – IN – Nicole Lynn Bowen (30) (missing March, 29, 2019, Jefferson Township, Newton County, found March 30, 2019) – for *Talitha Ann Beckley (36/now 38) arrested (4/5/19) & charged (3/29/19) with felony count of assisting a criminal. Plead not guilty. $25K bond. In Rockville Correctional Facility; earliest possible release date: 3/5/21 serving time for a burglary. 12/21/20: Once released from DOC, she is to remain in custody of NC Sheriff & begin her case in Newton County. Bonded out $2500 cash on 3/8/21. In custody as of 7/27/21.
Trial was set to begin on 7/26/21 was vacated as Beckley agreed to a plea deal. Sentencing on 7/26/21.
Court info from 5/13/20 thru 6/28/21 reference post #872 here:
GUILTY - IN - Newton County, Fem, 30 Mar 2019 - Nicole Bowen
6/30/21: Disposition sent electronically to Indiana State Police. Sentencing hearing on 7/26/21.
7/26/21 Update: Sentenced to 4 years plus 4 years enhancement. Total 8 years in prison.
*Charged with burglary, possession of meth & theft. In custody as of 7/27/21. Pulaski County
Court hearings for 5/27/21 thru 6/21/21 reference post #872 here:
GUILTY - IN - Newton County, Fem, 30 Mar 2019 - Nicole Bowen
7/15/21 Update: State appears by Pros. Kelly Gaumer. Chief Probation Officer Christine Allen appears. The Def. Beckley DOES NOT APPEAR. Amber Garrison, court-appointed counsel for the Defendant appears. This matter was scheduled for a Continuation of the Fact Finding Hearing on the State of Indiana's Petition to Revoke Probation, as filed on 4/22/21. Counsel Garrison advises the Court that she has made attempts to contact the Defendant after the last hearing in this case & has been unable to communicate with her. Pros. Gaumer orally requests that the active bench warrant that was issued on 6/15/21 remain active & that no bond be set until the Defendant is produced into open court. Granted. Pros. Gaumer further advises the Court that an Initial Hearing needs to be conducted on the State's Second Petition to Revoke Probation, as filed on 6/15/21. The Court will schedule an IH on the State's Second Pet. to Revoke Defendant's Probation when the Defendant is returned into open court on the service of the bench warrant.
*Ashley N. Garth (26/now 27) – Nicole case: 6/18/20: Plead guilty, Plea agreement withdrawn. Trial set to begin on 5/18 & ended 5/21/21 – guilty on all charges. Sentenced on 6/9/21 to 48 years for Murder, 30 years for conspiracy to commit murder & 3 years for assisting a criminal - charges run concurrently. Earliest possible release date: 4/16/2056.
*Garrett Kenneth Kirts (21/now 22) – Newton County: Nicole’s Case #56D01-1904-MR-000367. 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.
*Jasmine Nicole Parker (34/now 36) – 10/8/19: Plead guilty. According to the plea agreement, Parker also will serve four 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!

Tuesday, July 27th:
*Trial continues (Day 6)-VERDICT REACHED! (@ 9:30am ET) - SC - Samantha "Sami" Josephson (21) (last seen on video March 29, 2019 @ ~1:30am, Columbia, found Friday (3/29/21) afternoon in a rural area by turkey hunters in a field near a wooded area about 40 feet off a dirt road along Black Bottom Road close to the town of New Zion in Clarendon County) - *Nathaniel David Rowland (24/now 27) arrested & charged (3/30/19) & indicted (4/18/19) with murder, kidnapping, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, refusal to stop for police command, & possession of 28g or less of marijuana. Plead not guilty. Bond denied.
Trial began 7/19/21 with jury selection & ended 7/20/21. Trial started on 7/20/21 & ended 7/26/21. Jury is 7 women & 5 men & Alternates: 3 women & 1 man. 10 women & 6 men (8 people are Black, 2 people are Hispanic, 1 person is Indian & 5 people are white).
Case & court info from 3/30/19 thru 4/20/21 & Jury selection (Day 1-2) 7/19-7/20/21 & Trial (Day 1-5) 7/20/21-7/26/21 reference post #866 here:
GUILTY - SC - Samantha Josephson, 21, Columbia, thought she was getting into Uber, 29 Mar 2019 *Arrest* #2
7/27/21 Tuesday, Trial Day 6: The jury panel without alternates will have 7 women & 5 men (6 Caucasian & 6 AA). They can work as late as they want, even to midnight, up to them. Closings will be about 1 hour each followed by jury instructions.
Prosecutor Daniel Goldberg did closing for State. Tracy Pinnock gave closing for defense. Judge Clifton Newman read jury instructions. Jury started deliberations at 12:45pm & ended at ~2pm. Total deliberations: 1 hour, 16 minutes. Verdict: Guilty of murder, kidnapping & weapons charge. Defense immediately renewed their motion for a new trial based on the initial traffic stop and they also cited how fast the verdict came back as reason for new trial. Denied. Victim impact statements: by her Mom, Marci. Samantha’s father, Seymour, gives Judge Clifton Newman a book he says contains 90 statements from family & friends. Her sister. The Judge just stopped the convicted killer's mother from talking about his innocence. Judge just tells her again that he is guilty & will not listen to her telling him of his innocence. His father. Defense is arguing with judge about his family support. Rowland told the judge that he knows he is innocent, blaming LE for not investigating more. Judge telling him that this investigation was incredible & all roads ^ trails lead to you. Judge is calling him emotionless & a depraved heart. Sentence: Murder - life in prison, any other sentence to run concurrent.

 

[Niner]

Update!

Thursday, July 29th:
*Sentencing Hearing (Blackwell case) (@ 11am CT) - IN – Javon Blackwell (42), his sons Javon, Jr. (12) & Jayzon (11) (Dec. 30, 2018, Marion) - for *Demetrius Jemere Jackson (25/now 27) arrested & charged (1/28/19) with 3 counts of murder, conspiracy to commit armed robbery & armed robbery in connection with 3 deaths. Plead not guilty. Held without bond.
Trial began on 6/28/21 & ended 7/1/21-Blackwell-Guilty on all charges / Trial set to begin on 1/10/22-Sanders
Court hearings from 9/21/20 thru 6/10/21 & trial from 6/28/21 thru 7/2/21 (Day 1-5) & court info from 7/2/21 to 7/6/21 reference post #315 here:
IN - Javon Blackwell, 42, Javon Jr., 12, & Jayzon, 11, fatally shot, Marion, 30 Dec 2018 *Arrests*
7/7/21 Update: Sentencing hearing on 7/29/21.
7/29/21 Update: Count 1 Murder: 60 years concurrent with prior sentence Count 5, Count 2 Murder: 60 years & Count 3 Murder: 60 years concurrent with prior sentence Count 5 & consecutive with prior sentence counts 1 & 3 & counts 1 & 2, respectively. Count 3 robbery resulting in serious bodily injury vacated. Count 4 armed robbery-taking property by force or threatening use of force while armed-dismissed. Count 5 unlawful possession of a firearm by serious violent felon-dismissed.
*Lemere Joseph Jones (29/now 31) – Blackwell - had bench trial on 3/10/20-found guilty & sentenced on 4/3/20 to 200 years in prison. Appealed. Robbery: Plead guilty, sentenced on 7/26/21: Count 1 Armed Robbery: 16 years; Count 2 Unlawful possession of weapon: 12 years; Count 3: Pointing a firearm at another: 2.5 years (all concurrent to one another as well as to Defendant's sentence previously imposed in Murder charges). Sanders: Trial set to begin on 1/10/22.
*Brittany Diann Drake (29/now 31) – Blackwell: Pretrial hearing on 10/28/21. Trial set to begin on 11/29/21.

 

[Niner]

Update!

Friday, July 30th:
*Sentencing Hearing (@ 3pm 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 & ended 6/23/21. Trial moved from San Miguel County to Mesa County. Eden is representing herself with a court-appointed attorney as advisory counsel. Jury deliberated for ½ hour & verdict: Guilty.
Court info from 5/21/19 thru 6/10/21, Jury selection (Day 1-2) 6/14/21 to 6/15/21 & Trial (Day 1-6) 6/15/21 to 6/22/21 reference post #343 here:
GUILTY - CO - Makayla Roberts, 10, & Hannah Marshall, 8, slain, Norwood, June 2017 *Arrests*
6/23/21 Wednesday, Trial Day 7: Closing arguments done. Jury deliberated for a half hour & returned a guilty verdict of reckless child abuse resulting in death. Sentencing hearing on 7/28/21. 7/28/21 Update: Sentencing hearing was rescheduled to 7/30/21.
7/30/21 Update: Eden was sentenced Friday to 96 years in prison for her role in causing the deaths of two girls near Norwood in 2017. Ika Eden was found guilty on two counts of child abuse, knowingly or recklessly causing death, a Mesa County jury decided in June. Judge Gretchen Larson sentenced Eden to 48 years in prison for each count, to be served consecutively.
*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.

 

[Niner]

Update!


Tuesday, July 20th:
*Sentencing Hearing (@ am 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 65) (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 & ended 6/23/21. Jury deliberated for 4 hours & returned with a guilty verdict of 2nd degree murder.
Court info from 11/6/17 thru 5/11/21 & Jury selection (6/1/21) & Trial Day 1-13 (6/2/21 to 6/23/21) reference post #193 here:
GUILTY - UT - Peggy Case, 26, Spanish Fork, 9 July 1988 *Arrest in 2017*
6/23/21 Wednesday, Trial Day 13: Late Wednesday, a jury returned a guilty verdict against Kufrin, who in 2017 was charged with her murder. It took the jury four hours to end their deliberations. They found Kufrin guilty of 2nd degree murder. The offense carries a 1 to 15 year prison sentence. The judge set July 20 for sentencing.
7/20/21 Update: SENTENCE PRISON Based on the defendant's conviction of MURDER a 1st Degree Felony, the defendant is sentenced to an indeterminate term of not less than five years & which may be life in the Utah State Prison. To the UTAH County Sheriff: The defendant is remanded to your custody for transportation to the Utah State Prison where the defendant will be confined.