INDEPENDENCE, Iowa–The trial of Michelle Kehoe, charged with murdering one son and attempting to murder another, began Wednesday in the small Iowa farm town of Grundy Center. Prosecutors claim that Kehoe meticulously planned the crimes, savagely slashing the throats of two-year-old Seth Kehoe (who died) and seven-year-old Sean Kehoe (who survived to identify his mother as his attacker) – acts she originally blamed on an unknown assailant.

To help prove its case, the State of Iowa called 10 witnesses. Most of them had contact with Sean Kehoe immediately after his ordeal. They all testified that Sean told them that his mother had driven to a remote location, covered his eyes with duct tape, and then slit his throat – after which, according to the youngster, she attacked his baby brother, Seth.

The defense has not contested the testimony of any of these prosecution witnesses; Kehoe’s attorneys concede that she is indeed the person who attacked her sons. But they will argue that Kehoe was legally insane at the time, and should therefore be acquitted.

Stay tuned to In Session for gavel-to-gavel coverage of this case.

–Michael Christian, In Session senior field producer

NEW YORK –The first criminal trial following the April 2008 raid on the FLDS ranch in Texas begins Monday in Eldorado, Texas. Raymond Merril Jessop, 38, is charged with one count of Sexual Assault of a Child under the age of 17. Jessop is also charged with Bigamy, but that trial will be held at some later date.

Raymond Merril Jessop

The raid on the Yearning for Zion Ranch in Schleicher County, Texas took place between April 3 and April 9 last year. Hundred of documents and photographs were seized including certificates of “spiritual unions” which are expected to be used to corroborate the allegations that underage marriages were taking place, birth records, dictations of prophet Warren Jeffs, and photographs of FLDS men and their numerous wives.

Following the raid, more than 400 children were removed from the ranch by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. An appellate court eventually ruled that the State did not have grounds to remove the children. Most of the children were reunited with their families in June 2008. A child named Merianne, who had purportedly married Warren Jeffs when she was twelve years old, was later sent to live with a relative. She’s now fifteen.

Child Protective Services, within DFPS, was building a number of cases of child abuse and other crimes against the parents but ultimately “non-suited” most of them. The cases were dropped after the mothers took parenting classes during which they were advised, among other things, of Texas law forbidding underage marriages. The mothers signed a “service plan” prepared by CPS where they promised to abide by the advice they learned in the classes. CPS, however, has no jurisdiction to follow up on cases that were non-suited so, aside from limited self-reporting coming out of the YFZ ranch, there is no way to know how the children are faring.

The Texas Attorney General, however, built criminal cases against 12 men following the raid. These men, who include Warren Jeffs and the current defendant Raymond Merril Jessop, were indicted in July and August last year and charged with crimes ranging from Failure to Report Child Abuse and Unlawful Marriage Ceremony of a Minor Child to Sexual Assault and Bigamy.

The alleged victim in this first trial was 15 when she was purportedly married to Jessop on August 12, 2004. She had been married to Jessop’s brother, Ernest. Ernest had been kicked out of the ranch by prophet Warren Jeffs and three of his wives were reassigned to his brother, Raymond. In this trial against Raymond Jessop, the Attorney General is seeking to introduce what is called evidence of “extraneous acts.”

The defense vigorously opposes these acts on the grounds that they cannot be proven, are highly prejudicial, and irrelevant to the charge of Sexual Assault. One of the acts, however, is about the alleged victim in this case. In a motion filed late last month, the Attorney General wrote that “Jessop placed his purported wife and unborn baby in danger by not seeking medical treatment for them.”

The alleged victim, who was 16 at the time, was in labor for three days in August 2005. She was not taken to a hospital “because of her age and the associated governmental pressures against the Prophet,” according to the motion which quotes Warren Jeffs.

Other acts the Attorney General wants to introduce include Jessop’s purported marriage to eight other women, allegations that he engaged in illegal banking activities, and aiding and abetting a fugitive when he failed to turn in Warren Jeffs while Jeffs was on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitive List. Jessop faces up to 20 years in prison. He has been free pending the outcome of the trial after posting a $100,000 bond.

-Beth Karas, In Session correspondent

NEW YORK – Crime scene investigations are continuing today in two states as law enforcement pursue whoever killed little 7-year-old North Florida resident Somer Thompson.

Somer Thompson

At a mid-morning press conference, a spokesperson for law enforcement announced that all 90 registered sex offenders in the 5-mile radius of Thompson’s home have been spoken to, and at this point it is believed they have no involvement. Reporters were told the convicted offender’s homes and properties have been searched and families have been contacted in an attempt to eliminate them as suspects.

The second grader, in Orange Park, Florida, was last seen on Monday as she walked home from school with her twin brother and sister. This murder investigation has revealed that detectives are very interested in an abandoned house along the route that Thompson walked home. The home has become an active crime scene as law enforcement combs the structure for what they hope may be probative evidence. A local park, across the street, has also been of interest to these crime scene investigators.

And while law enforcement tries to find the killer of Somer Thompson, the little girl’s body that was found in a Georgia landfill on Wednesday, is still in Savannah Georgia, after an autopsy was performed on Thursday.

Investigators are asking for any information from the public on who murdered Somer, but they are also focusing on any and all forensic evidence that can be collected from locations in Florida and also from the little girl’s body.

A sexual assault or “rape kit” testing undoubtedly was performed at autopsy as well as a collection of any material under Thompson’s nails, and a collection of her clothes for sophisticated DNA testing.
A relatively new DNA technique labeled “touch DNA” allows forensic scientists to isolate foreign DNA on a person mainly from their clothes that comes from merely a touch of an assailant. That touch can leave behind skin cells. These skin cells then are analyzed to find the DNA of a possible assailant.

In 2008, touch DNA found from the clothing JonBenet Ramsey was wearing at her death in 1996, not only led to prosecutors officially clearing members of the little girl’s family, but led law enforcement one step closer to solving the murder of this 6 year old Boulder Colorado girl.
Florida authorities say they are hard at work to find the perpetrator of the horrific murder this week of Somer Thomson, not only to find justice for the elementary school student, but to also protect others in this North Florida community.

As reporters were told this morning the goal is to find that “one piece of crucial evidence” to solve the murder of Somer Thompson.

-Jean Casarez, In Session correspondent

CANTON, Mississippi–The same panel of jurors that convicted a former middle-school teacher of two counts of capital murder spared her life Wednesday.

Carla Hughes, 28, who prosecutors say fatally shot, stabbed, and slashed a pregnant Avis Banks in November 2006, could have received a death sentence. Now, she will spend the rest of her life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The jurors deliberated less than one hour before reaching their unanimous decision. Hughes was sentenced immediately after jurors were dismissed. She will serve the life sentences concurrently.

You can see complete coverage of the case Thursday on In Session.

–Nancy Leung, In Session field producer

CANTON, Mississippi–The courtroom was silent as jurors filed in one by one to announce their verdict in the case of Mississippi vs Carla Hughes.

Carla Hughes reacts to guilty verdict

Not one juror looked at the defendant, but two jurors looked the way of the prosecution as they took their seats.

As Judge William Chapman read out the first verdict: the jury finds Carla Hughes guilty of the murder of Avis Banks, Hughes seemed to try to comprehend what was happening. Her quiet but continuous crying continued as Judge Chapman announced the second count: that Hughes was also guilty in the murder of Banks' unborn child.

Avis Banks' family, the victim who the jury determined was shot, stabbed and slashed by defendant Hughes, let out a cry of relief in an otherwise still stoic courtroom.

Following the polling of jurors, the group of nine females and three males left the courtroom to return on Wednesday for the penalty phase. Relatives and close friends of both Hughes and Banks were crying as they left.

Carla Hughes is now facing the death penalty.

Stay tuned to In Session for complete coverage of this case.

–Jean Casarez, In Session correspondent

Canton, Mississippi –  After about eight hours of deliberations, a jury has found Carla Hughes guilty of two counts of capital murder. Hughes was charged with killing her lover's fiance, Avis Banks, who was five months pregnant.

Carla Hughes

Prosecutors say Hughes killed Banks and her unborn child. They accused Hughes of fatally shooting, stabbing, and slashing Banks with a knife.

Jurors asked only one question during deliberations: could the prosecution have called Hughes to the stand. The judge sent a note back to the jurors directing them to their jury instructions. Hughes decided not to testify in her own defense during the trial.

During seven days of testimony, defense attorneys tried to convince jurors that Hughes did not commit the crime and that Keyon Pittman, Banks fiance, did.

The penalty phase will begin Wednesday and In Session will bring you full coverage of the proceedings.

-Nancy Leung, field producer

CANTON, Mississippi–Jurors deliberated for about four hours Monday in the Mississippi case of Carla Hughes without reaching a verdict. Earlier in the day, it was a packed courtroom for closing arguments, as prosecutors argued to the jury that victim Avis Banks had everything that Carla Hughes wanted...a new house, new car and Keyon Pittman.

Avis Banks

Pittman was engaged to Banks, who was five months' pregnant with his child. Both mother and child were murdered in the brutal attack.

Prosecutors argued that Carla Hughes had control over all of the incriminating evidence in this case: the gun, the shoes, her cell phone and even her voluntary statement to police.

That recorded statement was made several days after Banks' murder. District Attorney Michael Guest told jurors Hughes originally said in that interview she and Pittman were only friends and that she had no access to a gun.

Pittman was having an affair with Hughes and later that night, after her police interview, Hughes allegedly returned the gun unloaded to her cousin.

This was a gun prosecutors say she borrowed three days before the murder, the same day Hughes allegedly told her lover Pittman "things were going to change."

Assistant District Attorney John Emfinger told the jury that later that Sunday, after an angry Hughes made that statement to Pittman, she went to her cousin and got the gun and a knife.

Defense attorneys put their focus on Keyon Pittman, telling jurors he had a motive to kill his fiancee. "He didn't want to be married or to have that child," State Senator Johnnie Walls told the jury. "You cannot place the gun in the defendant's hand, cannot place Hughes at Banks' home and cannot place those shoes with the blood of Banks on Hughes' feet."

Defense attorneys argued Keyon Pittman left basketball practice and had time to get the gun, wear the shoes he had already admitted to using, and kill a woman he cared so little about.

"It is just as reasonable that Pittman wanted to get rid of Banks as Carla Hughes wanted to get rid of the victim," Sen. Johnnie Walls, Jr. told jurors. And that, the defense concluded, is reasonable doubt.

Hughes is facing two counts of capital murder. Deliberations begin again on Tuesday morning.

–Jean Casarez, In Session correspondent

CANTON, Mississippi–Testimony continues Monday in the case of Mississippi v Carla Hughes. On Saturday, the defense began it case by calling witnesses to show Hughes' reputation for peacefulness and truthfulness in her community, as well as a witness who testified that Keyon Pittman, the fiance of victim Avis Banks, left a middle school's gymnasium for over an hour on the night of November 29, 2006.

Carla Hughes

It was in those early evening hours that someone shot, stabbed and slashed Banks, killing her and her unborn child.

First up for the defense was Antonius Caldwell, Pittman's assistant basketball coach at Chastain Middle School. He testified that head coach Pittman told him before practice began that night that Caldwell could be in charge even though the next day the team had a big game.  Caldwell testified that Pittman sat near the exit door of the gym and although Caldwell saw him from about 5:15 until 6:00 p.m., he didn't see him again until approximately 7:10 p.m.. 

Caldwell testified that Pittman usually gave him a ride home after practice since Caldwell lived just a couple of minutes away from the school, but on that particular night, Pittman said he was in a hurry and couldn't do it.

Linda Hughes, the defendant's mother, took the stand to testify she had met Keyon Pittman at her daughter's apartment. She said Pittman came upstairs to a bedroom where she was with Carla's young son. Pittman has testified he had never seen or been in that guest bedroom, and crime scene investigators testified they believed that Banks' assailant had intentionally left that room in disarray to raise robbery as a motive for killing her. Linda Hughes, along with other witnesses, also testified that Carla Hughes has always been a peacemaker in her life.

A former secretary and librarian in the Greenville school system said Hughes didn't have the personality to confront others..."she will walk away." Anita Fuller also testified she put Hughes in charge of advertising for her high school yearbook. She knew Hughes could be trusted with the money that would come in to fund the yearend publication for students.

Camesha Jones, a college friend of Hughes, testified she lived relatively close to Banks' home in November 2006 but doesn't recall seeing Hughes there during the early evening hours on November 29, 2006.

The prosecution, although not able to directly attack Hughes' reputation, tried to dilute the direct testimony of each and every defense witness by bringing out that Pittman may have just stepped outside the gym during basketball practice. Jones admitted that although she and Hughes had taught together earlier in their careers, Jones had not seen Hughes since the summer of 2006.

Carla Hughes is facing two counts of capital murder. If convicted,  the state of Mississippi is seeking the death penalty.

–Jean Casarez, In Session correspondent

CANTON, Mississippi–In the midst of a long line of police and forensic expert witnesses, prosecutors in Mississippi trial of Carla Hughes called a witness to the stand that was familiar to jurors. "Basketball mom" Bridget Matlock has been referred to in quite a bit of testimony so far, and jurors and were able to see her for themselves when she took the stand Thursday afternoon.

Bridget Matlock called to the witness stand by prosecutors

Keyon Pittman admitted during his tesimony that he "flirted" with Matlock, a married mother, whose son Pittman coached on the basketball team at Chastain Middle School.

Pittman is also the sixth-grade science teacher whoi admitted having an affair with his fellow teacher and now defendant in this case, Carla Hughes. Pittman's fiancee, Avis Banks, and their unborn child were murdered the night of November 29, 2006, while Pittman says he was coaching a basketball practice.

Prosecutors called Matlock to the stand to corroborate Pittman's cell phone records, showing he was in the vicinity of the middle school during the time they believe Banks was murdered. This alibi witness is important because Hughes' defense team, headed by state Senator Johnnie Walls Jr., has put Pittman front and center in this trial, labeling him as someone who had the motive, ability and opportunity to kill the woman he was engaged to marry.

Matlock testified Pittman was at basketball practice on November 29, 2006 from about 5:15 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. that evening. Prosecutors believe Banks who was shot four times, stabbed and slashed with a knife, was attacked a little before 6:00 p.m. that night.

On cross-examination, defense attorney Walls got Matlock to admit she had a flirting relationship with Pittman, talking and texting with him on a regular basis and even flew to Detroit for a romantic weekend with him 7 or 8 months after Avis Banks' murder. "You would have every reason to support him now," Walls told Matlock. He then questioned her credibility before the jury by asking her "why should we believe what you say about him?"

Carla Hughes is facing two counts of capital murder. The state of Mississippi is seeking death if she is convicted.

–Jean Casarez, In Session correspondent

MIAMI, Florida–Jurors returned a verdict Thursday in the second-degree murder trial of Damon Darling that surprised many in the courtroom. There were audible gasps of “yes” from the defendant's side of the room as the clerk read the verdict: guilty of the lesser charges of manslaughter and aggravated assault.

Damon Darling processed by authorities after conviction

Jurors found that Darling possessed a firearm during the manslaughter and discharged it during the aggravated assault; findings that enhance his potential sentence. He faces up to 30 years for the manslaughter and 20 years for the aggravated assault. Darling will be sentenced by Judge Marisa Tinkler-Mendez on November 10.

The court received word at about 12:30 p.m. that the jury of four women and two men had reached a verdict. They had deliberated approximately three and a half hours between late Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning. It was 45 minutes before all parties and family members were assembled and ready to hear the verdict. By then, approximately 30 uniformed officers arrived to keep order within the courtroom and in the halls immediately outside of it. As the verdict was read and Darling’s supporters expressed relief, there was no disorderly conduct on either side of the courtroom that needed to be contained.

Outside the courthouse, the parents of little Sherdavia Jenkins, caught in the crossfire of a gun battle three years ago in a housing project in northern Miami, were clearly disappointed that the verdict wasn’t second-degree murder. But there was some consolation for them in knowing that the potential sentence is still quite harsh. Sherrone Jenkins said any sentence isn’t good enough. She and her husband promised to attend the sentencing next month.

Defense attorney Jonathan Meltz said it just isn’t in his DNA to be happy with any case that ends with a conviction, even a lesser one such as manslaughter. It’s a victory for him, nonetheless, since his client no longer faces a life sentence.

In the past three years, Assistant State Attorneys Monica Gordo and Kathleen Hoague battled with recalcitrant witnesses whose recollections often differed nearly every time they recited the events of that day, July 1, 2006.

Hoague commented that their own witnesses contradicted the physical evidence at the scene. That evidence, 20 spent shell casings and a fatal bullet from an AK-47, suggests only one person, Damon Darling, fired an assault weapon. Some witnesses said two men fired assault weapons. Given the hurdles the prosecutors had to overcome, they were pleased with the verdict.

As of the close of the court day, jurors opted not to speak publicly about their deliberations.

Darling still faces a third charge that was severed from this trial: possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. A trial date has not been set yet. At the time of his arrest in this case, Darling was on probation for possession with intent to sell marijuana. He now faces a hearing on a charge of violating that probation which carries an additional five years in prison.

While Darling no longer faces life in prison, he potentially faces decades of incarceration.

–Beth Karas, In Session correspondent