See State v. Brown, 341 N.W.2d 10, 14 (Iowa 1983). Sidney police investigators have arrested 51-year-old Lyndsee Colette Brewer of Forsyth, Montana and charged her with the murder of Christoper A. Wetzstein. Curtis Edward Smith (pictured), the man Alex allegedly hired to kill him, was arrested by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division on Sept. 15, 2021, and charged with assisted suicide, assault, and battery of a highly aggravated nature, pointing and presenting a firearm, insurance fraud and conspiracy to commit insurance fraud. "It appears the phone's being moved, and the camera's activating in the background to see if it would recognize somebody's face that would unlock it," Dove stated. She was charged with murdering her nine-year-old daughter, two husbands, and a mother-in-law via arsenic poisoning in the late 1950s. There was considerable evidence to establish defendant was resisting his wife's efforts to obtain a divorce and had threatened his family's safety. "[7] He had interviewed 30 people, including family, friends, and other partygoers.[11]. Defendant had told his wife's first dissolution attorney a divorce would not happen and he would do whatever he could to stop it from happening. Napodano's sisters were killed in the 1993 Forsyth murders. The two got into a fight, andJacobs allegedly began shooting. "He sounded odd, and then he told me that my mom and my brother had been shot.". "I can assure you that SLED agents will continue working to bring justice to anyone involved with any criminal act associated with these ongoing investigations," said SLED Chief Mark Keel in the release. Some believe that the Kunz family's eccentric naturehad something to do with the verdict, as the stories and rumors surrounding the Kunzes' private lives seemed to overshadow the trial. Alex surrendered his passport to authorities and was released back into rehab. Join me on this interesting case where I visit the Forsyth house and visit the memorial that was built nearby in their honor.Song: To the Coast of Ceylon by Daniel Kaede. Dr. Souza testified he had performed a psychiatric evaluation of defendant and found defendant was aware of his legal circumstances and had the ability to comprehend his current legal situation. Alex's attorneys say they learned of a warrant for his arrest and that he planned to surrender to authorities the next day. Amnesia about events surrounding a charge does not automatically render a defendant incompetent to stand trial. Smith went on Today to say that he "didn't shoot" Alex on Labor Day weekend. Smith then said he was "1,000%" sure that the bullet did not hit either of them. Garry Moss, who is now Cherokee County's district attorney, prosecuted both cases. He was 34 and she was 29. Ultimately, she consented to meet at the property, planning to follow Alex to the hospital in her own vehicle. Here are some of the most infamous and brutal murders to ever happen in our little state. [2] If at any stage of a criminal proceeding it reasonably appears that the defendant is suffering from a mental disorder which prevents the defendant from appreciating the charge, understanding the proceedings, or assisting effectively in the defense, further proceedings must be suspended and a hearing had upon that question. The murders of the children remains technically unsolved to this day. Reid put up billboards and passed out fliers to anyone that would take one in the hopes of catching those responsible. Later on Sept. 15, Alex's lawyers released a statement claiming Smith exploited Alex's drug addiction and mental illness. During the hearing, Alex's attorney Dick Harpootlian acknowledged to the Hampton County judge that Alex "has fallen from grace" but argued that "before any of that falling happened, his wife and son were brutally murdered, and that has had an extraordinary effect on him. More of her words can be found at amandanorthern.wordpress.com. Alex Murdaugh's younger brother John Marvin Murdaugh tearfully told jurors how he took it upon himself to clean up the remains of his nephew's body at the crime scene, saying it was "the hardest thing" he had ever done. "He said, 'Well, you've got to do it.' Defendant was apparently despondent over being ordered to serve jail time, as he appeared depressed to his landlord and indicated to him he did not think he could handle going to jail. David Michael Thomas Wright was being held in the Forsyth County jail in the deaths Wednesday of his mother, stepfather and half brother, said Sheriff Wesley Walraven. "Now, I don't know that I think that was true.". I didnt do it all myself.. Another brother, Harold Reid, and sister, Brenda Johnson, and their families also still live in Forsyth County. [6], The initial autopsy ordered by the Forsyth Sheriff's Office discovered "multiple blunt force injuries" and a high blood alcohol level. For the last 20 years, there have been many people feeding his addiction to opioids," read the statement obtained by PEOPLE. Jolene and Brian had been shot to death. On Nov. 18, 2021, a grand jury issued five indictments charging Alex with 27 counts of financial misconduct. They were written by him and reflect his desire to unify his family so they would be together forever with God in heaven. Rajeev Kumaraswamy, 25, was charged with felony murder in connection with the shooting, Forsyth County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Stacie Miller said in a news release. Sign up for our free summaries and get the latest delivered directly to you. A review of the journal reveals most of the entries therein were merely duplicative of testimony offered at trial by family members, neighbors, and law enforcement officials. Defendant argues the only way Jessica's head could not have his blood upon it is if she were placed on the pillow after the blood had dried. One of the nation's enduring mysteries is who killed 6-year-old Colorado beauty queen JonBenet Ramsey. This new, grisly piece of evidence onlyfurther complicated an already baffling mystery. He was 34 and she was 29. The second note, found at the scene of the murders, also mentioned Eric and includes four references the family will now be together forever. FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. A father and daughter were killed in what deputies believe to be a murder-suicide Sunday. Defendant points to numerous complicated aspects of the evidence in his effort to challenge its sufficiency. Forensic evidence suggested the family members had been killed in other rooms of the home and had been placed in the master bedroom after their deaths. Prior to trial, defendant filed an application for a hearing to determine his competency to stand trial. On Dec. 9, 2021, one day before the judge decided whether to set bond on the charges, the grand jury issued seven more indictments accusing him of financial crimes, adding up to 21 counts. In March 1993, Jolene's brother John overheard defendant tell Jolene "[y]ou are bringing this all on yourself. All of the victims were African American, and all were in their early 20s. Prosecutor Creighton Waters asked him if that meant he was taking 60 pills a day or so in the months between January and June 2021. Id. Most of the partygoers had gone to bed at that time, and she was on the deck alone. Her body was found a week later. He loved them more than anything in the world," their statement read. "You would think that if Alex was the one who did it, that SLED would have been able to establish that pretty easily that night," Griffin continued. 1) The Woolfolk Massacre Robert S. Donovan via Flickr On August 6, 1887, a family was murdered with a hatchet at the Woolfolk Plantation near Macon, Ga. Mary Jolene Forsyth, 39, her son Brian, 18, and daughters Nikki, 17, and Jessica, 9, were found dead at their home Monday along with two young house guests - Martina P. Napodano, 9 and Helen M. Napodano 7. Following the news, the eldest Murdaugh brother and his girlfriend drove to the family estate from her home in Rock Hill, S.C. approximately 200 miles away. Two days later, Alex whose wounds were "superficial," the SLED told PEOPLE released a statement saying he was leaving his job at Peters Murdaugh Parker Eltzroth & Detrick and entering treatment once he left the hospital. While the civil suit continues, police announced they would investigate Satterfield's death for any criminal liability. The judge said that she did not believe Alex was a threat to the community and issued him a $20,000 bond $10,000 for insurance fraud, $5,000 for conspiracy to commit insurance fraud, and $5,000 for filing a false police report. State v. McGrew, 515 N.W.2d 36, 37 (Iowa 1994). Turner was soon arrested, transferred to Coweta and released per Wallace's orders. Buster also claimed that he "knew a little bit" about his father's drug use, pointing out that his mother and brother had confronted Alex when they found pills. Jolene and Brian had been shot to death. On Sept. 15, 2021, Satterfield's sons filed a civil lawsuit against Alex and others, claiming they never received an insurance payout concerning their mother's death, court documents obtained by PEOPLE show. SLED officials stated that a coroner had found inconsistencies surrounding Satterfield's death. Amid Alex's legal troubles, a new twist entered the case. On Jan. 21, 2022, a South Carolina State Grand Jury issued four indictments consisting of 23 new charges against Alex, South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced. On Sept. 4, 2021, news broke that Alex had been shot Hampton County, S.C. "He was shot in the head while he was changing a tire," Alex's attorney Jim Griffin confirmed to PEOPLE. The district court found defendant competent and ordered him to stand trial. The family also posted a $50,000 reward. Id. Murray Hearne was 18 when a foiled drug deal with off-duty police saw him stab two police officers in Sydney, killing one and critically injuring the other. [6] The GBI agreed to reopen the case on June 18, 2020, but did not specify when the investigation would begin. A lifelong county resident, Tony Reid was an auctioneer and owned a used car business. The hearsay exception provisions of Rule 804(b)(5) should apply only when there is significant indicia of reliability. The murder. He said investigators gathered information about the suspects through an informant who secretly taped conversations he had with Brady about the slayings. A decades-old murder case now has new leads. Turner, in turn, stole two cows and money he felt was owed to him by Wallace. He acted like hed never seen a stranger, the father said. On Jan. 23, 2023, Alex's trial began 17 months after Maggie and Paul's murder. Diana testified that within a week or so before the murders, defendant's calls became more frequent and he was more upset. On July 5, 1987, Kenny Kunz entered his family home to find four of his family members dead and his mother missing. at 37-38. At the time, he also said that the gunshot wound was not self-inflicted. Id. Brady, it appears, got Avery involved and they formed a plan together. ", In a statement, Attorney Jim Griffin told PEOPLE that "Alex resigned from the firm after being accused of diverting lawyer fees. The evidence was unsubstantiated hearsay of a highly prejudicial nature with little relevance to the case. He suggests Kevin Rinehart, Mark Napodano, or other unnamed individuals committed the crimes. We review the admission of hearsay evidence only for an abuse of discretion. There was no question there was a bond its not hard to like people like that.. It was a group of homosexual men and transgender women who formed a network around convicted murderer and sexual sadist Bevan Spencer von Einem, based on the drugging, raping and sometimes murder of youths and young men. [6] The GBI agreed to reopen the case on June 18, 2020, but did not specify when the investigation would begin. His 48 charges at the time included forgery, money laundering, computer crimes, breach of trust with fraudulent intent, and obtaining signature or property by false pretenses. On June 12, 2020, Forsyth County Sheriff Ron Freeman sent a letter requesting that the case be re-opened and investigated by the GBI. If you enjoy crime related content and especially seeing me go to where these crimes happen, definitely subscribe and hit the bell to get notified of every new video. The journals reflect the obsessive nature of defendant's calls to, and monitoring of, Jolene and her children. E.H. Reid occasionally sends him watermelons and turnip greens from his garden. Opening statements began on Jan. 25, 2022, during which prosecutor Creighton Waters revealed cell phone evidence would be key in the trial. The murders were part of an armed robbery. Wanda Reid said her sister-in-law had decorated a Christmas tree in the house and was baking a cake that morning for a friend who just had a baby. At the conclusion of this note was a list of people and phone numbers, presumably individuals whom defendant thought should be contacted when the bodies were discovered. "This is a complex process that will take weeks, not days," Wunderlich said. He killed a cop and walked free early. During the conversation defendant told his daughter it would never be over, and if the family tried running, he would kill all of them. If the evidence is in equipoise, the presumption of competency prevails. The jurors were shown a slew of evidence, including a Snapchat video that Paul sent to "several friends" on the night of his and his mother's death, as revealed in court documents obtained by Fox News Digital. Brian, Nikki and Jessica resided with Jolene in the family home in Norwalk, Iowa. A law enforcement source close to the investigation told PEOPLE that on the night of the murders, Alex allegedly reached out to Maggie, asking her to meet him at the family's 1,770-acre estate. I kept assuring Mr. Reid we were going to get (them), he said. "It was unsettling that they were children that they had known and possibly had grown up with their kids. He said the revolver used was found in the house. It said, in part: "Witness statements are in conflict. Alex Kwong's mother Jenny Li faces one count of perverting the course of. He has pledged not guilty to two counts of murder and two weapon charges in the killings of his wife Margaret "Maggie . [7], The case did not receive public recognition until two months after her death, when one of the witnesses was fired from his county court officer job for internally accessing the incident report. And as always, my name is Harmin and thank you for watching. "I ask for prayers as I rehabilitate myself and my relationships.". [1] He argued he had sustained amnesia as a result of the gunshot wound to his head and was unable to appreciate the charges against him, understand the proceedings, or effectively assist in his defense. In his effort to challenge the sufficiency of the evidence, defendant focuses on the statements and testimony of Kevin Rinehart. The children of Jeremiah and Nancy Brown, who were expelled from Forsyth in 1912. Wallace was one of the richest men to be executed in Georgia. "Alex wants his family, friends and everyone to know that he did not have anything to do with the murders of Maggie and Paul. She was staying at the family's beach house on Edisto Island, approximately an hour from the family's estate. Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, Sheryl A. Soich and Harold Young, Assistant Attorneys General, and Kevin Parker, County Attorney, for appellee. [6] The next morning at 7:30a.m., the homeowner's aunt found Horsford lying facedown and motionless under the porch. The law enforcement source told PEOPLE that Maggie initially declined to meet Alex at the family home, suggesting that they meet at the hospital instead. Jason Daniel Hyde, 39, is charged with murder. In June 2022, it was announced that investigators would exhume Satterfield's body. He . Kate Puzey was a teacher in the West . Following the murders, two apparent suicide notes were found, one in the rented room where defendant lived and the other in the Forsyth home. On Sept. 15, 2021, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division announced that it was opening an investigation into the 2018 death of the Murdaughs' housekeeper, Gloria Satterfield, who died after what was purported at the time to be a trip-and-fall accident at the family's home in Hampton, South Carolina which they have since sold. Investigators also reportedly found trash and filth throughout the home. A grand jury in Colleton County, S.C., indicted Alex in connection with the 2021 murders of his wife and son. Monthly subscription to Epidemic Sound.f you have any suggestions for any crime locations, infamous crimes or infamous people you want me to cover, (mostly around WA state as that is where I live but any state is fine) send me a message on facebook or instagram @ infamous crime locations. Richardson said the Napodana children were from the Des Moines area. FORSYTH COUNTY, N.C. A Forsyth County man is accused of killing his wife, according to a news release from the sheriff's office. Published: Sep 1, 2017, 6:08 AM. On Oct. 14, 2021, the same day of Alex's second arrest, Curtis Smith, the man accused of assisting with his botched suicide plot, claimed that Alex was never actually struck by a bullet. This was another case in Iowa. They have 5 . The video features the voices of Paul, Maggie and Alex. By that point, he faced 81 total charges. Any unresolved aspects of the evidence (such as the location of the pen used to write the suicide notes or the location of the key to defendant's rented room) are not sufficient to overcome the overwhelming evidence of defendant's guilt. If they hadnt have stayed with it, more than likely (the men responsible) would have never been caught.. [4] According to witnesses, Horsford got up at 2a.m. to smoke a cigarette on the back porch. 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