Recap of the Afternoon
Jerry Anderson has not made bond yet. His attorneys think that will most likely happen sometime Monday morning. I talked to four of the jurors this afternoon, with the help of my Channel 9 news partner.
Juror Cynthia Absher, who voted not guilty, said it was very hectic at times. She said the jurors laid out the timeline, and in her opinion, there was no way Jerry could have killed Emily in about 10 minutes, according to their timeline. She said she also considered the two doctors who said most likely, Emily died 2-4 days before Emily's body was found. She was also concerned that Antonio Reyes didn't give his real name on the stand.
Juror Michelle Johnson also believed Jerry was innocent. She said she even cried, as did several others, when they knew that Jerry Anderson would be going back to jail.
Fellow juror Roger Baker was the sole juror who believed Jerry was guilty. He said he did what was in his heart and what he discussed with God, and he could not find Jerry Anderson not guilty.
Check out Saturday's edition of the Hickory Daily Record for more on what the jurors had to say and what the attorneys had to say.
I'll be back later tonight.
Juror Cynthia Absher, who voted not guilty, said it was very hectic at times. She said the jurors laid out the timeline, and in her opinion, there was no way Jerry could have killed Emily in about 10 minutes, according to their timeline. She said she also considered the two doctors who said most likely, Emily died 2-4 days before Emily's body was found. She was also concerned that Antonio Reyes didn't give his real name on the stand.
Juror Michelle Johnson also believed Jerry was innocent. She said she even cried, as did several others, when they knew that Jerry Anderson would be going back to jail.
Fellow juror Roger Baker was the sole juror who believed Jerry was guilty. He said he did what was in his heart and what he discussed with God, and he could not find Jerry Anderson not guilty.
Check out Saturday's edition of the Hickory Daily Record for more on what the jurors had to say and what the attorneys had to say.
I'll be back later tonight.
posted by THE HICKORY DAILY RECORD at at
6:14 PM
26 Comments:
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How ironic that this man is still in jail and having to post bond when 11 out of 12 people believed he was innocent. What can we conclude from this? I have concluded that the prosecution did not prove his guilt. I really believe that should the jury have only heard what the prosecution had to say that they still would not have been able to convict him of first degree murder. They, (the prosecution), were Jerry's best defense at times. Somebody tell me here, is the DA an elected official. If he is then people "Please" lets get his butt out of office next time.
I can only say that if God had really wanted Jerry convicted as the one hold out has said, that the whole jury would have voted to convict instead of 11 to acquit
Yes....Unfortunately we (the people of Caldwell County) elected Mr. Gaither. The lone juror needs to realize that our justice system is not built on convicting people solely on what "your heart & God" tell you to do....you must have evidence and little/no doubt to find someone guilty. What a crock!!
I hate to be the one to say this, but Roger Baker is an idiot. Not that i disagree with his decision, but the comment as to why...God told me to do it...
I bet the gang at STORYS ONE STOP in sawmills will be glad to see him he was regular their. Now lets find the real killer.
If God does speak to people then Rodger is hearing voices...He needs meds for his schizophrenia...
LARRY- WHEN YOU ARE UNDER PRESSURE YOU WILL SAY ANYTHING TO RID YOURSELF OF A SITUATION.
Vote Clark out! Elect Jerry Anderson for Sheriff!
Larry whether the jury got it right or not God knows and will take care of in his time.
I'm in New Castle, Pa., and don't have any tie's with your neck 'o the wood's there. Just followin' a friend's concerns....and I enjoy amateur sleuthing.
Due to all of the neglect in this case, from day one, until the present, I've started to think there's been a massive coverup. I'm the kinda person things have to make sense to, and that's the only logic I can find for all the obviously shameless "duh" answer's given in response to credible "run of the mill, in every stinkin' murder trial ever held", questions....especially the one's covered closely by the media....which you can't tell me were never watched by those officer's and that DA...if only for "entertainment". Those people had training, did they not? Seem's to me among that training, would be "Gathering/Preserving Evidence 101!! Why, if they had never handled a case of this magnitude, wouldn't they seek help from outside source's who have? Pride 'n ego is the best answer I can think of for it, if you don't go along with my coverup theroy.
Why would officer's of the law, and investigators, in a small town like Sawmill's, where they have to face their townspeople every day, be so intentionally neglectful of their duty? They owe Emily better than that...they owe her justice (insert expletive here)!! They owe Jerry his "beyond a shadow of a doubt", so he won't have to face some stragglin' folks who might still wonder about the truth...or even those who have believed in his innocence throughout this travesty. It's normal to have doubts, unless he is exonerated completely. They owe the residents of your community. If Jerry Anderson is innocent, which I sternly believe he is, there's a murderer walking around out there somewhere. And if he's guilty, and freed, there's still a murderer out there.
I can't believe an elected official would mess himself up like this, jeopardizing his career...for what? The same goes for the investigators. Letting things pass them by, isn't gonna follow them around very well either, if they ever have to seek another job in their field...or anything more than dog warden, imo....and I, an animal lover would think twice about that position, too.
Emily Anderson was a victim of foul play, but it wasn't Jerry Anderson. She knew/knows that, and I don't think, even though her intention was to walk away from their marriage, she'd have wanted this to all be dumped on him.
This has strenghtened my mistrust of our system, and I pray to God it has shown something of value to everyone who's been touched by it.
..............................................................
The rape kit was never sent to the lab, "because they found her fully clothed". A rape victim who visits the hospital after their ordeal, comes in clothed. To me, it would make no difference whether the person were very much alive, or deceased.
The glass's found in the motel where the truck was located....they never found Emily's glass's, BUT when someone dropped what could have been here glass's right in their lap, they shrugged it off.
So much more could have been had, in the way of evidence...but it's gone, as is Emily. Just who might be experiencing sigh's of relief, as we speak??
gnsnap, what a well written post!
I don't think it is too late to figure this out. I read once that businesses must keep all records for 3 years. Therefore, investigators could still find who was staying in that hotel during that time frame. They could still find who was in the room where the glasses were found.
They could still better locate the source of the Dallas phone call. I knew there was something fishy about the investigator saying he could only trace it broadly to Dallas but no further. Given the lack of follow through on everything else, I am sure they can better pinpoint an exact location in Dallas.
And the rape kit - they have exonerated people using DNA evidence 20 years later, so I'm sure this Rape kit can still be analyzed only 18 months later.
Funny, the county wasted $1 million on this trial and these tests and follow-throughs would have only cost a couple of bucks. What a shame!
I don't think the rape kit ever had the cellophane taken off of it, allison...they didnt see the need, because she was fully clothed. If those were her glass's, I'd say the odd's were extremely high that she spent time there...either voluntarily, or by force. Either way, I'd bet the farm she was unclothed some of that time, and either enjoyed sexual pleasure with someone, or was raped. I haven't spoken to an ME myself, but seems to me, in the many case's I've poured over, it's standard procedure to run a rape kit. Not for just rape, but to see if there is alien (unknown) or familiar (spouse/boyfriend), sperm present, as evidence.
Lookin' for info, please: The picture of Emily 'n Jerry in the newspaper shows Emily with blonde hair. The hairdresser stated Emily's hair was light/blonde when she left her shop. When she did her hair for the funeral, she noticed it was darker. In the initial missing person's report, her hair was described as being dark...which would be a descrepency. Who gave/ok'd the description the paper used? How could they have made that mistake, unless they saw Emily, at least once, with her hair darkened? How did it get darker...did Emily pay the hairdresser to do it, then turn around and redo it soon after, herself? That makes no sense, unless she did so because she wanted to get lost in the crowd, so to speak. I don't believe a man, Jerry, or any other, would ask/tell her to color her hair...do you?
***they have exonerated people using DNA evidence 20 years later, so I'm sure this Rape kit can still be analyzed only 18 months later***
I don't want Emily to have to wait 20 years for justice...or Jerry, either...because of intentional (imo), neglectful, buffoonery.
I just want the truth...i wonder who did it..really...to bad Matlock is gone...he could figure it out...they did NOT prove Jerry did it,,that's a fact...so WHO did kill Emily? The evidence is there, we just need some real detective work to uncover the truth.....Jerry is innocent by the evidence shown so far...so release him...So either prove he did it or find the real killer....
PS .. I am so glad he was not found guilty on such inconclusive "evidence...bah"
This gives me a little more faith in the system...except how could 1 juror hold out on with no evidence?....what can i say...they did not prove it beyond a reasonable doubt....
sawmills citizen - Sheriff Clark died several months back from cancer, thought you should know before you post ill of again. (However if you are from Caldwell Co how could you not know of his sudden illness and death? It was major local news this past winter and happened way before the trial even began. Maybe this also has something to do with the problems that occurred with the CCSD efficiently.
I'm happy for Jerry, but sooooooo sad for Emily. She didnt deserve anything she's gotten, from start to finish
I've poured over this for days/hrs untold, as we all have. I wish I knew which parts we've gotten right, ya know?
I wish everyone who is anyone, and all prospective jurors would view these pages :(
I hope Emily knows we're battin for her :)
and Jerry too
Folks - after all is said & done it all comes down to the phone call to the Waffle House in Duncan SC. The people (yep more than one) knew when they wanted the body to be found. Had to be 2 people as the phone came from Dallas TX. The investigation has to begin with that phone call, not December 29th. A crime was commited on the 29th, but I don't think the murder took place until later.
OK, folks, think about this......first of all, let's leave the late Gary Clark out of this. This was during a time he was battling for his life and Alan Jones was in most of the control. I do not have exact dates to prove this, other than a few short weeks after the November election Clark found out about his cancer and began the battle of his life. For many years, Clark was the lead investigator for the Lenoir PD at the rank of Captain, if I recall right. I am a little fuzzy at the minute details, as I have my own battle going on. Next, I honestly feel that if Gary had been able to lead the investigating team, to the best of his ability, there would be no stone unturned. So, put the blame where it should lie. I have no doubt in my mind that Gary felt Jones was qualified to handle the pressure immediately place upon him, but, each of us knows we have no clue until we are placed in the same situation.
Next, I feel, deep in my heart, that Clark would be sorely disappointed in the performance of those he chose for the roles. I have no doubt that he thought he would be there to lead and guide them. He did great many things for Caldwell County and it is not his fault that the hand that was dealt him turned his focus elsewhere, as it would any one us if faced with the same situation. Gary Clark would not accept this as "an excuse" from the members of his department, but would have guided them on the proper procedures. He knew them (proper investigating procedure) better than anyone I know. So, please refrain from blaming him. He cannot defend himself and I promise you, had he still been here, involved with this investigation and trial from day one, he would have spent night and day seeking justice. He would have left no stone unturned, no lead not followed, and no question unanswered before it went to the DA or the grand jury. He would have accepted the blame for what has transpired, if it had been warranted on him.
As for Roger Baker, we should not judge this man, as he has followed his convictions and in the best case scenario from my observation, there can be another trial, if warranted, after more investigation. The door is possibly open, should more investigation reveal more concrete evidence.
Please do not slam or bash me for my thoughts. I have followed this on this blog for the duration of this trial and have kept my thoughts to myself. Just wanted to share a few of those thoughts and opinions. They may not be the same as your's, but I feel for the the family of Jerry and the family of Emily for different reasons and really wish to have justice for both.
First of all, the DA can ONLY work with the evidence collected by the investigating officers. I'm not trying to get votes for the DA, but I don't think that's where the blame should point. The investigation was done in a very poor manner. When Clark was elected, he fired several detectives with years of experience working serious cases and replaced them with what you've seen throughout this trial. The DA cannot help that the case was botched by the investigation. Actually, I think the DA did fairly well considering what he had to work with.
If all will remember, this all started out as a missing person, not a murder.......when Jerry sent the workers to look for a missing cell phone, what did he cover up and what did he not want them to see? He had his cell phone in his hand...
This is soooo
embarrasing for me as a citizen of Caldwell County...
EVERYTHING from the investigation to the carping cpmments made here by my neighbors
SAD
I'll tell you what is sad. There have been several murders in this county in my 40 some years here that have gone unsolved. If during time in casual conversation with people, I've heard who possible was involved in the murders, why haven't those cases been reopened? I can't tell you how many times that I have thought about Sandra Bryant and Gary Sturgill over the years. Everytime that I pass where Sandra was found on Dry Ponds Rd., I think of her. I had no real link to either one of these people. Those are just the people that I knew as a child and teenager.
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