The week is over

Well, we have recessed for the day. The first full week of testimony is over. During the last year of court, we heard from two witnesses. The first was Mindy Ramsey, 18, of Sawmills. She was next door neighbors with Jerry and Emily. She testified that she saw Emily's truck parked around 9 a.m. Dec. 29. Mindy and her sister were about to go shopping. The Ramsey were neighbors, but also close friends with Emily and Jerry. They were all like family, Mindy testified. The teen did say she saw Emily and Jerry sometimes have disagreements, but they would get it out in the open and move on. Dubs asked Mindy if she ever heard Jerry threaten Emily. Mindy replied no. The last time Mindy saw Emily Anderson was Christmas. Emily had made a manger scene and given it to Mindy. It was something Emily wanted to be remembered by: The Andersons were planning to move to Tennessee sometime in the spring of 2006. Walter Moore testified that Emily wasn't particular excited about the move. Moore, who took the stand after Mindy, said Emily didn't want to leave behind her friends in Sawmills. Emily also was nervous about moving to Tennessee because the Andersons ran into opposition there because of the dairy farm and environmental reason. Both Mindy and Moore, whose family owns the property Jerry rented, said they saw a worried Jerry Anderson when Emily went missing. Moore said Jerry kept asking questions and wanted to know what happened. After Emily was found dead, Mindy testified that she heard Jerry crying... That was odd, she said. Jerry didn't express his feelings out loud.
Does it almost sound like these were defense witnesses? Well, they weren't. Maybe the prosecution is building up to something. It's been an interesting first week. Recall the Waffle House employees' testimonies and Rachael LeClair's testimony. We're learning stuff everyday and soon, maybe not for another three of four weeks, but soon the jury will have a big decision to make.
Again, we are done for the day. I'll be back Monday. Check out the paper this weekend for further updates.

Mid-morning break

Sorry I am a little later than usual today. We went over the break. The jurors have not made an entrance this morning. Since 9:45 a.m., we've head Judge Cayer's findings about his decision with the cadaver dogs.
Any evidence about Roy McNeil's dog Kolby will not be used because there was no proof Kolby is a reliable dog and McNeil even testified that Kolby has not finished his training.
McNeil himself qualifies as an expert witness, Cayer says, because of McNeil's number of hours of training. Cayer rattled off more than 330 hours of training McNeil has participated in since 2002. Cayer also said the court relied upon the fact that McNeil was considered an expert witness in a Durham superior court case in which McNeil and Kiser were involved in. The defendant in that case was found guilty of second-degree murder. Cayer also believes Kiser is a reliable dog, siting several searches the court believes Kiser was a success at, such as five success on Lake Bear in Jackson County in the last three years.
Well, we've got a short break so I'm getting back. The jurors are suppose to come back and hopefully someone will take a stand. It's suppose to be a short day today, so there's only an hour left in today's session.
C-ya around 1.

Well, well

We sat through two straight days of dog testimony. At 5:10 p.m. this afternoon, Judge Cayer decided the jury will be allowed to hear Roy McNeil's testimony concerning his dog, Kiser, but not his dog, Kolby. If you remember, both dogs were involved in the Anderson search. Cayer said he will explain his decision tomorrow morning.
The defense put up an excellent fight, pointing out McNeil's certifications were duplicates, McNeil's training records were recollections and he even allowed his dogs to drink beer.
During his arguments, Bellas pointed out that McNeil has more than 10 years experience and has searched on more than 100 cases. Bellas said it would be appropriate that McNeil assist the jury with finding the facts of this case.
I guess Cayer agreed.

Jurors return at 9:30 a.m tomorrow. I'm honestly not sure who's the next witness to take the stand. It seems it's been so long since jurors were present. (By the way, I did not notice any reaction from the jurors when they were told to go home without hearing any evidence.) However, several folks have been in the courtroom that last two days that have not been there often before, such as a Sawmills resident who works (maybe worked) at a gas station Emily frequented; the co-owner of Sawmills Hardware and neighbor; an officer from the Duncan, S.C., police department; Sgt. Bennett with the Caldwell County Sheriff's Office, who was the main investigator in Emily's disappearance and some other folks I did not recognize.

mid-afternoon break

Let me tell you, I have learned more about dogs in the last two days than in my lifetime. Don't get me wrong, I love animals. Heck, I don't even eat animals. But I've certainly got my fill of search dogs and hearing about body tissue and decomposition and other stuff that doesn't always paint a pretty picture - like McNeil's testimony that body fluids leaked from the mausoleum he works at, so he uses his dogs to test with that... Gross.

Anyway, we just finished up hearing Dr. Larry Myers' testimony. It took about 30 minutes of background information before he actually referenced to anything related to the Anderson case. He testified that when he saw the video of McNeil's search dogs concerning this case, he laughed. He said the search was unreliable. That the dogs showed too many signs of an alert. "There's no evidence McNeil's dogs distinguished between human remains and animal remains." Bellas questioned Myers a little of his opinions and experience. Myers doesn't actually work in the field. He, in fact when training dogs or handlers, creates the environment.

The jurors are about to be excused for the rest of the day - so far they have not seen the light of the courtroom. I wonder if they will be mad when they hear they've been here today for basically nothing. I'll try to watch for any, if there is any, reaction. The defense has one more witness to testify concerning cadaver dogs. Hopefully, everyone cross your fingers, we will hear Judge Cayer's decision concerning this evidence before today's end. I'll be back.

Out of this world testimony

Did you know aliens don't exist? I think most of us believe that, and I'm not poking fun at Jonni Joyce's testimony. She was sincere. She told Bellas she believes humans are not the only beings out there. She believes and is confident of a dog's ability to help on searches. But she does not believe "we will meet martians landing on the courthouse parking lot when we leave here together." She believes in dogs, but she does not believe they are capable of everything. Relating to the Anderson case, she does not believe dogs can pick up on a decomposition scent that was reportedly left at a place on Dec. 29 and the search didn't occur until Jan. 18. She says there are too many factors, such as weather, that affect the odor. However, Joyce did not know the weather that December and January of 2005 and 2006. Joyce did testify that her testimony about McNeil was based on the video we saw yesterday and her perception of his testimony, not any personal experience with McNeil or his dogs.
Dr. Larry Myers took the stand at 12:20. He was talking about his experience when we broke for lunch. He'll return to the stand at 2. Remember, the jurors are not back yet. It's been alluded to that Dr. Myers is the last witness the defense has, although, there is one more dog expert apparently sitting in the crowd... So will this take again another day without using hearing any testimony in front of the jury? We'll see. I'll be back with more around 3:30.

Oh I have to mention this, because I thought it was funny, but it has nothing to do with the Anderson case. A man in the courthouse today, probably in his early 20s, was wearing a bright orange shirt that said State Prison and had a series of numbers underneath. Is he alluding to something? I thought that was humorous amongst all this seriousness this morning.

Still hearing testimony without the jury's presence

(I misspelled Jonni Joyce's first name, so I have gone through and corrected that.)

Jonni Joyce sat in court yesterday. She listened to Roy McNeil's testimony and she took notes. Today, the master dog handler testified that it is her opinion McNeil does not qualify as a cadaver dog handler, let alone an expert witness. Joyce has 20 years experience with law enforcement and dog handling. She is a master trainer with the International Police Work Dog Association. She's written handouts and manuals and taught many seminars. She questioned several of McNeil's practices. She said the first rule she learned of dog handling was documentation. It's not only important for court cases, but also to monitor the progress of the dog. In her opinion, Joyce says volunteer search and rescue handlers are not as organized as law enforcement. Yesterday McNeil said his dogs have several behaviors to indicate a cadaver odor. Such examples are sitting, lying down, pawing at the spot, foaming at the mouth or nosing for a treat. Jonni Joyce testified this morning that's not reliable. She says so many actions to indicate an odor is just a way to get a reward, a treat.

Again, the jury is not present for any of this. All the testimony is to determine the expertise of McNeil and if he should testify to some, all or none about his dogs' searches in front of the jury. Joyce is still on the stand. The prosecution has not had its chance to question her. Hopefully, we will hear Judge Cayer's decision by lunch. I'll be back.

The day is over

Well, what an afternoon. Today we saw basically one witness - Roy McNeil, except for Rachael LeClair, which if you read the previous blog, her time on the stand was extremely brief.
Anyway, today was dominated by McNeil. He's testifying in a mini-hearing about cadaver dogs. The purpose of this hearing is to determine whether or not testimony about cadaver dog searches is suitable for the jurors to hear. Bellas tried to reveal McNeil, from Buncombe County, is an expert and confirm his and his dog's findings concerning the Anderson case. McNeil told Bellas about his 10 to 12 years experience with search dogs. He mentioned seminars and classes around the region and several certificates of that training were submitted as evidence. During cross-examination, Campbell questioned McNeil's expertise. Looking through the certificates, McNeil confirmed some in the stack were duplicates. McNeil testified that some of the courses he took did not directly pertain to cadaver dog training. Campbell entered as evidence a spiral notebook. That notebook was McNeil's memories of cases he and his dogs worked on, since records had been destroyed during a large rain storm. McNeil confirmed that those records in that spiral notebook might not be 100 percent accurate. McNeil testified he did not have records of where he obtained human tissues to train his dog with. He even said he kept samples in a refrigerator so they would preserve for when he needed training materials (uhhh gross). McNeil said he was not part of a national certified organization nor were his dogs national certified. He said he was part of a volunteer group.
During a May meeting with the defense, McNeil said Kolby (one of his cadaver dogs) sometimes drank beer. McNeil confirmed that in court today, actually confirming that the two liked to share a cold one. (That sounds like alcohol abuse to me, not to mention it can't be good for the dog's liver if alcohol isn't good for humans.) McNeil also testified that sometimes, on occasion, moonshine is shared at training seminars, even auctioned off. Moonshine? Wow. Flashback to prohibition.
The day concluded at 5:05 with McNeil being excused from the stand. Now remember, some or half or maybe even all of what was said today might not be heard by the jurors. We did not get that decision from Judge Cayer today. In fact, there was no indication of what will happen in court tomorrow. The jurors were instructed to be back at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow, but it appears the defense has at least three folks to testify concerning the cadaver dog issue, and I'm not sure if the defense has any more witnesses. I guess we'll find out in the morning. Check back in around 11.

Dra-ma!

All right, let me give you some background. Right before lunch, attorneys and Judge Cayer discussed what they should do after the break. Bellas wanted to bring LeClair back so jurors could have a chance to hear cross examination (the defense asking its questions). However, Dubs said she would rather finish the information/testimony concerning the cadaver dogs. Bellas, however, mentioned that LeCalair would be out of the country beginning tomorrow. This was news to Dubs. She seemed appalled she was not informed that information earlier. She argued several of her witnesses for the cadaver dogs hearing flew to get here or drove seven hours. The judge ruled that since the jurors were coming back at 2, LeClair would take the stand for cross-examination.
At 2, LeClair was running about 15 minutes behind. She apologized for her lateness - she was coming from Catawba County. However, when she took the stand Dubs said she had no questions for her. Boy did that get a lot of AHHHS and lots of looks and smiles from the crowd.
After excusing LeClair and the jury, with instructions to return at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow, Cayer said he would have liked to have had that information before LeClair drove here. Dubs apologized saying the decision to not question LeClair came during lunch.

Since, McNeil remains on the stand. I'll do a recap of the tough, tough questioning Campbell is lying on him after the day recesses... .Gotta get back.

What a nose those dogs have

Well, we learned a little bit more of stuff about the cadaver dogs and the Anderson search. McNeil's two dogs, Kiser and Kolby both picked up on a scent of decomposition around a tree in a wooded area near the Anderson farm. Both dogs also picked up on scents around the truck and the toolbox (which seems obvious. We know she was found in the toolbox bolted on the truck.) The dogs also were interested, and I thought this was interesting, in the bucket of the John Deere front end loader detectives seized from the Anderson farm. The dogs never alerted to a scent on the bucket but McNeil testified they were very interested in the bucket and a mat or piece of carpet taken out of the bucket.
The courtroom ( and remember the jurors are not here yet) watched about a 25 minute video of the searches. You can see when the dogs would alert McNeil to a scent. Kiser would put his nose at his treats. He knew he did his job, now it was time for McNeil to hand over his reward. And, Kolby would paw at McNeil.
It was an interesting video. We'll see if Judge Cayer allows it to be viewed in front of the testimony.
Rachael LeClair will be back on the stand at 2 p.m. for the defense to ask questions. That's not expected to take long. Then the jurors will be excused for the day and the mini hearing about the cadaver dogs will continue. It seems like it will take the rest of the day, if not the morning to finish this discussion. I'm looking forward to seeing what the judge decides. Seems like pretty interesting testimony.

Mini-hearing about cadaver dogs underway

I've been looking forward to hearing testimony of the cadaver dog searches. I've covered this case since the beginning and I don't recall learning a lot about cadaver dog searches. So I was looking forward to hearing testimony about it. So far this morning, we haven't heard much specifically about the Emily Anderson case. Roy McNeil, a cadaver dog trainer, talked about his training and experience with cadaver dogs. He said two of his doberman, Kiser and Kolby, worked the Anderson case. Kiser has since passed. (So sad. I hate to hear of animals passing away, hence, why I'm a vegetarian.) McNeil hasn't gone too far into the Anderson case. He's basically talking of other cases Kiser and Kolby have worked on. Kiser, before his death, found two bodies in Lake Norman in the last year. In Bear Lake, in Jackson County, Kiser found at least five bodies in the last three years. Sounds like an incredible doggie... I hope we hear more about Kiser and Kolby's search, only concerning the Anderson case.

Jurors return at 2. Maybe Judge Cayer will make a decision about what evidence the jurors will eventually hear concerning cadaver dogs. However, McNeil is the only witness so far to take the stand, and it appears at two, maybe three others in the courtroom are here to testify about search dogs. I'll be back at lunch.

Consulted divorce attorney testifies

The second witness of the day took the stand around at 4:30. However, attorneys asked Rachel LeClair (and I need a second confirmation on the spelling of her name, since she left before I got to ask her) questions without the juror present. That occurred so Judge Cayer could decide if any of her statements should not be allowed in front of jurors. For example, he said LeClair could not testify that Emily Anderson said Jerry Anderson said he was a god on the dairy farm. The judge ruled that would be double hearsay since LeClair was testifying on what Emily said Jerry said. Other than one other thing - LeClair's perception that Emily was afraid in her marriage - the judge ruled LeClair could testify about her conversation with Emily Anderson.
The two met on Nov. 7, 2005, in LeClair's Hickory office. Emily told LeClair Jerry was her fifth marriage and she was Jerry's third wife. Emily said she and Jerry wed on May 19, 2001. They had no children, and according to LeClair's testimony, Emily said she and Jerry separated briefly for six weeks two years ago (from November 2005). Emily reportedly spent six weeks in Kentucky.
LeClair also testified that Emily said she and Jerry hadn't slept in the same bed in a month and that Jerry had a bad temper. Examples LeClair testified to that were in Emily's words: "He treats me like one of the employees;" "He cusses me out in front of the employees;" "I'm like a child with a parent for a teacher." Then Emily reportedly told LeClair, according to the attorney's testimony, that Jerry, who Emily said is 70 percent deaf, would take out his hearing aides at night so he wouldn't have to listen to Emily.
Those comments got scoff after scoff from the row of Emily's friends and family. They sounded most upset when LeClair testified (without the jury there) that Jerry said he was god on the dairy farm. I'm sure this isn't an easy process for anyone involved. I can't imagine what it's like to have lost a sibling. I also can't imagine what it's like to lose not just one friend, but two.
Court continues at 9:30 tomorrow. The jurors won't be back until 2 because there will be a mini hearing whether or not certain information about cadaver dogs can be used. Then Lisa Dubs and Robert Campbell should be asking their questions of Rachel LeClair.

Afternoon break

Well, not a whole lot has happened to make you want to jump out of your seat and tell your neighbor since lunch. Lt. Tracy Pyle with the Caldwell County Sheriff's Office is still on the stand. He's been on the stand since yesterday afternoon. His testimony didn't start back up until about 2:50. Since, he and Lisa Dubs have gone back and forth. Dubs asked if he knew the temperature in Duncan, S.C., was 60 degrees the three days leading up to the discovery of Emily's body. No, Pyle says, he did not know what the weather was like. He knew it was cold the only day he was down there, the 7th. Dubs asked when the toolbox was first opened if anyone made an effort to find out if the person they thought they saw was still alive just unconscious. Pyle said there was no effort to make sure the person was conscious.
Right before break, Pyle confirmed he issued an affidavit to obtain the records of an Antonia Reyes. Reyes was an employee at the Andersons' dairy farm. Reportedly, Reyes' wife was at the magistrate's office with some information the night investigator's discovered Emily's body. What she told investigators hasn't been revealed yet, maybe in the next hour... We'll find out. I'll be back this afternoon.

"That's a lie" - Pyle about blood underneath the toolbox in Duncan, S.C.

Since the days following the discovery of Emily Anderson's body, folks wondered why it took transporting the truck back to Lenoir before finding Emily Anderson's body. Some critics say the transportation fouled up evidence and hurt the sheriff's office's case. This morning, Pyle testified they did not have the keys to the vehicle or the toolbox. He said the area was secured. He said himself and then-Capt. Jeff Stafford (now Major) examined the area. They walked around the truck, looked into the truck, Pyle testified. Pyle walked around the truck twice taking photos, he said. He testified he saw nothing out of the ordinary to make them believe they were working with a crime scene in that parking lot in Duncan, S.C. Lisa Dubs asked why Pyle didn't photograph the bed of the truck. Pyle said noting appeared out of the ordinary. Dubs asked why he ignored a pool of blood under the toolbox. He said there was no pool of blood under the toolbox in Duncan, S.C. He said, "that's a lie." However, when back in Lenoir photographs Pyle took revealed blood. Pyle says he has no theory how that blood got there, but he is certain it was not there in South Carolina. When Dubs pointed out to Pyle that the blood in the photograph looked dry and appeared to be chipping, he said he wasn't sure how that happened - maybe wind velocity, he said. But Pyle stuck to his testimony. He is certain that blood was not there in Duncan, S.C.
That's where the questioning came to and end before our lunch break. We saw more photos after the mid-morning break. Some where of Emily's Old Navy sweatshirt - where you could see the bullet holes; a cell phone that was damaged; about $30 in cash in her pocket; keys in her pocket; and grass and dirt in her boots.
We have an extended break until 2:30 today because one of the jurors had an appointment. So, I'm not sure if we will still recess at 3:30 or not, but I'll be back regardless sometime this afternoon. For now, I've got to get off my behind... These wooden benches aren't exactly like the living room sofa.

This may be upsetting to some

Emily Anderson's body was discovered laying face down in the toolbox. Lt. Tracy Pyle is on the stand as the trial continues this morning. Right before our break he was showing photos of Emily Anderson as she was found that Jan. 7, 2006, afternoon. She was wearing blue jeans and a dark-colored sweatshirt. She had blood around her face and nose area. There was dirt along her hands, Pyle testified. Investigators collected dirt and grass from the bottom of the toolbox. Blood in the toolbox and blood on a mat that lied in the bed of the pickup also were collected. Emily's face was bloody and bruised. Family and friends were in tears. It is heartbreaking and painful to see - for anyone.
Pyle also testified that there was no smell around the truck - both in South Carolina and after the vehicle was brought back to Lenoir. He said no flies collected around truck. Pyle, who was new to the case that day, said he thought Emily Anderson voluntarily went away. He was not expecting to find her body. He said, "I was taken a back."
I think anyone that knew Emily was. It is a quiet, very quiet courtroom as Pyle continues to discuss the discovery and investigation of Emily Anderson's dead body.

Day 2 of testimony is over

Three more witnesses took the stand Monday afternoon, including former Waffle House employee Bruce Bomar. He told the courtroom he saw a white Chevy truck parked outside the Waffle House for eight days before her body was discovered. On the first Friday night he saw the truck, he testified he saw a man standing in the doorway of the driver's side of the truck. However, he did not id the man as Jerry Anderson. He said the man he saw was white, about 5 feet, 8 inches tall with a crew cut - like a military hair cut. Bomar testified he believed the truck never moved, because it was always in the exact position.
Bomar spoke to officers the day they found the truck. He remembers speaking to then-Capt. Jeff Stafford (now Major), but Stafford had more hair then. That got a chuckle out of everyone. However, Bomar testified that no one from the sheriff's office or DA's office spoke with him until May 16. Then, they came to Duncan, S.C., to show Bomar a lineup of photos. He did not recognize anyone in the line up as the man he says he saw the first night he noticed the truck. That was May 16, 2007 - two days after jury selection began, as Lisa Dubs pointed out. Why they waited so long is beyond me. Wouldn't you want to show him a line up when it's fresh on his mind?
Bomar also included in his testimony that he never saw Emily Anderson - around the truck, in the Waffle House or in Duncan, S.C.

Jerry Anderson was more active in court today. I noticed he wrote notes to his attorneys, and then they'd ask a question. For example, when Mike Griffit was on the stand, Robert Campbell asked him, after whispering with Jerry, if Jerry's name was ever included in the Griffit family Christmas present exchange. Mike Griffit said probably so.
Jerry was dressed in a light pink/light magenta shirt, with a tie and black slacks. He was more involved with his attorneys, but typically kept his head down and rarely looked at the jurors. At one point at the beginning of lunch break, he grinned back at the two rows of supports from Sawmills. That was upsetting to Emily's family... It is a murder trial. Family and friends also filled up two rows.
It's getting a crowded courtroom and the information is only heating up. Tracy Pyle will retake the stand at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow. He was talking about photos he took in Duncan, S.C., of Emily's truck when court recessed.

Waffle House phone call

I don't know what it's doing in the Catawba Valley region, but it is poring down here. The power flickered off in the court room just minutes ago before our afternoon break. At least the crowd got a chuckle when Robert Campbell said he hopes the air conditioner comes back on. It's not that big of a courtroom, especially with a bunch of people. I imagine it could get hot. Well, lets hope we make it through the afternoon with power. I know we need the rain.

So in the last hour and a half, Mike Griffitt, Emily's brother finished up and then Johnny Bolden took the stand. Bolden is a district manager at three Waffle Houses in the Duncan, S.C., area. He took the phone call on Saturday, Jan. 7, around lunch time. The caller said there is a white truck parked out back, Bolden testified, and the truck is wanted in a missing person's case from North Carolina. When Bolden asked the caller who he was, Bolden testified the caller said, "It doesn't matter who I am. I would feel better if you call the police and they check it (the truck) out."
Bolden says he remembers seeing the truck for about 10 days prior to receiving that phone call. The truck was parked behind the Waffle House, but in the hotel, located next door, its parking lot. He feels the truck was never moved.
Later that day, Jan. 7, Emily Anderson's body was found in that truck.

It's getting interesting folks. I'll be back around 5.

Tugging on the heart strings

The tissues were passed around the tears followed during the last hour and a half of conversation. Mike Griffitt, Emily's older brother, took the stand after the mid-morning break was over. He told the jurors that Emily was a very sweet lady, a sweet girl, a very loving lady, she saw the good in almost everybody. He said Emily didn't forget a first name. Mike said his younger sister was not girley. She liked jeans and tennis shoes (I'm the same way, but I prefer flip flops.) While Mike was talking, the two rows of Emily's friends and family, who traveled from as far away as Kentucky and New Jersey, sniffled. Tissues were passed around. And, when Mike broke down just before lunch recess, almost everyone broke down. He was talking about his last conversation with Emily. He had shoulder surgery Dec. 27. She called him the next day. Emily, according to Mike, said she loved him and she couldn't wait to see him at their family Christmas get together, scheduled for Jan. 8.... Emily's body was found Jan. 7. (Doesn't that just tug on your heart, regardless of who is guilty. It's such a shame this woman had to die.)


During the last little bit, the judge ruled that Mike could talk about conversations he and Emily had during their Thanksgiving holiday together. Mike said Emily wanted out of her marriage. Mike confirmed that Emily talked to an attorney - although the judge said Mike could not testify as to what Emily said the attorney said. Mike said Emily said her marriage was loveless. The affection went away a long time ago. Emily wanted to move back up to Kentucky. She had plans to build a house, find part time work and raise calves.


Mike will be back on the stand at 2 when court reconvenes.

Caldwell County Sheriff's Capt. Chris Brackett testified this morning that Jerry Anderson's behavior was odd the day after Emily went missing. Brackett said he was at the farm with Jerry for about an hour before a vigil was scheduled at Dry Ponds Baptist Church. Brackett testified that Jerry talked more about the dairy industry and the couple's potential farm in Tennessee than Emily's disappearance. Brackett says in most situations the husbands, or next of kin, typically ask more about the investigation... What do you have? Have you learned anything? Instead, Brackett, says Jerry was either talking about the farm or was quiet.
When Lisa Dubs asked her questions, she asked if Brackett took notes on the conversation he had with Jerry that day, Dec. 30, at the farm. Brackett said no. She also asked if Brackett told Jerry, as well as the congregation of Dry Ponds Baptist Church, that the sheriff's office believed Emily just ran away. Brackett said yes he told them that, but he also said he told folks investigators had not ruled out anything, and Jerry had not been ruled out as a suspect.
Brackett is still on the stand. Dubs just finished up her questioning. We'll learn if the state redirects.