Closing arguments and jury deliberations are right around the corner, the former set to begin as soon as March 25 in the trial of three suspects in a Seabeck quadruple murder.
Prosecutors rested their case March 12, using the better part of three months to work their way through dozens of witnesses. Legal counsel for the defendants – Danie Jay Kelly Jr., Robert James Watson III and Johnny James Watson – followed suit less than a week later on March 18. The three men are accused of first-degree murder among other charges for their alleged roles in the deaths of John Derek Careaga, 43, Christale Lynn Careaga, 37, Hunter Evan Schaap, 16, and Johnathon Felipe Higgins, 16.
The final witness of the trial, Kelly’s girlfriend Danielle Strand, was called to speak to the whereabouts and activity of Kelly the night and following day of the murder. The two had always been friends, but their romance was described by Strand as on and off again.
She was asked to speak about Kelly’s technology use, beginning a conversation about his use of what were often treated as fairly disposable cell phones. “He was hard on phones,” Strand said. “They fall off of roofs, he runs them over, they drop in mud puddles.”
Prosecutors have alleged that a cell phone belonging to Kelly was very active the night of the murders, hitting off multiple cell towers in the 10 p.m. timeframe despite claims from Strand that he was at her house that night, even saying he woke up “shocked” to hear the news.
She was also asked about the layout of her house, even being asked to provide a drawn layout in front of the jury. One aspect mentioned was bells used as a training mechanism for her dog.
“There was a bell on both doors,” she said, later adding it would be “impossible” for Kelly to have left the house without her knowledge.
Philip Bacus with the prosecution questioned the consistency of testimony between various police reports and her in-court answers that day. Utilizing a February 2017 report, he began a pattern of questioning asking if she could recall a certain statement. “I don’t recall saying that,” she would say. Bacus would then ask. “But that’s what the reports indicate?” She would then say, “Yes.”
Following the witness’ excusal and the remaining legal counsel teams’ declarations to rest, Judge Kevin Hull informed the 16 remaining jurors – two had been excused for various reasons – that closing arguments would likely begin March 25. Jury deliberations could then begin March 29. Legal counsel will use the week to prepare jury instructions and argue remaining issues and motions.
