Both juries were selected by last Thursday evening; the process didn’t run over into Friday.
Tomorrow the trials of Paul and Matt Jones–accused of murdering Shannon Marie Siders in the summer of 1989–begin with a scheduled start of 8:30. There will be lots of news reporters offering updates; I won’t be one of them. My goal is to just be there.
Much has transpired and I am dilatory in posting.
First, the accused murderers of Shannon Marie Siders–brothers Paul and Matt Jones–are scheduled for trial next Monday, April 20. Before that, this Wednesday, Thursday, and possibly Friday, the goal is to seat a jury,well, two juries–one for each defendant. Each day 150 people will be offered up, and it’s up to the prosecutors and the defense to make their best selections. One day is set for each defendant, with Friday for any left over matters. The defense had asked for a change of venue last month. It was denied, pending being able to seat the juries.
I have determined that I cannot video the trial. I just cannot do it. So I’m trying to deal with letting that limitation sink in.
And, at the same time, the accused murderer of Joel Battaglia, Aurelias J. Marshall, was to have faced trial on perjury charges. That has been postponed until after his murder trial (that begins June 1).
There is a whole lot that’s going to be happening very quickly here. Let us pray for justice.
This evening, beginning at 7 p.m., I’ll have the opportunity to appear before members of the Rockford Area Historical Society. The topic? Murder as History. I hope it goes well and is of value to people who attend.
A few weeks ago I had the great good pleasure to appear as a panelist with Blaine Pardoe and Mardi Jo Link, both fine authors of true crime, at a meeting of the Historical Society of Michigan. Although the genre has a lurid past (and often present, too), Link and Pardoe are true scholars of the crime and the time. Both elements come through.
Link is the author of the award-winning memoir, Bootstrapper, as well as three true crime books about historic and unsolved murders, including When Evil Came to Good Hart, and Isadore’s Secret. Her most recent, Wicked Takes the Witness Stand, is a New York Times Crime & Punishment bestseller.  She is a two-time recipient of the Michigan Notable Book Award, winner of the Great Lakes Bookseller’s Choice Award, as well as Creative-Nonfiction’s “Anger & Revenge†essay prize. She lives in Traverse City. her forthcoming book is The Drummond Girls.
Blaine Pardoe’s most recent true crime book, The Murder of Maggie Hume (co-written with his daughter) was a New York Times Crime & Punishment bestseller. His other true crime books in print also include Secret Witness, Murder in Battle Creek, and Sawney Bean. He is a winner of the Historical Society of Michigan’s State History Award; has been awarded twice by the Military Writers Society of America; and was awarded the Harriet Quimby Award from the Michigan Aviation Hall of Fame for his contributions to aviation history. He has been a guest speaker at the U.S. National Archives, the Smithsonian, and at the U.S. Naval Academy. He lives in Virginia.
We had a blast.