The murder trial for suspected killer Richard Earl Geiger, who is accused of stabbing his girlfriend with a knife, was continued because officials are awaiting a mental evaluation.
Geiger, who currently is at the D. Ray James Correctional Facility, faces two counts of murder, one count of aggravated assault and one count of possession of a knife during the commission of a crime. He is being represented by public defender Williams A. Brett.
Geiger allegedly stabbed his girlfriend, Rosie L. Smith, to death after a domestic dispute. He reportedly hid her body in the closet of her Raintree Apartments home in March 2007. Geiger was picked up in Brooklet the morning after the stabbing. He was hiding in a wooded field on Black Creek Church Road just behind Bulloch High School.
The pair reportedly argued after Smith spent some time with her estranged husband, Larry Smith, who was in town from Fayetteville, N.C., looking for work.
Investigators think Geiger was in the apartment when Smith arrived home after seeing her estranged spouse.
Hinesville Police Department Chief of Detectives Maj. Thomas Cribbs said a domestic dispute between Smith and Geiger ensued and the stabbing allegedly took place during the argument.
Witnesses outside the building watched someone fitting Geiger’s description flee the scene on foot near the time of the stabbing.
Shortly after 8 p.m. the same day, Larry Smith arrived at the apartment to find his wife’s body lying partially inside a hallway closet.
On June 2, Liberty Superior Court Judge D. Jay Stewart granted the defense’s motion for a mental evaluation but, according to Wednesday’s criminal calendar hearings, the evaluation is still pending.
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Suspected killer Jason Howard will be arraigned July 13 before Judge Jay Stewart at Liberty County jail court. Howard, who gained notoriety when his case was profiled on “America’s Most Wanted,” faces six counts of murder, two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of possession of a firearm or knife during the commission of a crime and two counts of concealing the death of another. He allegedly killed his mother and stepfather, Mildred and Jewel Cleveland, at their Gum Branch home in 2004. He was on the lam for five years but was caught in Macon on March 27 for allegedly breaking into cars.
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Dawnetta Rice, who faces one count of child molestation, aggravated sodomy and two counts of child molestation, will go before Stewart for a hearing on July 23.
Rice was charged Aug. 25, 2006, for allegedly molesting a female under the age of 16 on or about July 22, 2006. Although her original bond was denied, she later posted a $60,000 bond, which was set Aug. 28, 2006.
Rice was indicted by a Liberty County grand jury in February 2007 and she entered a not guilty plea on April 9, 2007. Her initial bond stipulated she could not have any contact with the victim or the victim’s family. On Nov. 19, 2007, the bond stipulation was amended so she could have contact with the victim’s family
for Thanksgiving. However, Rice was not to be in contact with the victim without adult supervision.
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In the case of the state v. Andrea Renee Wilson, the case was continued due to a schedule conflict with Wilson’s attorney, Richard Darden, and a leave of absence of her other attorney, Brian L. Daly. Wilson and co-defendant Corey Brown face four counts of murder and two counts of cruelty to children for the alleged involvement and death of Wilson’s 3-year-old cousin Prince C. Davis Jr.
Wilson and her boyfriend were arrested in January 2007 when EMS crews were dispatched to Wilson’s home and found the child unresponsive. The toddler was later pronounced dead at Liberty Regional Medical Center. Initial autopsy reports revealed the child died of blunt force trauma and malnutrition. Davis had reportedly been in Wilson and Brown’s care for about 10 months. Authorities have little information regarding the child’s mother.
The state has indicated they will seek the death penalty for both Wilson and Brown. Brown was found mentally competent to stand trial after evaluations in June 2007 and December 2007.
Geiger, who currently is at the D. Ray James Correctional Facility, faces two counts of murder, one count of aggravated assault and one count of possession of a knife during the commission of a crime. He is being represented by public defender Williams A. Brett.
Geiger allegedly stabbed his girlfriend, Rosie L. Smith, to death after a domestic dispute. He reportedly hid her body in the closet of her Raintree Apartments home in March 2007. Geiger was picked up in Brooklet the morning after the stabbing. He was hiding in a wooded field on Black Creek Church Road just behind Bulloch High School.
The pair reportedly argued after Smith spent some time with her estranged husband, Larry Smith, who was in town from Fayetteville, N.C., looking for work.
Investigators think Geiger was in the apartment when Smith arrived home after seeing her estranged spouse.
Hinesville Police Department Chief of Detectives Maj. Thomas Cribbs said a domestic dispute between Smith and Geiger ensued and the stabbing allegedly took place during the argument.
Witnesses outside the building watched someone fitting Geiger’s description flee the scene on foot near the time of the stabbing.
Shortly after 8 p.m. the same day, Larry Smith arrived at the apartment to find his wife’s body lying partially inside a hallway closet.
On June 2, Liberty Superior Court Judge D. Jay Stewart granted the defense’s motion for a mental evaluation but, according to Wednesday’s criminal calendar hearings, the evaluation is still pending.
•••
Suspected killer Jason Howard will be arraigned July 13 before Judge Jay Stewart at Liberty County jail court. Howard, who gained notoriety when his case was profiled on “America’s Most Wanted,” faces six counts of murder, two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of possession of a firearm or knife during the commission of a crime and two counts of concealing the death of another. He allegedly killed his mother and stepfather, Mildred and Jewel Cleveland, at their Gum Branch home in 2004. He was on the lam for five years but was caught in Macon on March 27 for allegedly breaking into cars.
•••
Dawnetta Rice, who faces one count of child molestation, aggravated sodomy and two counts of child molestation, will go before Stewart for a hearing on July 23.
Rice was charged Aug. 25, 2006, for allegedly molesting a female under the age of 16 on or about July 22, 2006. Although her original bond was denied, she later posted a $60,000 bond, which was set Aug. 28, 2006.
Rice was indicted by a Liberty County grand jury in February 2007 and she entered a not guilty plea on April 9, 2007. Her initial bond stipulated she could not have any contact with the victim or the victim’s family. On Nov. 19, 2007, the bond stipulation was amended so she could have contact with the victim’s family
for Thanksgiving. However, Rice was not to be in contact with the victim without adult supervision.
•••
In the case of the state v. Andrea Renee Wilson, the case was continued due to a schedule conflict with Wilson’s attorney, Richard Darden, and a leave of absence of her other attorney, Brian L. Daly. Wilson and co-defendant Corey Brown face four counts of murder and two counts of cruelty to children for the alleged involvement and death of Wilson’s 3-year-old cousin Prince C. Davis Jr.
Wilson and her boyfriend were arrested in January 2007 when EMS crews were dispatched to Wilson’s home and found the child unresponsive. The toddler was later pronounced dead at Liberty Regional Medical Center. Initial autopsy reports revealed the child died of blunt force trauma and malnutrition. Davis had reportedly been in Wilson and Brown’s care for about 10 months. Authorities have little information regarding the child’s mother.
The state has indicated they will seek the death penalty for both Wilson and Brown. Brown was found mentally competent to stand trial after evaluations in June 2007 and December 2007.