Found Deceased AZ - Isabella Grogan-Cannella, 8, Bullhead City, 2 September 2014 *Arrest* - #5

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Greater Than

Greater Than

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Isabella Neveah Grogan-Cannella

Isabella Grogan-Cannella: Staring at monsters
William Pitts, 12 News azcentral.com
6:14 a.m. MST September 5, 2014

[...]

Isabella Grogan-Cannella was buried here. She'd been missing for days and the Bullhead City Police Department had gotten help from almost every agency you can think of: FBI, county sheriffs, even the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. They'd all searched the neighborhood, neighbors searched their own small backyards. There'd been no signs of forced entry, no sign of struggle. Isabella's sister had been home and never heard a thing. She'd gone to the bathroom and when she came back -- Bella was gone. So was her mom's friend Justin Rector.
'Family Friend' Arrested for Murder of Arizona Girl Isabella Grogan-Cannella
First published September 4th 2014, 12:50 pm
NBC News

Early Thursday morning, Justin James Rector, 26, of Bullhead City, was arrested for kidnapping and first-degree murder, Bullhead City Police said.

On Wednesday, a shallow grave was discovered by a tracking unit with the Mohave County Search and Rescue Team near Chaparral and Newberry Drive in Bullhead City, which is close to Grogan-Cannella's home. The body has since been identified as the girl's, police said.
http://www.mohavedailynews.com/laug...cle_fedcae46-32df-11e4-ae32-0019bb2963f4.html

http://www.azinews.com/2014/09/02/police-searching-for-missing-girl/


AZ - Isabella Grogan-Cannella Media Links, Timeline, and Images ***NO DISCUSSION***

Thread #1

Thread #2

Thread #3

Thread #4
 
Thank you for the new thread, Greater Than....
We are still here, BabyGirl!
:candle:
#JusticeForBella
:rose:


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
kimi_SFC said:
Thank you for the new thread, Greater Than....
We are still here, BabyGirl!
:candle:
#JusticeForBella
:rose:


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Yes, yes we are. And we ain't going anywhere!

#JusticeForBella
 
KINGMAN — A Superior Court judge ruled Friday that factors could be presented to the jury in the trial of a Bullhead City man accused of killing a young girl.
...
On the second anniversary of Grogan-Cannella’s death, Deputy Mohave County Attorney Greg McPhillips argued three aggravated factors for a jury to decide whether to sentence Rector to death. One factor is that there were other serious crimes committed during the murder including kidnapping and child abuse.

The other factors include that the murder was cruel and heinous and that the victim was under the age of 15. Only one of 14 aggravating factors needs to be proven to seek the death penalty.
...
Rector’s attorney, Gerald Gavin, argued that there was no evidence of sexual abuse and there was no evidence the murder was cruel or heinous compared to other death row inmates whose victims were tortured over time. He argued that Bella’s murder was a quick instance. Gavin did concede the factor that Bella was under the age of 15.

http://www.mohavedailynews.com/news...cle_293c25f8-7272-11e6-9ec7-7375b1dae9cd.html
http://www.mohavecourts.com/highprofile/highprofileRector.htm
 
WARNING: link contains GRAPHIC DETAILS - redacted in respect to the victim :(

Detective reveals murdered Bullhead City girl was sexually assaulted

Story by Bob Leal
Monday, September 5, 2016

KINGMAN – A Bullhead City Police detective in a hearing Friday contradicted a long held – and repeatedly reported – aspect of the now-two-year-old murder of 8-year-old Bella Grogan-Cannella, whose partially clad body was discovered in a shallow grave Sept. 2, 2014.

The initial report from the Mohave County Medical Examiner indicated there was no physical evidence that Grogan-Cannella had been sexually assaulted when her autopsy was conducted, but Detective Brandon Grasse said (Redacted - click link for GRAPHIC DETAILS)

Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith determined the state would seek the death penalty against Justin James Rector, the man accused of killing her, and on Friday Judge Lee Jantzen decided there were aggravating circumstances that support Smith’s position.

Jantzen reset the jury trial for May 1, 2017. It was originally scheduled for October of this year. Both the defense attorney and prosecutor were instructed by Jantzen to provide written updates to him Nov. 4.

The aggravating factors included the girl’s age and the cruelty involved in the way Rector allegedly killed Bella were enough for Jantzen to rule it a death penalty case.
[...]
Prosecutor Greg McPhillips asked Grasse to comment on the autopsy and how Bella died.
“Asphyxia due to strangulation,” Grasse said. (Redacted - click link for GRAPHIC DETAILS)
“It was cruel and it was horrible,” said McPhillips.
Defense attorney Gerald Gavin of Mesa told Jantzen he didn’t know Grasse was going to testify and that he wanted a two-week delay so he could have time to question Grasse’s testimony. He was denied.
“It’s time to move forward on this case,” said Jantzen.
[...]

More@link:
http://m.kdminer.com/news/2016/sep/05/detective-reveals-murdered-bullhead-city-girl-was-/

:anguish:

#JusticeForBella!!!


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Does that mean she was sexually assaulted prior to being murdered? I'm confused that the ME said there was no sexual assault.


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I don't think it surprises any of us who followed poor Bella's case, about this "new" information. So hard to believe it was already 2 years ago :(
 
BULLHEAD CITY — Parks personnel completed the installation at Bella’s Rock Garden with a memorial stone honoring the garden’s namesake and all children lost to neglect and abuse.

“I could have never imagined it would turn into this lovely place,” said Rose Fox, creator of the garden. “I couldn’t be happier. The city workers have done an amazing job and I can’t thank them enough for all their help.
...
Fueled by social media, Bella’s Rock Garden grew to hundreds of decorated rocks, some sent from as far away as Canada, Australia and New Zealand, which were placed in a heart-shaped memorial near Don Sullivan Pavilion at Rotary Park.
Click to expand...

http://www.mohavedailynews.com/news...cle_c75ecba0-8ebf-11e6-b35e-33cf038bc598.html

Nice photo of the memorial stone at the link.
 
Rector on track for May trial

Rector’s attorney, Gerald Gavin, said the case is proceeding with numerous documents being collected and interviews being conducted. Several dozen more interviews still need to be completed.

Gavin also said he is trying to negotiate with a half-dozen mitigation experts to testify on his client’s behalf at trial.
...
Superior Court Judge Lee Jantzen set a deadline of Jan. 13 for the defense to provide its list of mitigation experts to the prosecutor. Jantzen also set Rector’s next hearing for Jan. 27.

Jantzen also said he does not want to postpone Rector’s trial any longer. Rector’s trial is set for May 1, 2017.
Click to expand...

http://www.mohavedailynews.com/news...cle_52647da4-a3e6-11e6-b945-130d68c005f8.html
 
Trial in slaying of girl may be postponed: Rector defense attorney says more than 600 witnesses sought for interviews
By JIM SECKLER The Daily News | Posted: Saturday, January 28, 2017 11:33 pm

Rector’s attorney, Gerald Gavin, said Friday that he is in the process of locating about 250 witnesses for mitigation research and more than 600 witnesses altogether to interview.

Gavin also said he has nine large binders of documents with about half of those binders dealing with mental health issues. He said he expects to use a mental health defense at trial. Gavin said he also expects to file motions for funding for defense experts.

Gavin also filed a motion to seal Rector’s juvenile records . . . The motion also asked for funding for defense experts and a motion to renew a request for a list of the prosecutor’s confidential witnesses.

Superior Court Judge Lee Jantzen set Rector’s next hearing for March 24. The judge also set a deadline of Feb. 24 for the defense to provide an update on the mitigation progress. Jantzen also said he believes Rector’s trial, which is currently set for May 1, may be postponed.
Click to expand...
 
Rector defense expecting to use ‘mental health’
BHC man accused in Bella Grogan-Cannella sexual assault, murder case
By Hubble Ray Smith | Originally Published: January 29, 2017 6:03 a.m.


KINGMAN – Defense attorneys are attempting to contact some 700 witnesses and gather mental health records to spare accused murderer Justin James Rector from death row, should he be convicted.

During a status conference Friday, Mohave County Superior Court Judge Lee Jantzen said he’s not vacating the May 1 trial date for Rector, but he’s starting to think it’s going to be delayed again. The trial was originally scheduled for October.

Jantzen set the next status hearing for 1:30 p.m. March 24.

(. . . )
Click to expand...
 
byo said:
Trial in slaying of girl may be postponed: Rector defense attorney says more than 600 witnesses sought for interviews
By JIM SECKLER The Daily News | Posted: Saturday, January 28, 2017 11:33 pm
Click to expand...

byo said:
Rector defense expecting to use ‘mental health’
BHC man accused in Bella Grogan-Cannella sexual assault, murder case
By Hubble Ray Smith | Originally Published: January 29, 2017 6:03 a.m.
Click to expand...

Oh for Pete's sake!! Rector's "mental health" issues are about being an opportunistic sexual predator boosted by habitual meth use. He should never walk the streets again and it would be best to put him to sleep as we would a rabid dog. He is of no value to society.

Gavin's been his lawyer for what, two years? This is a stall tactic, intended to get Rector off death row. Frankly, I'd be okay with him getting LWOP if it is truly LWOP. His lawyers are draining Mohave County's money for what? Funding for this, funding for that. It's ridiculous that attorneys can play such a game, supposedly in the best interests of their clients.

What about the victim?
 
Oh I agree wholeheartedly MsMarple, with all you've expressed. Even just *seeing* Bella's thread come up again incites feelings of anger and disgust at not only Rector but those who willfully placed poor Bella in harm's way in the first place.

It may be slow, but justice is coming for Bella.
 
Gavin wants more time.

Rector’s attorney, Gerald Gavin, assigned to the case two years ago this month, filed several more motions including one to allow adequate time to prepare for a death penalty case. Gavin took the case in March 2015 and co-counsel Julia Cassels was assigned to the case in July 2016.

Gavin said Cassels had to review 12,000 pages of documents as well as numerous audio and video recordings. Cassels as well as the defense investigator also had to develop a rapport with Rector, which can only be done at the county jail.

Gavin said if Superior Court Judge Lee Jantzen denies adequate time to prepare for a complex capital murder case, Rector will suffer denial of his state and federal constitutional rights.
Click to expand...

http://www.mohavedailynews.com/news...cle_783d63d4-fe53-11e6-bb52-833c49ad8c9a.html

For Pete's sake, just take the DP off the table and get on with it! Gavin also filed a bunch of new motions.

http://www.mohavecourts.com/highprofile/highprofileRector.htm
 
This annoys me to no end. He's had the case for 2 years, has co-counsel but still needs more time? I wonder how long it took him to get his law degree?
 
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