GUILTY FL - Voncile Smith, 77, & two sons brutally murdered, Pensacola, 28 July 2015 *Arrest*

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[URL='https://twitter.com/cathyrusson']Cathy Russon[URL='https://twitter.com/cathyrusson']@cathyrusson[/URL][/URL]
#HartungTrial - Purifoy says his reduced sentence of life to 30 years isn't much a benefit for him since he'll be in his 70's in 30 years.

Cathy Russon@cathyrusson

#HartungTrial - Following the break the judge read this statute to the jury about Substantial Assistance: http://leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0900-0999/0921/Sections/0921.186.html…
10:55 AM · Jan 24, 2020
 
I gotta say State came prepared. They're bringing all the witnesses and tying up all the loose ends. I'm very proud of the way they're handling this prosecution. There's no one else who would have the motive and the opportunity to commit this crime. At this point I feel they have proven it beyond a reasonable doubt.
 
Cathy Russon@cathyrusson

#HartungTrial - Son says when he was little his uncle John exposed himself to him. He told his mom who told his dad. He dad (defendant) told his mother who sided with John. Earlier the jailhouse informant said Hartung told him about this and part of why he was mad at him mom.


2:03 PM · Jan 24, 2020


Cathy Russon[URL='https://twitter.com/cathyrusson']@cathyrusson[/URL]

#HartungTrial - The son says he hadn't seen his father since he was 17, he would occasionally talk on the phone with him.


[URL='https://twitter.com/LawCrimeNetwork']Law & Crime Network[URL='https://twitter.com/LawCrimeNetwork']@LawCrimeNetwork[/URL][/URL]
#HartungTrial - Court is adjourning for the weekend. The state will rest their case on Monday.
https://twitter.com/cathyrusson/status/1220798758461431809/photo/1
 

Donald Hartung Trial Day 4 - Marlin Purifoy - Jailhouse Informant
 

Donald Hartung Trial Day 4 - Recalled Agt Matt Infinger, Jessica Bohon Probate, Wayne Right
 
Weki said:
I gotta say State came prepared. They're bringing all the witnesses and tying up all the loose ends. I'm very proud of the way they're handling this prosecution. There's no one else who would have the motive and the opportunity to commit this crime. At this point I feel they have proven it beyond a reasonable doubt.
Click to expand...
I think the State came very prepared. I would say the Florida trials I have watched the DA has come very prepared. I guess except the CA trial which I did not watch or was it the jury. Sometimes the jail informants are hard to believe, this one seemed very confident.
 
Jewels53 said:
I think the State came very prepared. I would say the Florida trials I have watched the DA has come very prepared. I guess except the CA trial which I did not watch or was it the jury. Sometimes the jail informants are hard to believe, this one seemed very confident.
Click to expand...

Yeah I personally do not like jail informants. They are untrustworthy, generally speaking. And more often than not they make the state look desperate. But this one knew about John molesting/exposing himself to Hartung Jr., which he would only know if Hartung Sr. told him. He knew about the safe in the closet that LE hadn't even found yet. He knew about the mom's finger being cut off. He knew about the Wiccan priest and state verified that information. He was credible and state did a good job of showing he couldn't have known that stuff from the discovery files.

Hartung Jr is about to reap the benefits of a deadbeat/murderous father and his creepy family. $800k to be exact!! Whew!! He seemed like an upstanding guy. And you could tell he'd cut his father out of his heart a long time ago.
 
Monday, January 27th:
*Trial continues (Day 5) (@9am ET) – FL – Voncile Smith (77), Richard Thomas Smith (49) & John William Smith (47) (July 28, 2015, Pensacola) - *Donald Wayne Hartung, Sr. (63 in 2015; now 69) arrested & charged (10/27/15) with 3 counts of premeditated 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. Held without bond. DA will seek DP.
All three bodies were found beaten with claw hammers. All three had their throats slit, & Richard Smith was found with a gunshot wound to the head. Authorities have evidence that led them to believe witchcraft was somehow involved in their deaths, saying it was a ritualistic act. Investigators noted that their murders occurred on the night of a blue moon, which is heavily referenced in witchcraft lore. Motive per DA – money.
Trial began on 1/13/20 with Jury selection thru 1/17/20 when jury is completed. Trial began on 1/21/20.
1/21/20 Day 1: Opening statements. State witnesses: Special Agent Andrew Smith (with FDLE). Hal McCord (Dept of Homeland Security). Daryl Singleton (Former Officer). Christine Rollins (Former crime scene tech). Trial continues on 1/22.
1/22/20 Day 2: State witnesses: Christine Rollins (Former Crime Scene Tech). Lindsay Eliopulo. Sgt. Rusty Bjorensen. Lawrence Masita (Crime Scene Unit). Rachel Smith (Latent Print Examiner). Tammy Dunkin (DHS). Kevin Pallamino (FPS Employee). George Jacobi (DHS). Brandon Garrison (Walmart Employee). Diva Holland. Daid Flatt (Friend of John's). Trial continues on 1/23.
1/23/20 Day 3: State witnesses: Jurors watched Hartung's police interview this morning. The first video is about 1.5 hours. This interview was conducted on the day the bodies were found on July 31, 2015. Special Agent Matt Infinger (with FDLE; did 1st interview w/defendant). 2nd interview on Aug. 1, 2015 shown to jurors. Special Agent Christopher Williams. Brad Gordon. Trial continues on 1/24.
1/24/20 Day 4: State witnesses: Marlin Purifoy (jailhouse informant). Recalled Special Agent Matt Infinger. Jessica Bohon (Probate). Wayne Right. Seaborn Rodenbury, Jr, (Attorney). Mark Bailey (Defendant's Co-worker). Donald Hartung. Jr. (defendant's son). Trial continues on 1/27 when the State will rest their case.

 
 
Cathy Russon@cathyrusson

#HartungTrial - DNA analyst testifying. Hartung is included as a possible contributor in a mixture on the hammer handle. There is also DNA in the mixture from an unknown person - not victims or defendant.

Cathy Russon@cathyrusson

#HartungTrial - Former medical examiner Dr. Andrea Minyard is testifying. Donald Hartung looks at an autposy photo of his half-brother, John Smith. The photo is being described with wounds in John's head "consistent" with the claw of a hammer.

Cathy Russon@cathyrusson

#HartungTrial - M.E.: John Smith had no defensive wounds. Stomach contents: green beans, corn.

Cathy Russon@cathyrusson

#HartungTrial - M.E.: 78-year-old Voncille Smith's tip of her left pinky finger is "traumatically amputated".
1:42 PM · Jan 27, 2020
 
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