GUILTY FL - Joleen Cummings, 34, Nassau Co, 12 May 2018 *ARREST*

[Peachykeen]

Accused Fla. killer Kimberly Kessler incompetent to stand trial | firstcoastnews.com

Accused killer Kimberly Kessler incompetent to stand trial, doctor says
She was previously deemed incompetent to stand trial in 2020, but Circuit Judge James Daniel overruled that determination.

NASSAU, Fla. — Just 80 pounds following a hunger strike and allegedly prone to spreading and throwing feces, Kimberly Kessler has presented mental health issues almost since her arrest on murder charges in 2018.

Now, a doctor has found her mentally incompetent to stand trial, according to court records.

 

[PommyMommy]

JUN 30, 2021
Butler Co. woman missing for decades, charged in Florida murder found competent to stand trial – WPXI
Kimberly Kessler, the woman facing a murder charge in the death of Florida mother Joleen Cummings, was once again ruled competent to stand trial on Wednesday.

[...]

She was brought into the latest competency hearing strapped on in a wheelchair, repeatedly yelling, “Jordan Beard is Joleen Cummings’ cousin” and was kicked out to a holding cell where she appeared via Zoom.

Kessler was originally ruled incompetent to stand trial at the beginning of July of 2019 in a Florida court and was committed to a state hospital.

 

[Kankan]

JUN 30, 2021
Butler Co. woman missing for decades, charged in Florida murder found competent to stand trial – WPXI
Kimberly Kessler, the woman facing a murder charge in the death of Florida mother Joleen Cummings, was once again ruled competent to stand trial on Wednesday.

[...]

She was brought into the latest competency hearing strapped on in a wheelchair, repeatedly yelling, “Jordan Beard is Joleen Cummings’ cousin” and was kicked out to a holding cell where she appeared via Zoom.

Kessler was originally ruled incompetent to stand trial at the beginning of July of 2019 in a Florida court and was committed to a state hospital.

Wow. Strapped down in a wheelchair? I guess whatever it takes right? Lol

 

[Crimescenetape]

Kessler is doing all she can not to go to trial. In the recorded prison phone calls she sounded lucid. If the courts don't intervene I think she will starve herself to death. The pictures of Kessler with her weight changes, wigs and different alias'...I never would have guessed they were all the same woman. That takes skills I don't believe a mentally ill woman would have the where-with-all to pull off. She isn't ill. She is cunning. My opinions.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Kimberly Kessler’s trial in murder of Joleen Cummings pushed back

Kimberly Kessler’s trial in the 2018 murder of her co-worker Joleen Cummings, set for next month, has been pushed back until December 6.

Both the prosecution and defense agreed more time was needed to litigate the numerous defense motions to have evidence suppressed.

There will be a daylong motion hearing on Aug. 23.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Defense asks judge to submit questionnaire to potential jurors in Kimberly Kessler trial

After the judge ruled a second time in June that Kessler is competent for prosecution, a December trial date was set. Ahead of the trial, defense lawyers have asked the judge to submit a questionnaire to potential jurors.

In the two-page motion, the defense cites media coverage of the case no less than six times, calling it “focused intensely,” “extensively,” “significant,” and “pervasive.” Defense lawyers also cite social media discussion of the case, including a “sleuth group” that’s posted and commented for years.

The defense has also re-filed a series of motions to throw out virtually all the physical evidence in the case. Those motions will be taken up at a hearing on Sept. 22.

 

[Jax49]

Watch: Kimberly Kessler due in court for all-day hearing to suppress evidence at murder trial | firstcoastnews.com

Live coverage of hearing.

 

[Jax49]

Joleen Cummings' accused killer due in court for evidence hearing | firstcoastnews.com

 

[Gardenista]

Here's the hearing

 

[Gardenista]

More of the hearing and clips at this link

https://www.youtube.com/c/FirstCoastNews/videos

 

[Jax49]

Judge denies all defense motions to suppress evidence in Kimberly Kessler trial

Judge denies all defense motions to suppress evidence in Kimberly Kessler trial

 

[JerseyGirl]

Judge denies all defense motions to suppress evidence in Kimberly Kessler trial

Judge denies all defense motions to suppress evidence in Kimberly Kessler trial

Kessler’s trial is still scheduled for December. Her pretrial hearing has been moved to Oct. 28.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Kimberly Kessler disrupts another court hearing as judge aims to proceed with December 6 trial

 

[TootsieFootsie]

19 new motions filed by Kimberly Kessler's attorneys

 

[JaxFlaGal]

Judge grants 16 defense motions to suppress evidence in Kimberly Kessler’s trial

Judge grants 16 defense motions to suppress evidence in Kimberly Kessler’s trial
"A lot of the evidence would’ve been hearsay, including from five men identified as Kessler’s ex-boyfriends and female jail inmates in Nassau and St. Johns counties.

The judge also ruled the prosecution can not tell the jury about Kessler’s 17 aliases, the four wigs found in her storage unit or about the two machetes that were found in Cummings’ SUV."

Next court date: 11/16
trial still scheduled for 12/6.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Kimberly Kessler murder trial on track for jury selection Dec. 6

 

[JaxFlaGal]

Jury selection begins Monday 11/29.
Jury selection for Kimberly Kessler murder trial to start Monday


from Jury selection begins tomorrow in Kimberly Kessler case

"The defense filed a motion for the change of venue, which would move the trial out of Nassau County. A decision has yet to be made on that request."

 

[Jax49]

Kimberly Kessler escorted out of courtroom again as jury selection begins in murder trial

Kessler was brought into the courtroom as proceedings began Monday around 8:30 a.m. but was promptly removed seconds later after she yelled “Jordan Beard is Joleen’s cousin.” The outburst, which she has repeated at nearly every court appearance, is an accusation about one of her defense attorneys that has been proven untrue.

 

[JaxFlaGal]

Kimberly Kessler escorted out of courtroom again as jury selection begins in murder trial

Not a bit surprising, IMO. I think it was a question of when, not if, she was going to disrupt the court proceedings today. Her accusations have been proven untrue (and there also 2 other public defenders as her co-counsel), but I fully expect her to continue outbursts like that throughout the trial.

Another article & video: Jury selection begins in the Kimberly Kessler trial
"But a few seconds after she was brought in in a wheelchair, she began to scream, “Jordan Beard is Joleen’s cousin and I refuse this assigned counsel.”"

 

[JaxFlaGal]

Prosecutors are preparing for Kessler's next outburst:
Motion requests Kimberly Kessler’s trial not be delayed should she be absent during hearing
"prosecutors are asking the trial not be delayed if Kessler voluntarily chooses not to participate or is removed from court. Should that happen, they’re asking the jury be instructed not to speculate about Kessler’s absence or let it affect their deliberations on the evidence presented to them."