GA - Mary & Elwyn Crocker Jr, both 14, starved, beaten & buried, Effingham Cnty, 20 Dec 2018 Arrests

Media link.

Will Elwyn Crocker face the death penalty in the case of two children who died in Effingham County? That’s the question his lawyers are asking...

 
One of the most consequential motions argued Friday is the exclusion of evidence seized from electronic devices. Attorneys for Elwyn Crocker Sr. argued that as many as ten devices including phones, tablets and hard drives were seized after authorities went to the mobile home to conduct a welfare check. The defense told Judge F. Gates Peed that they still do not know which device belongs to which defendant and who had access to each.

Crocker's attorneys also want a limit on the number of crime scene and autopsy photographs that can be shown to the jury as well as photographs of the children taken prior to their deaths that could indicate abuse. The defense said the court can set a limit on the number of pictures needed to make a point.
 
From link above:

The next milestone in the case will be in early September when the medical examiner and an anthropologist are set to testify on the children's causes of death but first both sides will haggle over whether that testimony has to be done in-person or can be conducted via Zoom during a hearing in mid-July.
 
A new lawsuit filed in connection to the double murder case of two Effingham County teens - Mary and Elwyn Crocker, Jr.
It’s now been almost five years since the siblings were found dead in their family’s backyard.
This is a more than $3 million lawsuit including damages for mental and emotional suffering as well as the full value of Mary’s life. The lawsuit states if the school district had contacted police, Mary could still be alive.
The lawsuit focuses on an Effingham County School District Policy that requires reports of child abuse to be reported to “investigating authorities” – which includes leadership in the school district and the Division of Family and Children Services – as well as notifying law enforcement.

 

Mary and Elwyn Crocker, Jr. both age 14.
Starved, Beaten, and Buried in the Back Yard.

And they are having a debate about whether or not the Death Penalty should be an option?
 
Elwyn:

Filings
Dkt # Doc Type Description Filing Date Filer
480 Order fifteenth scheduling order 07/03/2023 Welch, John
(hearing on 9/5 @ 10am & 9/6 @ 9am. Joint motions re DNA will be heard on 9/5 & Daubert hearing re Dr. Edmund Donoghue & Dr. Alice Gooding on 9/6.

481 Order order sealing medical records and prohibiting access to any party without a hearing and court order 07/07/2023 Welch, John

482 Leave of Absence 07/11/2023 Bell, Jerilyn
(From 7/17-7/21/23 Professional training & 11/15-11/17/23 personal leave.


link: Document Access and Electronic Filing


No updates for Kim or Mark
 
Elwyn:

Dkt # Doc Type Description Filing Date Filer
483 Motion motion to recuse superior court judge f. gates peed
07/14/2023 Wood, Samuel Carlos

484 Proceeding exhibits to motion to recuse superior court judge f. gates peed
07/14/2023 Wood, Samuel Carlos

485 Proceeding join objection to testimony of the states primary expert regarding cause and manner of death via electronic media rather than in-person 07/14/2023 Wood, Samuel Carlos

486 Motion motion no. 118a motion to recuse the effingham county district attorney's office 07/14/2023 Bell, Jerilyn

487 Proceeding ex parte order to the effingham county jail 07/14/2023 Bell, Jerilyn

488 Motion motion no. 118b motion for a hearing to reconstruct the inrecorded ex parte hearing conducted on february 23, 2023 between the state and the court
07/14/2023 Bell, Jerilyn

489 Motion motion no. 118c motion for an order preventing all parties directly and indirectly involved in the february 23, 2023 ex parte hearing from communicating about the events surrounding the ex parte hearing 07/14/2023 Bell, Jerilyn

490 Order order requesting judicial assignment for consideration of motion to recuse
07/17/2023 Welch, John

491 Order order of appointment for judge stewart - motion to recuse judge peed
07/18/2023 Rose, Hallie

link: Document Access and Electronic Filing


Mark:

Dkt # Doc Type Description Filing Date Filer
270 Motion joint objection to testimony of the state?s primary expert regarding cause and manner of death via electronic media rather than in-person 07/14/2023 Sincox, Allan


link: Document Access and Electronic Filing




No updates for Kim.
 
&. :h-2 bodies found buried at Effingham Co. home, suspected to be missing children

The Effingham County Sheriff's Office said they're now looking into the deaths of two suspected missing children after a "gruesome discovery" on Thursday.

A release from the sheriff's office said deputies went to the 400 block of Rosebud Place just after 10 p.m. Wednesday after getting a tip that 14-year-old Mary Crocker was missing and feared dead.

That girl reportedly hadn't been seen "in weeks." Family members in the house told deputies that the teenager "had gone to live with her mother," and investigators determined they were being given conflicting information.

According to the release, information that 49-year-old Elwyn Crocker gave to deputies gave them probable cause to search the property -- that's when investigators found two bodies buried in the yard.

The sheriff's office said they believe the bodies to be the 14-year-old girl and her 14-year-old brother Elwyn Crocker, Jr.

Mary reportedly hadn't been seen since October of this year, but her brother hadn't been seen since November 2016.

Deputies said no one ever filed a missing persons report for either either child. According to the release, an autopsy will officially determine their identities.

Investigators said they another child was found at the house and taken to a local hospital.

The children's father, Elwyn Crocker, is reportedly charged with concealing the death of another and cruelty to children in the first degree.

The children's step-mother, 33-year-old Candice Crocker, as well as their step-grandmother, 50-year-old Kim Wright, have both also been charged with concealing the death of another and cruelty to children in the first degree, the release said.

View attachment 160956
No words!
 
Elwyn:

Filings
Dkt# Doc Type Description Filing Date Filer
492 Proceeding proposed juror questionnaire - addendum to motion #117
07/21/2023 Wood, Samuel Carlos

493 Motion motion #61a supplemental motion to suppress statements
07/21/2023 Wood, Samuel Carlos

494 Motion motion 115a to preclude admission of color and cumulative images
07/21/2023 Wood, Samuel Carlos

495 Motion motion 86a to suppress all electronics seized from defendant's home
07/21/2023 Wood, Samuel Carlos

496 Order notice of specially set webex and judicial recusal hearing
07/24/2023 Billings, Tiffany


Events
Event Type Event Description Court Date
Calendar criminal motion calendar - motion hearings 09/06/2023 09:00 AM

Calendar criminal motion calendar - motion hearings 09/05/2023 09:00 AM



Kim & Mark

Events
Event Type Event Description Court Date
Calendar criminal motion calendar - motion hearings 09/06/2023 09:00 AM


link: Document Access and Electronic Filing
 
Elwyn - looks like he had a hearing on 7/28/23. i will just make a note of it in my notes.

Filings
Dkt # Doc Type Description Filing Date Filer
497 Event EVENT - motion to recuse judge f. gates peed hearing, hearing before judge j. stewart - administrative judge for 1st jud district. ms. simmons is the court reporter. mr. breedon, ms. totten and ms. barker all present from the da's office. ms. bell and mr. wood are present with mr. crocker (defendant). 07/28/2023

498 Proceeding PROCEEDING - state's memorandum of law as to defendant;s motion to recuse superior court judge f. gates peed. 07/28/2023


Event Type Event Description Court Date
Calendar criminal motion calendar - motion hearings 09/06/2023 09:00 AM

Calendar criminal motion calendar - motion hearings 09/05/2023 09:00 AM

Calendar criminal motion calendar - judge stewart presiding 07/28/2023 09:00 AM

link: Document Access and Electronic Filing


For Kim & Mark - no filings.

Events
Event Type Event Description Court Date
Calendar criminal motion calendar - motion hearings 09/06/2023 09:00 AM

LINK: Document Access and Electronic Filing
 
Elwyn:

Filings
Dkt # Doc Type Description Filing Date Filer
499 Proceeding PROCEEDING - states memorandum of law as to defendants motion to recuse superior court judge f. gates peed 08/01/2023

500 Motion MOTION - motion to withdraw by mr wood 08/01/2023

link: Document Access and Electronic Filing


Samuel Wood is resigning from the Georgia office of capital defenders.


No updates for Kim or Mark.
 
No updates for Elwyn or Kim.

Mark:

Filings
Dkt # Doc Type Description Filing Date Filer
271 Motion motion for a daubert hearing 08/07/2023 Sincox, Allan
(re admissibility of proffered expert testimony re cause & manner of death)

link: Document Access and Electronic Filing
 
No updates for Elwyn or Kim.

Mark:

Filings
Dkt # Doc Type Description Filing Date Filer
271 Motion motion for a daubert hearing 08/07/2023 Sincox, Allan
(re admissibility of proffered expert testimony re cause & manner of death)

link: Document Access and Electronic Filing
 
Some docket updates.

Elwyn:

Filings
Dkt # Doc Type Description Filing Date Filer
501 Miscellaneous originaltranscript - motion 08/21/2023 Townsend, Kaleigh

502 Order order on judicial recusal 08/25/2023 Jones, Renee

503 Miscellaneous originaltranscript - motions hearing june 30, 2023
08/28/2023 Townsend, Kaleigh


Events
Event Type Event Description Court Date
Calendar criminal motion calendar - motion hearings 09/06/2023 09:00 AM

Calendar criminal motion calendar - motion hearings 09/05/2023 09:00 AM

link: Document Access and Electronic Filing



Kim:

Filings
Dkt # Doc Type Description Filing Date Filer
313 Miscellaneous originaltranscript - motion 08/21/2023 Townsend, Kaleigh


Events
Event Type Event Description Court Date
Calendar criminal motion calendar - motion hearings 09/06/2023 09:00 AM

link: Document Access and Electronic Filing


Mark:

Filings
Dkt # Doc Type Description Filing Date Filer
272 Leave of Absence leave of absence for allan sincox 08/21/2023 Ryals, Melinda

273 Leave of Absence leave of absence for melinda ryals 08/21/2023 Ryals, Melinda

274 Miscellaneous originaltranscript - motion 08/21/2023 Townsend, Kaleigh


Events
Event Type Event Description Court Date
Calendar criminal motion calendar - motion hearings 09/06/2023 09:00 AM

link: Document Access and Electronic Filing
 
Tuesday, Sept. 5th:
*Motions Hearing (@ 10am ET) - GA – Mary Frances Crocker (14) & Elwyn John Crocker, Jr. (‘JR’) (14) (Mary died Oct. 18, 2018, Elwyn died about Nov. 30, 2016 & both discovered Dec. 20, 2018 buried in backyard, Guyton) – *Elwyn John Crocker, Sr. (50/now 54) (“father”) arrested (12/20/18), charged (1/29/19), indicted (3/12/19) & arraigned (4/17/19) & re-arraigned (2/19/20) with 2 counts of malice murder, 2 counts of felony murder for the deaths of Elwyn, Jr. & Mary, 1 count of sexual battery, 4 counts of cruelty to children, 2 counts of false imprisonment & 2 counts of concealing a death. Plead not guilty (2/19/20). No bond. DA will seek DP.
Court info from 3/15/19 thru 628/23 reference post #419 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...ngham-cnty-20-dec-2018-arrests.406245/page-21

6/29/23 Update: Hearing (#479) before Judge Peed. All three defendants are here with their attorneys. K. Townsend is the court reporter. WTOC also present in the courtroom. Mr. Breedon & Ms. Barker on behalf of the State. Motions heard today #67-118 motions that are join motions are 119-121 July 21, 2023 - hard deadline for any last minute motions that need filed. Next motions hearing for all pending motions on 6/30/23.
6/30/23 Update: Two doctors were expected to testify during a pretrial motion hearing Thursday, as all three defendants were in court but defense attorneys argued against it so that didn’t happen. They were supposed to, first, hear from an anthropologist. Then a medical examiner who worked for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation at the time of the arrests named Dr. Edmund Donohue. That was supposed to happen over Zoom. The defense wanted to probe whether the doctors’ evidence is relevant to the case. A lawyer for Crocker voiced concern that the witnesses weren’t there in person. She asked the judge to have two weeks to talk with lawyers for the other defendants if they are all ok with witnesses appearing via video instead of in person. “About whether or not Dr. Donohue & the role in which he played in this case & the role in which he would play in as a witness in this case is one in which we need to be able to have him present here in court,” attorney Jerilyn Bell said. Judge F. Gates Peed gave them two weeks to come up with a response. Those doctors are expected to testify during the second week in September. It’s not clear if they will be in-person. One of the most consequential motions argued Friday is the exclusion of evidence seized from electronic devices. Attorneys for Crocker Sr. argued that as many as ten devices including phones, tablets & hard drives were seized after authorities went to the mobile home to conduct a welfare check. The defense told Judge F. Gates Peed that they still do not know which device belongs to which defendant & who had access to each. Crocker's attorneys also want a limit on the number of crime scene & autopsy photographs that can be shown to the jury as well as photographs of the children taken prior to their deaths that could indicate abuse. The defense said the court can set a limit on the number of pictures needed to make a point. Next motions hearings on 9/5/23 & 9/6/23.
7/3/23: Order (480) 15th scheduling order. Hearing on 9/5 @ 10am & 9/6 @ 9am. Joint motions re DNA will be heard on 9/5 & Daubert hearing re Dr. Edmund Donoghue & Dr. Alice Gooding on 9/6. 7/7/23: Order (481) Sealing medical records & prohibiting access to any party without a hearing & court order. 7/11/23: Leave of Absence (482): Jerilyn Bell: 7/17-7/21 & 11/15-11/17/23. 7/14/23: Motion (483). motion to recuse Superior court Judge F. Gates Peed. Proceeding (484) Exhibits to motion to recuse Judge. Proceeding (485) Join objection to testimony of the Sate's primary expert regarding case & manner of death via electronic media rather than in-person all filed by Samuel C. Wood. Motion (486) Motion #118a to recuse the Effingham County DA's office. Proceeding (487) ex parte order to the Effingham County jail. Motion (488) Motion #118b motion for a hearing to reconstruct the in-recorded ex parte hearing conducted on 2/23/23 between the Sate & the Court. Motion (489) Motion #118c motion for an order preventing all parties directly & indirectly involved in the 2/23/23 ex parte hearing from communicating about the events surrounding the ex parte hearing. All filed by Jerilyn Bell. 7/17/23: Order (490) Order requesting judicial assignment for consideration of Motion to recuse filed by John Welch. 7/18/23: Order (491) Order of appointment for Judge Stewart re Motion to recuse Judge Peed filed by Hallie Rose.
7/21/23: Proceeding (#492) Proposed juror questionnaire-addendum to Motion #117. Motion (#493) Motion #61A Supplemental motion to suppress statements. Motion (#494) Motion #115A to preclude admission of color & cumulative images. Motion (#495) Motion 86A to suppress all electronics seized from defendant's home all filed by Samuel Wood. 7/24/23: Order (#496) Notice of specially set Webex & Judicial recusal hearing filed by Tiffany Billings.
7/28/23: Event (497): Motion to recuse Judge F. Gates Peed hearing. Hearing before Judge J. Stewart, administrative judge for 1st Judicial District. Ms. Simmons is the court report. Mr. Breedon, Ms. Totten & Ms. Barker all present from the DA's office. Ms. Bell & Mr. Wood are present with Mr. Crocker (defendant. Proceeding (498): State's memorandum of law as to defendant's motion to recuse Superior Court Judge F. Gates Peed.
8/1/23: Proceeding (499): State's memorandum of law as to defendant's motion to recuse Superior Court Judge F. Gates Peed. Motion (500): Motion to withdraw by Mr. Wood. Wood is resigning from the Georgia Office of Capital Defenders as of 7/31/23. 8/21/23: Misc. (501): Motion for Original transcript filed by Kaleigh Townsend. 8/25/23: Order (502): on Judicial recusal filed by Renee Jones. 8/28/23: Misc. (503) Motions for hearing 6/30/23 original transcript filed by Kaleigh Townsend.
*Kimberly Renee Wright (50/now 54) (“step-grandma”) – Motions hearing on 9/6/23.
*Mark Anthony “Tony” Wright (31/now 35) (bro of Candice) – Motions hearing on 9/6/23.
*Roy Anthony Prater (55/now 60) - 10/24/19 Update: Plead guilty. Sentencing delayed until all defendants’ cases are complete. Will testify against the other 3 defendants.
*Candice Heather Crocker (33/now 38) (“step-mom”) - 10/15/20 Update: Plead guilty to 2 counts of malice murder, 2 counts of cruelty to child, to 2 counts of concealing a death & 2 counts of false imprisonment. Rest of the charges were Nolle Prosequi (dismissed). Sentenced to life without parole & credit for time served (12/20/18 to 10/21/20) to be served concurrently. In plea deal she must testify against the other 3 defendants.
 
Wednesday, Sept. 6th:
*Motions Hearing for both (@ 9am ET) - GA – Mary Frances Crocker (14) & Elwyn John Crocker, Jr. (‘JR’) (14) (Mary died Oct. 18, 2018, Elwyn died about Nov. 30, 2016 & both discovered Dec. 20, 2018 buried in backyard, Guyton) – *Kimberly Renee Wright (50/now 54) (“step-grandma”) arrested (12/20/18), charged (1/29/19), indicted (3/18/19) & arraigned (4/17/19) & re-arraigned (2/19/20) with 2 counts of malice murder, 2 counts of felony murder for the deaths of Elwyn, Jr. & Mary, 1 count of sexual battery, 4 counts of cruelty to children, 2 counts of false imprisonment & 2 counts of concealing a death. Plead not guilty (2/19/20). No bond. DA will seek DP.
Court info from 10/3/19 thru 6/5/23 reference post #418 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...ngham-cnty-20-dec-2018-arrests.406245/page-21

6/29/23 Update: Hearing (313) before Judge Peed. All three defendants are here with their attorneys. K. Townsend is the court reporter. WTOC also present in the courtroom. Mr. Breedon & Ms. Barker on behalf of the State. Two doctors were expected to testify during a pretrial motion hearing Thursday, as all three defendants were in court but defense attorneys argued against it so that didn’t happen. They were supposed to, first, hear from an anthropologist. Then a medical examiner who worked for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation at the time of the arrests named Dr. Edmund Donohue. That was supposed to happen over Zoom. The defense wanted to probe whether the doctors’ evidence is relevant to the case. A lawyer for Crocker voiced concern that the witnesses weren’t there in person. She asked the judge to have two weeks to talk with lawyers for the other defendants if they are all ok with witnesses appearing via video instead of in person. “About whether or not Dr. Donohue & the role in which he played in this case & the role in which he would play in as a witness in this case is one in which we need to be able to have him present here in court,” attorney Jerilyn Bell said. Judge F. Gates Peed gave them two weeks to come up with a response. Those doctors are expected to testify during the second week in September. It’s not clear if they will be in-person. Next motions hearing on 9/6/23 @ 9am. 8/21/23: Misc (313): Motion for original transcript filed by Kaleigh Townsend.
*Mark Anthony “Tony” Wright (31/now 35) (bro of Candice) arrested (1/8/19), charged (1/29/19), indicted (3/12/19) & arraigned (4/17/19) & re-arraigned (2/19/20) with malice murder & felony murder in Mary’s death, 1 count of sexual battery, 2 counts of cruelty to children, 2 counts of concealing a death (Mary & Elwyn) & 1 count of false imprisonment. No bond. DA will seek DP.
Wright is brother of Elwyn Sr.'s wife, Candice & overheard a family discussion about Mary's death & called an aunt, who tipped off authorities. Judge F. Gates Peed has also imposed a gag order prohibiting attorneys and investigators from discussing the case outside court.
Court info from 12/20/19 thru 5/30/23 reference post #418 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...ngham-cnty-20-dec-2018-arrests.406245/page-21

6/29/23 Update: Hearing (#269) before Judge Peed. All three defendants are here with their attorneys. K. Townsend is the court reporter. WTOC also present in the courtroom. Mr. Breedon & Ms. Barker on behalf of the State. argued against it so that didn’t happen. They were supposed to, first, hear from an anthropologist. Then a medical examiner who worked for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation at the time of the arrests named Dr. Edmund Donohue. That was supposed to happen over Zoom. The defense wanted to probe whether the doctors’ evidence is relevant to the case. A lawyer for Crocker voiced concern that the witnesses weren’t there in person. She asked the judge to have two weeks to talk with lawyers for the other defendants if they are all ok with witnesses appearing via video instead of in person. “About whether or not Dr. Donohue & the role in which he played in this case & the role in which he would play in as a witness in this case is one in which we need to be able to have him present here in court,” attorney Jerilyn Bell said. Judge F. Gates Peed gave them two weeks to come up with a response. Those doctors are expected to testify during the second week in September. It’s not clear if they will be in-person Next motions hearing on 9/6/23 @ 9am.
7/14/23: Motion (270) Joint objection to testimony of the State's primary expert regarding cause & manner of death via electronic media rather than in-person filed by Allan Sincox. 8/7/23: Motion (217) for a Daubert hearing re admissibility of proffered expert testimony re cause & manner of death.
8/21/23: Leave of absence (272): for Allan Sincox for professional training on 9/7, 10/5, 11/2, 11/7-10, 12/14, 1/4/24 & 2/1/24. Leave of absence (273): for Melinda Ryals for professional training on 9/7, 10/5, 11/2, 11/7-10, 12/14, 1/4/24 & 2/1/24 both filed by Melinda Ryals. Misc. (274) Motion for original transcript filed by Kaleigh Townsend.

ALSO:
*Daubert Hearing (@ 9am ET) - GA – Mary Frances Crocker (14) & Elwyn John Crocker, Jr. (‘JR’) (14) (Mary died Oct. 18, 2018, Elwyn died about Nov. 30, 2016 & both discovered Dec. 20, 2018 buried in backyard, Guyton) – *Elwyn John Crocker, Sr. (50/now 54) (“father”) arrested (12/20/18), charged (1/29/19), indicted (3/12/19) & arraigned (4/17/19) & re-arraigned (2/19/20) with 2 counts of malice murder, 2 counts of felony murder for the deaths of Elwyn, Jr. & Mary, 1 count of sexual battery, 4 counts of cruelty to children, 2 counts of false imprisonment & 2 counts of concealing a death. Plead not guilty (2/19/20). No bond. DA will seek DP.
Court info from 3/15/19 thru 8/28/23 reference post #437 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...ngham-cnty-20-dec-2018-arrests.406245/page-22

9/5/23 Update: No info on motions hearing. Next Daubert hearing on 9/6/23 @ 9am.
*Roy Anthony Prater (55/now 60) - 10/24/19 Update: Plead guilty. Sentencing delayed until all defendants’ cases are complete. Will testify against the other 3 defendants.
*Candice Heather Crocker (33/now 38) (“step-mom”) -
10/15/20 Update: Plead guilty to 2 counts of malice murder, 2 counts of cruelty to child, to 2 counts of concealing a death & 2 counts of false imprisonment. Rest of the charges were Nolle Prosequi (dismissed). Sentenced to life without parole & credit for time served (12/20/18 to 10/21/20) to be served concurrently. In plea deal she must testify against the other 3 defendants.
 
Last edited:
NO updates for Elwyn or Kim

for Mark

Filings
Dkt # Doc Type Description Filing Date Filer
276 Leave of Absence 09/15/2023 Sincox, Allan
(10/16-17, 11/2, 11/7-10, 12/14/23 & 1/4/24 & 2/1/24 for professional training.

link: Document Access and Electronic Filing
 

Staff online

Members online

Online statistics

Members online
135
Guests online
4,206
Total visitors
4,341

Forum statistics

Threads
592,617
Messages
17,971,948
Members
228,846
Latest member
butiwantedthatname
Back
Top