IL - Alexus Smothers, 8, drowned, body hidden in crawlspace, 19 July 2011

Jophlin's comments can be used at her trial

Jophlin's court appearance was one day away from the second anniversary of the death of Alexis "Lexi" Smothers, 8, who was found in a wall of the basement of a West Frankfort home on July 19, 2011.

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Tedeschi set a pre-trial conference for Aug. 8 and anticipates setting final pre-trial and jury trial dates then.

http://www.dailyamericannews.com/article/20130721/NEWS/130729986/0/SEARCH



Judge wants normalized life for child


He said trial proceedings could begin in late fall
and agreed with Garavalia that it is premature to decrease visitation time.

http://www.dailyamericannews.com/article/20130806/NEWS/130809592/0/SEARCH
 
According to the news article, "The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services said Jophlin, a mother of three, had her children taken away in 2004 because of abuse and neglect allegations. The children were returned to her care in 2005."

There's something wrong with a system that has 'family reunification' as it's main and sometimes only goal. Wrong.

ITA. There has to be common sense. Some people should not be reunified. Ever.
 
Just a quick update. Her attorney has filed yet another motion and court has been postponed til november. No pretrial dates yet! Soon hopefully!
 
WHY do CPS agencies (around the world, obviously) keep giving kids back to parents who clearly cannot cope with them?

This whole 'keep families together at any cost' seems like it's more about the Govt. and the parents, rather than the kids.

This was the cause of much of the abuse I suffered as a kid. And it's killed this little girl, and gods know how many others.... (see the thread on poor little Tanilla in my sig - 33 CPS reports, and they STILL didn't remove the child!...)

It's disgusting, when the abuse and deaths are avoidable by 100% removal from abusive parents.

Poor baby. Rest in peace.
 
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/...cle_a3189b48-2067-5d6c-860c-0d7631fec414.html

A new trial date has been set for a West Frankfort, Ill., woman accused of killing her child.

Mary Zumwalt-Jophlin, 31, will go on trial in September, more than three years after the July 2011 death of her daughter, Alexus Nicole Smothers.

Zumwalt-Jophlin, charged with murder, concealment of a homicidal death and obstruction of justice, was scheduled for a May 6th jury trial. The date was pushed back to Sept. 9 during a hearing in Franklin County court Tuesday.

Zumwalt-Jophlin is accused in the death of her 8-year-old daughter, whose body was found in the basement of the family’s West Frankfort residence July 19, 2011.

She remains in custody at Franklin County Jail.

A status hearing is set for April 29.
 
I remember getting my butt beat at 5 for the same reason. The car I ran in front of barely missed me, in fact my mom said it hit the ribbon on my dress. I never ran out in the street again.

I remember crossing the street, I was probaly about 5 or 6. my dad would get mad at us and unbuckle his belt but it never came off to that day. I don't remember any pain but i remember the scared look on his face. I am 44 years old and I don't think i will ever cross a street without looking again.

back to topic

in response to some of the above post , I do not care how overwhelmed you are with your children, you walk away, go outside breath. there is never excuse to beat your child black and blue never. I believe in spanking. My mom and dad raised 5 kids, we got spanked when we needed it and we all turned out all right.


If she did this she never needs to see the light of day again no matter what the excuse.. there is never an excuse. jmo
 
http://www.dailyamericannews.com/article/20140611/NEWS/140619841/-1/sports

A West Frankfort mother charged in the murder of her young daughter will stand trial this September, more than three years after 8-year-old Alexus Smothers was found dead in the family’s home.

Mary R. Zumwalt Jophlin, 31, appeared in a Franklin County courtroom Tuesday afternoon alongside her attorney Terry M. Green for a pretrial hearing.

Green, Circuit Judge Tom Tedeschi and State’s Attorney Evan Owens discussed discovery in the case, and another pre-trial hearing was set for July 1.
 
rt3n.jpg


......... Terry Green told Judge Tom Tedeschi there are issues with discovery, and his client Mary R. Zumwalt Jophlin will be better served with another pre-trial hearing later this month.

State’s Attorney Evan Owens agreed.

Tedeschi set the next hearing for July 22 at 1:30 p.m.

http://www.dailyamericannews.com/article/20140701/News/140709920

alexuspink.jpg
 
Sometimes the foster homes are worse. Foster care providers are approved by the same agency that leaves children with their abusers.
 
http://www.bentoneveningnews.com/article/20140826/News/140829468

A West Frankfort mother accused of killing her young daughter now has a trial scheduled for October, more than 38 months after the crime occurred...

State's Attorney Evan Owens said that the doctor ordered to perform a psychological evaluation on Jophlin last week will need at least six weeks to wrap up the report's findings.

Owens said the state isn't seeking to prolong the trial any longer than necessary and Green agreed that, barring any unforeseen issues arising from the upcoming reports, no other matters should keep the trial from beginning on its new Oct. 9 start date.
 
October 28, 2014

Another Continuance in Jophlin murder case

The hearing for the West Frankfort woman accused of murdering her daughter has been continued again, just before Monday's 1:30 p.m. hearing before Circuit Chief Judge Tom Tedeschi.

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As of now, no date has been set in the matter.

http://www.dailyamericannews.com/article/20141028/News/141029310


November 19, 2014

Still no trial date in W.F. murder case

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Green told Franklin County Chief Circuit Judge Tom Tedeschi that the expert reports which have kept the trial from advancing are expected to be in his hands by Dec. 8.

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The next hearing is set for Dec.16 at 1:30 p.m.

http://www.dailyamericannews.com/article/20141119/NEWS/141119305/0/SEARCH


December 19, 2014

Motion to reset Jophlin pre-trial granted

BENTON -- A motion to reset the pre-trial conference for Mary R. Zumwalt-Jophlin was granted Thursday afternoon after defense attorney Terry Green was unavailable to appear in Franklin County Circuit Court.

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His motion to reset the pre-trial conference for Jan. 2 at 9:30 a.m. was accepted without objection from the state.

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Citing aggravating factors, Owens said the murder was accompanied by exceptionally brutal or heinous behavior indicative of wanton cruelty. He later amended the charge, saying factors exist to extend the sentence, should Jophlin be found guilty.

http://www.dailyamericannews.com/article/20141219/NEWS/141219268/0/SEARCH
 

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