Wednesday, February 26th:
*Final Pretrial Hearing (@ 10am CT) – IN – Nicole Lynn Bowen (30) (missing March, 29, 2019, Jefferson Township, Newton County, found March 30, 2019) – For *Talitha Ann Beckley (36) arrested (4/5/19) & charged (3/29/19) with felony count of assisting a criminal. Plead not guilty. $25K bond.
Trial set to begin on 6/1/20.
DA awaiting DNA results as to whether to bump up charges for 4 suspects.
6/28/19 Hearing for Parker, Garth, Mathis & Beckley. Reset all for Pretrial hearings for the “Four” in 11/22. Individual trials will following between April & June of 2020. Bonds range from $25K to $50K. Parker’s trial is 5/4/20, Beckley’s trial on 6/1/20 & Mathis’ trial start 4/6/20. No trial date for Garth or Kirts.
11/22/19 Update: Four of five people who have been tied to the March 29 strangulation & torture death – including the murder suspect, Kirts, – have been offered plea deals, the Newton County prosecutor and attorneys for the accused said Friday morning in Newton Superior Court. Judge Daniel Molter set a Dec. 18 court date for Beckley, Mathis & Garth. Those three were charged with assisting a criminal, a level 5 felony that carry possible prison sentences of one to six years.
12/18/19 Update: Beckley is in negotiations for a plea deal. Drinski said Monday that those deals likely would be similar to one accepted by Parker in the fall. Next final pretrial hearing on 2/26/20.
*Garrett Kenneth Kirts (21) – Newton County: Nicole’s Case #56D01-1904-MR-000367- 12/13/2019: Order Set for Hearing: State's motion to set jury trial is set for hearing on 1/6/20. Final Disposition on 1/8/20. Possible plea deal with a 45 year sentence. Trial set for 7/13/20.
Carroll County: #08D01-1901-F6-000013: Final pretrial hearing on 2/27 & trial to begin on 3/2/20.
Carroll County: #08D01-1903-CM-000087: Final pretrial hearing on 2/27 & trial to begin on 3/2/20.
*Ashley N. Garth (26) – Nicole case: Final pretrial hearing on 5/15/20. No trial date set.
*Christopher Channing Mathis (27) – Next Final pretrial hearing on 5/1/20. No trial date set.
*Jasmine Nicole Parker (34) – 10/8/19: Plead guilty. According to the plea agreement, Parker also will serve four years in prison for being a habitual offender, based on felony convictions in 2018 for unlawful possession of a syringe in Jasper County & in 2004 for burglary in Tippecanoe County.