GUILTY IN - Thomas Grill Jr., 18, & Molley Lanham, 19, murdered, Lake County, 25 Feb 2019 *arrests*

New Posts

It seems to be still on.

06/01/2021 = Jury Trial
Session: 01/04/2021 9:00 AM, Rescheduled
Session: 06/01/2021 9:00 AM, Judicial Officer: Fish, Michael A.
Comment: (9 day) 6/1, 6/2, 6/3, 6/8, 6/9, 6/10, 6/15, 6/16, and 6/17

06/01/2021 = Motion In Limine Filed
States MIL.pdf
Filed By: State of Indiana
 
Of course I'm not coming up with any current articles on this case over here unfortunately. So nothing in the news? Jury selected? I need details! LOL! :)
 
I'm not finding anything. That NWI news has me solidly blocked. I turned off my ; what more do they want? Oh wait! I bet they want some $$$. :D

I really didn't say a bad word (*****). I mentioned that app that blocks things.
 
I'm amazed - I found a recent article!

Defense says second man accused in 2019 double slaying of Lake County teens was not mastermind

June 3, 2021
Defense lawyers for John Silva portrayed him as someone along for the ride, not the mastermind behind the double slaying of two Lake County teens in a botched 2019 drug robbery.

“This is Connor Kerner and what Connor Kerner did,” defense attorney John Cantrell said in opening arguments in Silva’s trial Wednesday in Valparaiso.
[.....]
Silva was in the basement at Kerner’s grandfather’s home in rural Hebron when the murders happened, then helped clean up the scene in the garage, prosecutors allege.

The state had cut a deal with Silva’s former lawyer that he wouldn’t be charged if “100%” truthful with police. He lied to police repeatedly on details like where he was or what happened, Chief Deputy Prosecutor Armando Salinas said.
[.....]
The three-week trial before Judge Michael A. Fish continues Thursday.


a lot more in article. Well - sort of - doesn't give who all were state witnesses. Maybe someone else can find that out.
 
Thursday, June 3rd:
*Trial continues (Day 2) (@ 9am CT) – IN - Thomas Grill, Jr. (18) & Molley R. Lanham (19) (Feb. 25, 2019, St. John; found in Hebron, in burned out car) – for *John Salvadore Silva II (17/now 18) arrested & charged (5/22/20) with 2 felony counts of murder in the perpetration of a robbery. Plead not guilty. No bond.
Trial began on 6/1/21 with jury selection. Trial started on 6/2/21. (9 days: 6/1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16 & 17).
Court info from 8/10/20 thru 5/25/21 reference post #154 here:
IN - Thomas Grill Jr., 18, & Molley Lanham, 19, murdered, Lake County, 25 Feb 2019 *arrests*
6/1/21 Tuesday, Day 1 of jury selection: Jury has been picked. Opening statements on 6/2/21.
6/2/21 Wednesday, Day 1 of Trial: Opening statements by Chief Deputy Prosecutor Armando Salinas & Defense attorney John Cantrell. State witness: Grill’s brother, Daniel Grill. No other info available. Trial continues on 6/3/21.
Accomplice:
*Connor Ralland Kerner (17/now 19) – Found guilty. 12/8/20: Sentenced to 179 years in prison. Filed an appeal on 5/13/21.
 
Defendant likely knew robbery was planned in case of slain Lake County teens, prosecutors say

June 3, 2021

Prosecutors introduced his first taped police interview as evidence Thursday, saying John Silva lied to investigators early on and knew more about co-defendant Connor Kerner than he was admitting as they investigated the deaths of two Lake County teens.

Silva was likely aware that Kerner was planning a robbery, prosecutors said Thursday.
[.....]
It never happened, said defense lawyer Mark Gruenhagen, who objected to its use. Judge Michael Fish allowed the jury to hear the evidence.
[.....]
Earlier in testimony, Barak Coolman, Valparaiso High School’s Dean of Attendance, confirmed with surveillance video that Silva left with Kerner after the third period around 10:15 a.m. Feb. 25, 2019.
[.....]
The trial is scheduled for three weeks. Week two picks up Tuesday [6/8/21].
 
Friday, June 4th:
*Trial continues (Day 3) (@ 9am CT) – IN - Thomas Grill, Jr. (18) & Molley R. Lanham (19) (Feb. 25, 2019, St. John; found in Hebron, in burned out car) – for *John Salvadore Silva II (17/now 18) arrested & charged (5/22/20) with 2 felony counts of murder in the perpetration of a robbery. Plead not guilty. No bond.
Trial began on 6/1/21 (9 days: 6/1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16 & 17).
Court info from 8/10/20 thru 5/25/21 & Jury selection (6/1/21) & Trial Day 1 (6/2/21) reference post #165 here:
IN - Thomas Grill Jr., 18, & Molley Lanham, 19, murdered, Lake County, 25 Feb 2019 *arrests*
6/3/21 Thursday, Day 2 of Trial: Prosecutors introduced his first taped police interview as evidence Thursday, saying Silva lied to investigators early on & knew more about co-defendant Kerner than he was admitting as they investigated the deaths of two Lake County teens. State witness: Barak Coolman, Valparaiso High School’s Dean of Attendance, confirmed with surveillance video that Silva left with Kerner after the third period around 10:15am, Feb. 25, 2019. No other info available. Trial continues on Tuesday, 6/8/21.
Accomplice:
*Connor Ralland Kerner (17/now 19) – Found guilty. 12/8/20: Sentenced to 179 years in prison. Filed an appeal on 5/13/21.
 
A snip from one of the above articles. Where in the heck are the parents of these teens?!
Did anyone ever explain the robbery plan? Did Kerner think no one knew that he owed Grill the money and weed?

During testimony, Grill’s brother, Daniel, said Kerner owed Thomas Grill $15,000 and 37 pounds of marijuana. The plan was for Thomas Grill to exchange 1,000 THC cartridges with Kerner calling it “even,” he said.
Click to expand...
 
Oops - looks like I messed up - not hearing was held on 6/4, Friday.... :rolleyes:

Tuesday, June 8th:
*Trial continues (Day 3) (@ 9am CT) – IN - Thomas Grill, Jr. (18) & Molley R. Lanham (19) (Feb. 25, 2019, St. John; found in Hebron, in burned out car) – for *John Salvadore Silva II (17/now 18) arrested & charged (5/22/20) with 2 felony counts of murder in the perpetration of a robbery. Plead not guilty. No bond.
Trial set to begin on 6/1/21 (9 days: 6/1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16 & 17).
Court info from 8/10/20 thru 5/25/21 & Jury selection (6/1/21) & Trial Day 1 (6/2/21) reference post #165 here:
IN - Thomas Grill Jr., 18, & Molley Lanham, 19, murdered, Lake County, 25 Feb 2019 *arrests*
6/3/21 Thursday, Day 2 of Trial: Prosecutors introduced his first taped police interview as evidence Thursday, saying Silva lied to investigators early on & knew more about co-defendant Kerner than he was admitting as they investigated the deaths of two Lake County teens. State witness: Barak Coolman, Valparaiso High School’s Dean of Attendance, confirmed with surveillance video that Silva left with Kerner after the third period around 10:15am, Feb. 25, 2019. No other info available. Trial continues on Tuesday, 6/8/21.
Accomplice:
*Connor Ralland Kerner (17/now 19) – Found guilty. 12/8/20: Sentenced to 179 years in prison. Filed an appeal on 5/13/21.
 
Wednesday, June 9th:
*Trial continues (Day 4) (@ 9am CT) – IN - Thomas Grill, Jr. (18) & Molley R. Lanham (19) (Feb. 25, 2019, St. John; found in Hebron, in burned out car) – for *John Salvadore Silva II (17/now 18) arrested & charged (5/22/20) with 2 felony counts of murder in the perpetration of a robbery. Plead not guilty. No bond.
Trial set to begin on 6/1/21 (9 days: 6/1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16 & 17).
Court info from 8/10/20 thru 5/25/21 & Jury selection (6/1/21) & Trial Day 1-2 (6/2/21-6/3/21) reference post #169 here:
IN - Thomas Grill Jr., 18, & Molley Lanham, 19, murdered, Lake County, 25 Feb 2019 *arrests*
6/8/21 Tuesday, Day 3 of Trial: State witness: No info available. Trial continues on 6/9/21.
Accomplice:
*Connor Ralland Kerner (17/now 19) – Found guilty. 12/8/20: Sentenced to 179 years in prison. Filed an appeal on 5/13/21.
 
Thursday, June 10th:
*Trial continues (Day 5) (@ 9am CT) – IN - Thomas Grill, Jr. (18) & Molley R. Lanham (19) (Feb. 25, 2019, St. John; found in Hebron, in burned out car) – for *John Salvadore Silva II (17/now 18) arrested & charged (5/22/20) with 2 felony counts of murder in the perpetration of a robbery. Plead not guilty. No bond.
Trial began on 6/1/21 (9 days: 6/1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16 & 17).
Court info from 8/10/20 thru 5/25/21 & Jury selection (6/1/21) & Trial Day 1-2 (6/2/21 & 6/3/21) reference post #170 here:
IN - Thomas Grill Jr., 18, & Molley Lanham, 19, murdered, Lake County, 25 Feb 2019 *arrests*
6/9/21 Wednesday, Day 4 of Trial: State witness: No info available. Trial continues on 6/10/21.
Accomplice:
*Connor Ralland Kerner (17/now 19) – Found guilty. 12/8/20: Sentenced to 179 years in prison. Filed an appeal on 5/13/21.
 
This is all that they have posted regarding trial happenings:

06/01/2021 = Jury Trial
Comment: (9 day) 6/1, 6/2, 6/3, 6/8, 6/9, 6/10, 6/15, 6/16, and 6/17

06/01/2021 = Motion In Limine Filed: States MIL.pdf
Filed By: State of Indiana

06/02/2021 = Answer Filed: Amended Defendant's Discovery Order
Filed By: SILVA, JOHN SALVADORE II

06/09/2021 = Order Issued
CONFIDENTIAL ORDER IDENTIFYING JURORS
Order Signed: 06/07/2021

06/10/2021 = Order Issued
FILING CONFIDENTIAL JUROR QUESTIONAIRRE
 
Tuesday, June 15th:
*Trial continues (Day 6) (@ 9am CT) – IN - Thomas Grill, Jr. (18) & Molley R. Lanham (19) (Feb. 25, 2019, St. John; found in Hebron, in burned out car) – for *John Salvadore Silva II (17/now 18) arrested & charged (5/22/20) with 2 felony counts of murder in the perpetration of a robbery. Plead not guilty. No bond.
Trial began on 6/1/21 (9 days: 6/1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16 & 17).
Court info from 8/10/20 thru 5/25/21 & Jury selection (6/1/21) & Trial Day 1-2 (6/2/21 & 6/3/21) reference post #170 here:
IN - Thomas Grill Jr., 18, & Molley Lanham, 19, murdered, Lake County, 25 Feb 2019 *arrests*
6/10/21 Thursday, Day 5 of Trial: State witness: No info available. Trial continues on Tuesday, 6/15/21.
Accomplice:
*Connor Ralland Kerner (17/now 19) – Found guilty. 12/8/20: Sentenced to 179 years in prison. Filed an appeal on 5/13/21.
 
Wondering what is happening in this trial... I definitely can't find anything over here. Maybe the defense has already presented their case? Since we only have 2 days left for trial per their schedule.

Wednesday, June 16th:
*Trial continues (Day 7) (@ 9am CT) – IN - Thomas Grill, Jr. (18) & Molley R. Lanham (19) (Feb. 25, 2019, St. John; found in Hebron, in burned out car) – for *John Salvadore Silva II (17/now 18) arrested & charged (5/22/20) with 2 felony counts of murder in the perpetration of a robbery. Plead not guilty. No bond.
Trial began on 6/1/21 (9 days: 6/1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16 & 17).
Court info from 8/10/20 thru 5/25/21 & Jury selection (6/1/21) & Trial Day 1-5 (6/2/21 & 6/10/21) reference post #171 here:
IN - Thomas Grill Jr., 18, & Molley Lanham, 19, murdered, Lake County, 25 Feb 2019 *arrests*
6/15/21 Tuesday, Day 6 of Trial: No info available. Trial continues on Wednesday, 6/16/21.
Accomplice:
*Connor Ralland Kerner (17/now 19) – Found guilty. 12/8/20: Sentenced to 179 years in prison. Filed an appeal on 5/13/21.
 
A lot of that is re-hash but it does include a link to the 14 minute audio Silva recorded. I wonder why, in such a murder case, the FBI agent couldn't access the actual phone. Seems like that would be a pretty important piece of evidence.

[snips]
Earlier in testimony on Tuesday, Bruce Koenig, a former FBI agent and cellphone audio forensics expert said he examined two recordings from Silva’s phone.
The first was the 14-minute audio recording of the killings, which Silva recorded on Feb. 25, 2019. Metadata showed it had been edited on the phone last on March 4, 2019, but said the analysis wouldn’t explain how.
...
Defense lawyer John Cantrell asked if Koenig had examined the actual phone. Koenig said no, but he had requested it. He added his copy on a CD was a “clone,” or exact replica, which was transferred accurately for his analysis.

Jury hears second defendant’s 2019 police interview in Lake County teens’ deaths: ‘I just heard the shots’
 
From the article posted above ^^

Judge Michael Fish told the jury the trial could extend into next Wednesday.

So going to assume he means 21, 22 & 23rd of June.
 
Thursday, June 17th:
*Trial continues (Day 8) (@ 9am CT) – IN - Thomas Grill, Jr. (18) & Molley R. Lanham (19) (Feb. 25, 2019, St. John; found in Hebron, in burned out car) – for *John Salvadore Silva II (17/now 18) arrested & charged (5/22/20) with 2 felony counts of murder in the perpetration of a robbery. Plead not guilty. No bond.
Trial began on 6/1/21 (9 days: 6/1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16 & 17 & 21, 22 & 23).
Court info from 8/10/20 thru 5/25/21 & Jury selection (6/1/21) & Trial Day 1-6 (6/2/21 & 6/15/21) reference post #175 here:
IN - Thomas Grill Jr., 18, & Molley Lanham, 19, murdered, Lake County, 25 Feb 2019 *arrests*
6/16/21 Tuesday, Day 7 of Trial: State witness: Bruce Koenig, a former FBI agent & cellphone audio forensics expert examined 2 recordings on Silva's phone. No other info available. Judge Michael Fish told the jury the trial could extend into next Wednesday. Trial continues on Thursday, 6/17/21.
Accomplice:
*Connor Ralland Kerner (17/now 19) – Found guilty. 12/8/20: Sentenced to 179 years in prison. Filed an appeal on 5/13/21.
 
Monday, June 21st:
*Trial continues (Day 9) (@ 9am CT) – IN - Thomas Grill, Jr. (18) & Molley R. Lanham (19) (Feb. 25, 2019, St. John; found in Hebron, in burned out car) – for *John Salvadore Silva II (17/now 18) arrested & charged (5/22/20) with 2 felony counts of murder in the perpetration of a robbery. Plead not guilty. No bond.
Trial began on 6/1/21 (9 days: 6/1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16 & 17 & 21, 22 & 23).
Court info from 8/10/20 thru 5/25/21 & Jury selection (6/1/21) & Trial Day 1-7 (6/2/21 & 6/16/21) reference post #178 here:
IN - Thomas Grill Jr., 18, & Molley Lanham, 19, murdered, Lake County, 25 Feb 2019 *arrests*
6/17/21 Thursday, Day 8 of Trial: No info available. Trial continues on Monday, 6/21/21.
Accomplice:
*Connor Ralland Kerner (17/now 19) – Found guilty. 12/8/20: Sentenced to 179 years in prison. Filed an appeal on 5/13/21.
 
This is an older article

Investigator relates discovery of evidence in garage - Post-Tribune

snips:

Upon further examination of the SUV, Alonzo said he saw several small, reddish-brown stains that he tested and determined were blood; he also noticed the SUV’s passenger side was “clean with water marks,” where the driver’s side was dusty, he said.
...
Moving to the garage’s south wall, Alonzo said he found a 12-inch crescent wrench and bullet on the floor and there was blood and a hair on the wrench’s head.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

DNASolves

Who is Escambia County John Doe (1989)?

Staff online

Members online

... and 203 more.
Total: 4,587 (members: 204, guests: 4,383)

Online statistics

Members online
204
Guests online
4,383
Total visitors
4,587
Totals may include hidden visitors.

Forum statistics

Threads
592,359
Messages
17,968,071
Members
228,760
Latest member
Chelsea Briann
Back
Top