GUILTY NV - Julia Woodward, 21, murdered, Washoe County, 1979 *Arrest in 2019*

[Suglo]

@Suglo - forgot to ask about this case - any updates yet?

TIA!

It slipped past me even with it on my calendar. Nothing. The court hasn’t done anything with the docket. I just noticed the text from the last status hearing in December:

D435 - Heard ... filed on: 12/06/2022
Extra Text: PD'S OFFICE IS RELIEVED FROM REPRESENTATION OF THE DEFT BUT WILL CONTINUE TO PAY THE FEES AND THE APD'S OFFICE WAS APPOINTED. APD'S OFFICE STIPULATED TO ASSIGNING THE MATTER TO KATHERYN HICKMAN; COUNSEL HICKMAN ACCEPTED ASSIGNMENT OF THIS MATTER AND AGREED NOT TO SET ANYTHING OVER THE NEW TRIAL DATES TRIAL AND MTC CURRENTLY SET ARE VACATED TRIAL RESET TO 5/22/22 @ 9AM FOR 3 WEEKS COUNSEL HICKMAN TO FILE A REQUEST TO RE-OPN PRE-TRIAL DEADLINES, IF NECESSARY MTC TO BE SET BY THE CLERK

So, sooner or later counsel will ask for dates to reopen pretrial deadlines or the clerk will set a Mandatory Trial Conference. I’ll keep checking.

ETA: The clerk wrote 5/22/22 but that’s a typo as everything else says 5/22/23.

 

[Niner]

Thanks for that info @Suglo ! I do have the trial date!

Will check back in a week or so.

 

[Niner]

@Suglo - anything happening with this case? TIA!

 

[Suglo]

@Suglo - anything happening with this case? TIA!

@Niner Nothing new. Nobody has done anything. Trial still set for 5/22/23. No other hearings or movement on the docket. I’ll keep checking every few weeks.

 

[Niner]

@Niner Nothing new. Nobody has done anything. Trial still set for 5/22/23. No other hearings or movement on the docket. I’ll keep checking every few weeks.

Thanks!

 

[Niner]

Hey @Suglo - just wondering if there might be another court dates yet before trial?

TIA!

 

[Suglo]

Hey @Suglo - just wondering if there might be another court dates yet before trial?

TIA!

@Niner There’s finally a Motion to Confirm Trial hearing set for 4/27/23 at 9:00 am and then the Jury Trial date is still there - 5/22/23 at 9:00 am. I’ll check in on 4/28 with an update.

 

[Niner]

@Niner There’s finally a Motion to Confirm Trial hearing set for 4/27/23 at 9:00 am and then the Jury Trial date is still there - 5/22/23 at 9:00 am. I’ll check in on 4/28 with an update.

Thanks a bunch for the update! It is about time he had a hearing!

 

[Niner]

Thursday, April 27th:
*Motions Hearing (@ 9am PT) – NV – Julia Woodward (21) (last seen Feb. 1, 1979 @ SF airport, found Mar. 25, 1979 near Eagle Canyon in Hungry Valley (15 miles north of Reno) - *Charles Gary Sullivan (33 @ time of crime/77/now 80) indicted (8/25/19), arrested (8/28/19 in Yavapai County, AZ), extradited (11/15/19 to Reno), charged (11/15/19) & arraigned (11/19/19) with open murder. Plead not guilty. Held without bond.
Trial was set to begin on 2/6/23 continued to 5/22/23. (3 weeks)
DNA & additional investigation info & Court info from 11/19/19 thru 11/16/22 reference post #182 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...hoe-county-1979-arrest-in-2019.275036/page-10
11/29/22 Update: Defendant's motion to continue trial-denied as of today. Matter continued one week on 12/6/22 to consider a continuation of trial date, if the following is completed prior to the next hearing: 1. Counsel Arrascada to obtain a declaration from the APD that the APD will accept the case & that the APD will assign the case to Counsel Hickman; 2. Counsel Hickman is to then file a declaration that she will accept assignment of the case from the APD, that she will not schedule anything over the 5/8/23 trial date, & include whether her witnesses will also be available on 5/8/23; 3. Defendant must sign a declaration that he understands the request for continuance & has no objection to the continue. If all of the above has been completed by the next hearing date, the Court will consider a 5/8/23 trial date. Status hearing on 12/6/22 @ 8:30am.
12/6/22 Update: Public defender is relieved from representation of the defendant but will continue to pay the fees & the APD's office was appointed. APD's office stipulated to assigning the matter to Katheryn Hickman; counsel Hickman accepted assignment of this matter & agreed not to set anything over the new trial dates. Trial on 2/6/23 & motions hearing on 1/18/23 are vacated. Trial is reset to 5/22/23 @ 9am for 3 weeks. Counsel Hickman to file a request to re-open pretrial deadlines, if necessary Motion hearing to be set by the clerk.
12/6/22 Update: Next motions hearing to confirm trial date on 4/27/23 @ 9am.

 

[Niner]

@Suglo - any updates for next hearings yet?

TIA!

 

[Suglo]

@Suglo - any updates for next hearings yet?

TIA!

@Niner Was just looking at the docket. They had the hearing early on 4/25 instead of 4/27 and then continued it due to “settlement discussions.” There is now a “Change of Plea” hearing on 5/4/23 at 3:00 pm. The 5/22/23 trial date is still on calendar. Looks like he may plead guilty and save everyone from having to go to trial. I’ll check the docket on Thursday afternoon to update you.

 

[Niner]

@Niner Was just looking at the docket. They had the hearing early on 4/25 instead of 4/27 and then continued it due to “settlement discussions.” There is now a “Change of Plea” hearing on 5/4/23 at 3:00 pm. The 5/22/23 trial date is still on calendar. Looks like he may plead guilty and save everyone from having to go to trial. I’ll check the docket on Thursday afternoon to update you.

Okay - I shall move him to 5/4! Glad to hear a guilty plea. I believe this is the 3rd case this week where the "suspect" has plead guilty!

 

[Niner]

Thursday, May 4th:
*Change of Plea Hearing (@ 3pm PT) – NV – Julia Woodward (21) (last seen Feb. 1, 1979 @ SF airport, found Mar. 25, 1979 near Eagle Canyon in Hungry Valley (15 miles north of Reno) - *Charles Gary Sullivan (33 @ time of crime/77/now 80) indicted (8/25/19), arrested (8/28/19 in Yavapai County, AZ), extradited (11/15/19 to Reno), charged (11/15/19) & arraigned (11/19/19) with open murder. Plead not guilty. Held without bond.
Trial set to begin on 5/22/23.
DNA & additional investigation info & Court info from 11/19/19 thru 12/6/22 reference post #209 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...hoe-county-1979-arrest-in-2019.275036/page-11
12/6/22 Update: Next motions hearing to confirm trial date on 4/27/23 @ 9am. Trial has been reset to 5/22/23. 4/27/23 Update: The hearing early on 4/25 instead of 4/27 & then continued it due to “settlement discussions.” There is now a “Change of Plea” hearing on 5/4/23 at 3pm. The 5/22/23 trial date is still on calendar. Looks like he may plead guilty & save everyone from having to go to trial.

 

[Suglo]

Thursday, May 4th:
*Change of Plea Hearing (@ 3pm PT) – NV – Julia Woodward (21) (last seen Feb. 1, 1979 @ SF airport, found Mar. 25, 1979 near Eagle Canyon in Hungry Valley (15 miles north of Reno) - *Charles Gary Sullivan (33 @ time of crime/77/now 80) indicted (8/25/19), arrested (8/28/19 in Yavapai County, AZ), extradited (11/15/19 to Reno), charged (11/15/19) & arraigned (11/19/19) with open murder. Plead not guilty. Held without bond.
Trial set to begin on 5/22/23.
DNA & additional investigation info & Court info from 11/19/19 thru 12/6/22 reference post #209 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...hoe-county-1979-arrest-in-2019.275036/page-11
12/6/22 Update: Next motions hearing to confirm trial date on 4/27/23 @ 9am. Trial has been reset to 5/22/23. 4/27/23 Update: The hearing early on 4/25 instead of 4/27 & then continued it due to “settlement discussions.” There is now a “Change of Plea” hearing on 5/4/23 at 3pm. The 5/22/23 trial date is still on calendar. Looks like he may plead guilty & save everyone from having to go to trial.

@Niner Finally! He pleaded guilty today and will be sentenced on 6/27/23 at 1:00 pm. I will be back to update you then.

 

[Niner]

@Niner Finally! He pleaded guilty today and will be sentenced on 6/27/23 at 1:00 pm. I will be back to update you then.

YEA!! Thanks for the info!

 

[Niner]

Tuesday, June 27th:
*Sentencing Hearing (@ 1pm PT) – NV – Julia Woodward (21) (last seen Feb. 1, 1979 @ SF airport, found Mar. 25, 1979 near Eagle Canyon in Hungry Valley (15 miles north of Reno) - *Charles Gary Sullivan (33 @ time of crime/77/now 80) indicted (8/25/19), arrested (8/28/19 in Yavapai County, AZ), extradited (11/15/19 to Reno), charged (11/15/19) & arraigned (11/19/19) with open murder. Plead not guilty. Held without bond.
Trial was set to begin on 5/22/23, but was cancelled with Sullivan pleading guilty to all charges.
DNA & additional investigation info & Court info from 11/19/19 thru 12/6/22 reference post #213 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...hoe-county-1979-arrest-in-2019.275036/page-11
4/27/23 Update: The hearing early on 4/25 instead of 4/27 & then continued it due to “settlement discussions.” There is now a “Change of Plea” hearing on 5/4/23 at 3pm. The 5/22/23 trial date is still on calendar. Looks like he may plead guilty & save everyone from having to go to trial.
5/4/23 Update: Sullivan plead guilty to all charges. Sentencing hearing on 6/27/23 @ 1pm.

 

[Suglo]

Tuesday, June 27th:
*Sentencing Hearing (@ 1pm PT) – NV – Julia Woodward (21) (last seen Feb. 1, 1979 @ SF airport, found Mar. 25, 1979 near Eagle Canyon in Hungry Valley (15 miles north of Reno) - *Charles Gary Sullivan (33 @ time of crime/77/now 80) indicted (8/25/19), arrested (8/28/19 in Yavapai County, AZ), extradited (11/15/19 to Reno), charged (11/15/19) & arraigned (11/19/19) with open murder. Plead not guilty. Held without bond.
Trial was set to begin on 5/22/23, but was cancelled with Sullivan pleading guilty to all charges.
DNA & additional investigation info & Court info from 11/19/19 thru 12/6/22 reference post #213 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...hoe-county-1979-arrest-in-2019.275036/page-11
4/27/23 Update: The hearing early on 4/25 instead of 4/27 & then continued it due to “settlement discussions.” There is now a “Change of Plea” hearing on 5/4/23 at 3pm. The 5/22/23 trial date is still on calendar. Looks like he may plead guilty & save everyone from having to go to trial.
5/4/23 Update: Sullivan plead guilty to all charges. Sentencing hearing on 6/27/23 @ 1pm.

Docket says he was sentenced today but nothing about how much time. I’ll see if I can find something via Google. Looks like the plea was actually nolo contendere. Ugh. No wonder he only got up to 15 years. His wife is a piece of work. See last article (SMH)

Cold case killer sentenced to up to 15 years

Sex offender sentenced in 44-year-old cold case killing

A registered sex offender prosecutors considered a possible serial killer was sentenced to up to 15 years Tuesday in the killing and attempted sexual assault of a woman found 44 years ago.

www.reviewjournal.com

Man Charged in 1979 Reno Killing Gets 15 Years in Prison

A man who pleaded no contest to a 1979 Reno killing was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Tuesday.

www.2news.com

None of this has shaken the faith of his wife, who insists he’s innocent.

“Nobody knows him as well as I do and, if I thought for one second, for one second, he was guilty of these things, I would not be supporting him.”

That is not just a reflexive defense of her husband, she insists, but an honest conclusion looking at the evidence.

“There’s no evidence. There’s nothing there,” Pamela Sullivan insists. “The case is extremely weak.”

Actually, it’s not the first time she’s wrestled with serious accusations against him and come to a similar conclusion. They’d known each other for seven years when he was charged with kidnapping the hitchhiker on I-80 near Emigrant Gap, taking her to a remote location and binding her and threatening to rape her.

“So, he admitted to you that he picked up the hitchhiker?” I asked. “But the rest didn’t happen?”

“The rest of it didn’t happen, not the way she said. Uh-uh. No no.”

Murder defendant’s wife stands by her man. Again.

A murder defenatnt's wife insists her husband is innocent once more.

www.kolotv.com

 

[Niner]

WOW! Only 15 years??!! What are they going by - 1979 laws??!!

And about the wife - well - no words...

Thank you for helping me on this case @Suglo - much appreciated!

 

[DSCrime]

Docket says he was sentenced today but nothing about how much time. I’ll see if I can find something via Google. Looks like the plea was actually nolo contendere. Ugh. No wonder he only got up to 15 years. His wife is a piece of work. See last article (SMH)

Cold case killer sentenced to up to 15 years

Sex offender sentenced in 44-year-old cold case killing

A registered sex offender prosecutors considered a possible serial killer was sentenced to up to 15 years Tuesday in the killing and attempted sexual assault of a woman found 44 years ago.

www.reviewjournal.com

Man Charged in 1979 Reno Killing Gets 15 Years in Prison

A man who pleaded no contest to a 1979 Reno killing was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Tuesday.

www.2news.com

None of this has shaken the faith of his wife, who insists he’s innocent.

“Nobody knows him as well as I do and, if I thought for one second, for one second, he was guilty of these things, I would not be supporting him.”

That is not just a reflexive defense of her husband, she insists, but an honest conclusion looking at the evidence.

“There’s no evidence. There’s nothing there,” Pamela Sullivan insists. “The case is extremely weak.”

Actually, it’s not the first time she’s wrestled with serious accusations against him and come to a similar conclusion. They’d known each other for seven years when he was charged with kidnapping the hitchhiker on I-80 near Emigrant Gap, taking her to a remote location and binding her and threatening to rape her.

“So, he admitted to you that he picked up the hitchhiker?” I asked. “But the rest didn’t happen?”

“The rest of it didn’t happen, not the way she said. Uh-uh. No no.”

Murder defendant’s wife stands by her man. Again.

A murder defenatnt's wife insists her husband is innocent once more.

www.kolotv.com

WOW! Only 15 years??!! What are they going by - 1979 laws??!!

And about the wife - well - no words...

Thank you for helping me on this case @Suglo - much appreciated!

Can't get over his wife... agree w/ you @Niner no words

With advancements in forensic DNA testing & law enforcement agencies clearing backlogs of old evidence, maybe he'll be connected to other cases in the near future.

 

[Niner]

Can't get over his wife... agree w/ you @Niner no words

With advancements in forensic DNA testing & law enforcement agencies clearing backlogs of old evidence, maybe he'll be connected to other cases in the near future.

But I do not think if his DNA does come up the victims won't get justice - he is 80 years old! Maybe that is why they gave him 15 years.