PA - Grace Packer, 14, murdered, Abington, 4 July 2016 *Killer died*

[inmyhumbleopinion]

So the jury asked a confusing question about whether they can consider life without parole as a mitigating factor. Judge asked foreman if they meant Packer’s sentence. Foreman said “both.” Judge asked them to clarify. That was 30 mins ago. We’re all just waiting.#GracePacker
2:03 PM
LaurieMasonSchroeder on Twitter

 

[BUF]

So the jury asked a confusing question about whether they can consider life without parole as a mitigating factor. Judge asked foreman if they meant Packer’s sentence. Foreman said “both.” Judge asked them to clarify. That was 30 mins ago. We’re all just waiting.#GracePacker
2:03 PM
LaurieMasonSchroeder on Twitter

LaurieMasonSchroeder
@LehighCourts
·
13m

It’s being interpreted in different ways by the lawyers in the room. Many think the foreman didn’t mean anything about Packer, but now that judge asked, in response to a defense lawyer’s interpretation, the jurors have that in their minds.

 

[inmyhumbleopinion]

Jurors just sent out another note. The lawyers read it, then judge called them into her chambers. We don’t know what the note says. #GracePacker
3:00 PM 3/27/19
LaurieMasonSchroeder on Twitter

They’ve been deliberating 9 hours over two days.
3:01 PM
LaurieMasonSchroeder on Twitter

 

[inmyhumbleopinion]

The Jacob Sullivan jury just told the judge they cannot reach a decision. Judge Gibbons refused to declare them deadlocked, despite defense attorneys request. #GracePacker (BBM)
3:16 PM 3/27/19

Judge told jurors to keep working. Told lawyers she will hold them til 5 tonight.

Sara Packer’s guilty plea remains on hold. Her attorneys are not available tomorrow so it could happen next week. Unlikely to happen today unless Sullivan jury comes back soon. #GracePacker
3:18 PM

All reported by LaurieMasonSchroeder (@LehighCourts) | Twitter

ETA:
Jury deciding life or death row for Jacob Sullivan tells judge they’re deadlocked. She read them the “dynamite charge” and sent them back to keep deliberating. She said she’ll keep them until 5p and bring them back tomorrow if necessary. @KYWNewsradio
3:22 PM 3/27/19
Jim Melwert on Twitter

If the jury is deadlocked, Sullivan will be sentenced to life in prison without parole. Must be unanimous to get the death penalty.
3:23 PM
Jim Melwert on Twitter

ETA:
Dynamite Charge
Definition
An instruction given by a court to a deadlocked jury to encourage it to continue deliberating until it reaches a verdict. Also called Allen charge, nitroglycerine charge, shotgun charge, and third-degree instruction.
Dynamite Charge

 

[inmyhumbleopinion]

So what’s next for Sullivan? Judge has given the jury the so-called “dynamite” legal instruction, saying they should talk to each other and try to reach a verdict, but saying they shouldn’t feel pressured to change their minds.
3:25 PM 3/27/19

If the judge does later find the jury is deadlocked, she will sentence Sullivan to life in prison with no chance of parole.

Judge said she will keep jury no later than five tonight, have them come back in the morning.

A death sentence must be unanimous.
3:30 PM

All reported by LaurieMasonSchroeder (@LehighCourts) | Twitter

 

[BUF]

Too bad they can't stuff a shackled SP in a hot attic closet to wait it out.

 

[inmyhumbleopinion]

If jurors in the Jacob Sullivan case don’t reach a verdict in the next 30 minutes, we will be returning to the courthouse tomorrow. Sara Packer’s plea on hold.
4:33 PM 3/27/19
LaurieMasonSchroeder on Twitter

 

[inmyhumbleopinion]

Lawyers are filing back into the courtroom. If the Sullivan jurors have not reached a decision we will be coming back tomorrow. #GracePacker
4:58 PM 3/27/19
LaurieMasonSchroeder on Twitter

 

[inmyhumbleopinion]

Sullivan jury going home for the night. Will resume deliberations at 9:30 am. #GracePacker
5:07 PM 3/27/19
LaurieMasonSchroeder on Twitter

 

[Niner]

Thursday, March 28th:
*Trial continues (Penalty Phase) (Day 10)-VERDICT WATCH! (@ 9am ET) - PA - Grace Packer (14) (July 4, 2016, Abington; found Oct. 31, 2016 by hunters) – only for *Jacob Patrick Sullivan (44/now 46) (Bf of amom) arrested (Jan. 2017) indicted on 1st degree murder, rape conspiracy, kidnapping & abuse of corpse (dismemberment). No bond. DA seeks DP. Plead guilty on 2/22/19.
Trial started on 3/14/19. Scheduled to last 2 weeks. Jurors: 6 women & 6 men, alternates: 4 women from Bucks County.
Court hearings 8/13/18-2/21/18, Jury selection 2/22/19-3/7/19, Trial days 1-6 (3/14/19-3/22/19 reference post #843 here:
GUILTY - PA - Grace Packer, 14, murdered, Abington, 4 July 2016 *Arrests*
3/25/19 Day 7: Defense witnesses: Charles Reitzner (Sullivan's father). Sullivan's cousin (no name given). Brian Sullivan (bro). Step-sister (no name given). Lynn Hughes (Sullivan's aunt). Prosecutors are trying to admit Sullivan’s Facebook messages as rebuttal evidence. In one message to a woman on a polyamory message board he mentions he’s installed eye hooks for a sex swing. Judge rules Facebook posts are inadmissible. Sullivan will not testify. Defense rests their case. Closing arguments tomorrow, 3/26 at 9:30am. Jury will most likely begin deliberations early in the afternoon.
3/26/19 Day 8: Closing arguments. Judge gives jury instructions. Jurors deliberated for about 3 hours. Deliberations continued on 3/27.
3/27/19 Day 9: Deliberations started at 9am. After 9 hours of deliberations, the jurors say they are deadlocked. Judge reads them the "dynamite" charge and sent them back to keep deliberating. She said she’ll keep them until 5pm and bring them back tomorrow if
necessary. If the jury is deadlocked, Sullivan will be sentenced to life in prison without parole. Must be unanimous to get the death penalty. Jury going home for the night. Will resume deliberations at 9:30 am on 3/28.
*Sara Packer (42/now 44) adopted "mom" arrested (Jan. 2017) & indicted on 1st degree murder, rape conspiracy, kidnapping & abuse of corpse (dismemberment). Plead not guilty. No bond.
2/19/19: plead guilty. As part of a plea deal, Packer will avoid the death penalty & be sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole. Prosecutors are still seeking the death penalty for Sullivan.
3/26/19 Update: Will be pleading guilty at plea hearing today, 3/27.
3/27/19 Update: Packer’s sentencing hearing is delayed until after the jury reaches their verdict.

 

[YESorNO]

Sullivan jury going home for the night. Will resume deliberations at 9:30 am. #GracePacker
5:07 PM 3/27/19
LaurieMasonSchroeder on Twitter

for posting the tweets...

 

[inmyhumbleopinion]

for posting the tweets...

You are welcome .

I hope Ms. Mason Schroeder treats herself to some R&R as soon as the defendants are sentenced. I’m sure this hasn’t been easy for her.

And the jurors! Considering what they had to see and hear day in and day out for the last two weeks, at least some of them are going to need serious therapy, IMO.

 

[inmyhumbleopinion]

Fingers crossed that we hear a verdict today. Jurors deliberating Jacob Sullivan death sentence say they can't reach decision, but judge won't declare...
6:33 AM 3/28/19

LaurieMasonSchroeder on Twitter

 

[BUF]

LaurieMasonSchroeder
@LehighCourts
·
12m

We’re hearing there’s a verdict. #GracePacker

 

[inmyhumbleopinion]

DEVELOPING: There is a verdict in the Jacob Sullivan penalty phase. Jury has been deliberating for more than 10 hours whether he should get life w/o parole or the death penalty. Stay tuned to @KYWNewsradio
9:54 AM 3/28/19
Jim Melwert on Twitter

 

[inmyhumbleopinion]

DBM (double-posted)

 

[inmyhumbleopinion]

Death for Jacob Sullivan
10:16 AM 3/28/19
LaurieMasonSchroeder on Twitter

 

[inmyhumbleopinion]

Jury took 11 hours over 11 hours to reach the verdict. More than one juror clearly showed the emotion of the decision. @KYWNewsradio
10:18 AM 3/28/19
Jim Melwert on Twitter

 

[inmyhumbleopinion]

He will be sentenced in a short while the judge is looking for a larger courtroom
10:17 AM 3/28/19

Judge Diane Gibbons thanked the jurors she urged them to get counseling if they needed. “The butchery in this case was beyond my ability to describe. To live through it vicariously through the photos and the tapes and the recordings... must have taken a toll.”

Sullivan did not react to the verdict. Seconds after it was red deputies surrounded him and handcuffed him
10:20 AM

Grace packers grandparents were in the courtroom. Her grandfather, Warren Packer, Said they are still digesting the verdict and may speak later
10:21 AM 3/28/19

All reported by LaurieMasonSchroeder (@LehighCourts) | Twitter

 

[inmyhumbleopinion]

In reaching their verdict did yours found that some mitigating factors were present but that the aggravating factor, which was that the murder was committed in the course of another felony, outweighed the mitigators
10:22 AM 3/28/19
LaurieMasonSchroeder on Twitter

The mitigating factors that they found was that he had no criminal history, a history of family devotion, Sara Packers plea agreement, his guilty plea, and that he acted under the substantial domination of another person
10:23 AM 3/28/19
LaurieMasonSchroeder on Twitter