Written by FRW Supporter | Sunday, 22 January 2012 14:17
Dateline,
Hearing that you are airing an update about Ryan's situation has me quite anxious and trying to figure out what your motivation/intentions are. The first program you did regarding Ryan was fair and pointed out alot of what was wrong with his case. And then the second program was a total flip and very damaging to him. I have to ask WHY? Was it all about your ratings with no regard to Ryan and his life? It sure looked that way.
I'm a 64 yr. old woman with two sons of my own who lives in Warren Co. and wish I didn't after this case. I've worked full time as an R.N. for 41 yrs...25 of those years in Level One Trauma Center Emergency Rooms; trained as a sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE); obtained my Certification in Emergency Nursing; and completed step III out of IV of the Clinical Ladder. I left emergency nursing approx. ten years ago to work at an inpatient Hospice unit. But I think my experience in the E.R. speaks for itself. I mention the E.R. experience because anyone with any kind of medical training knows that the autopsy pictures shown of Sarah is exactly what someone looks like after an hour of CPR by an over zealous, inexperienced squad. Not murder!
Because I live close to where Ryan and Sarah lived I became interested in this case and casually followed it in the beginning. And then much more seriously as details emerged. I attended every day of trials two and three to see what if anything was so damning to Ryan and proved without a doubt that he harmed Sarah. As you well know there is NOTHING proving he is guilty of anything other than being a good hearted human being who used to trust those in authority. Look where that got him..... You and others seem to want to depict Ryan as a womanizer and using the support website as a dating service. Why don't you emphasize the fact that people of all ages and genders contacted him to show support. I can't tell you the broad spectrum of people I saw approach him in the lobby of the courthouse during the trials and identify themselves as so and so from the website and came to show him in person that they still supported him. Too bad you chose not to notice that when you were in the lobby talking with his defense team.
Written by Mike Mayleben | Monday, 12 December 2011 23:20
There are only 3 real options to describe the false statement David Fornshell made today in an article in the Middletown Journal:
He really didn't follow any of the trials making him clueless.
He's asleep at the wheel of the Prosecutors Office.
He told a lie.
Here is David Fornshell's response to Denise Callahan of the Middletown Journal of the motion filed today, "Prosecutor David Fornshell said he finds it a little “ironic” that Berry would raise ineffective assistance of counsel arguments, since she has been an attorney of record on the case during at least the last two trials."
ARE YOU SERIOUS? Where in the world have you been? Have you even followed this trial? Anyone that has would know that Michele Berry-Godsey was ONLY involved in getting the conviction overturned after the first trial, and had nothing to do with the second and third trials. I mean call me captain obvious but all you had to do was pay a little attention to know this. As a matter of fact, papers were filed to remove her name from the docket so that it would only reflect the names of trial counsel.
It appears David Fornshell is merely a Rachel Hutzel puppet. Maybe this is why he couldn't beat her to be the prosecutor and had to wait for her to move on to get an appointment from a buddy.
Here is another concerning comment made by the un-elected Warren County Prosecutor as written in the article by Denise Callahan of the Middletown Journal -
He also said the bathtub issue is new and equally puzzling to him. “It’s interesting that on one hand there’s this argument that there was not sufficient evidence to support a murder charge,” he said. “But on the other hand they’re saying this bathtub was so damning if you will, or prejudicial in terms of it proving Widmer murdered his wife, that allowing it in and not suppressing it early on was actually ineffective assistance of counsel.”
Shouldn't the Prosecutor put our Constitutional Rights 1st???????? How about our Civil Liberties???????? Guess it's only about winning at the Warren County Prosecutor's office and not about protecting 'We The People'.
David Fornshell is either lying in hopes of confusing the facts of this case or he's incompetently asleep at the wheel - you make the decision, I'm just pointing out the facts.
Here's a screenshot of the article, incase Fornshell claims he was misquoted like Russel Uptegrove claimed.
Written by Janice Morse • jmorse@enquirer.com | Monday, 12 December 2011 17:56
Was Ryan Widmer’s murder conviction “a manifest miscarriage of justice?”
In an appeal filed Monday lawyers for Widmer allege that a jury lost its way and that authorities made crucial mistakes, including improperly seizing the bathtub in which his wife, Sarah, 24, had drowned in 2008.
Widmer, 30, of Mason, is serving 15 years to life in prison after a jury convicted him of murder in February.
Since then, Widmer has given two public interviews protesting his innocence and saying he wanted to testify but he did not take the witness stand during any of his three trials based on his lawyers’ advice.
Written by Janice Morse • jmorse@enquirer.com | Wednesday, 12 October 2011 20:07
Ryan Widmer is trying for a fourth trial – and his lawyer has filed court documents accusing officials of perjury and a cover-up.
Widmer’s lawyer, Michele Berry, filed a motion today asking a Warren County judge to set aside Widmer’s February murder conviction in the 2008 bathtub drowning of his wife, Sarah.
Berry also wants the judge to grant a hearing based on “newly discovered evidence of false statements, lack of competence and training and outright fraud by the lead detective in this case, former Lieutenant Detective Jeff Braley.”
Further, Berry says Widmer’s former lawyers also made a greivous mistake when they failed to get Sarah Widmer’s DNA tested for Long QT Syndrome, a genetic condition that could have contributed to her drowning.
Story by Janice Morse of the Cincinnati Enquirer - read the entire story on Cincinnati.com [click here]
Written by Janice Morse • jmorse@enquirer.com | Friday, 03 June 2011 13:47
The lead detective in the Ryan Widmer murder case, Lt. Jeff Braley, who came under scrutiny because of alleged resume fraud, has resigned from his position with the Hamilton Township police department, Warren Ritchie, township law director, said in a news release.
Braley’s resignation, submitted Friday, takes effect Sept. 1. He cited personal reasons for his resignation.
“The Township has accepted his resignation and has placed Lt. Braley on an unpaid leave of absence until the effective date,” Ritchie said. “Although technically a member of the Township’s Police Department until the effective date, Lt. Braley has surrendered his badge and no longer has police authority under the auspices of the Township’s Police Department.”
Story by Janice Morse of the Cincinnati Enquirer - read the entire story on Cincinnati.com [click here]
Written by Janice Morse • jmorse@enquirer.com | Wednesday, 04 May 2011 14:05
A "Dateline NBC" episode, scheduled to air Friday, confirms what has long been rumored: Ryan Widmer became a father while awaiting his third trial on a murder charge.
In a video clip promoting the show, Dateline shows images of Widmer, his baby and the child's mother, who tells Dateline: "There's no way that he could have done this - ever."
Names of the baby and the woman are not disclosed in the promotion, but the clip says the baby was born "in the summer after trial No. 2," which means the child would now be less than a year old.
The show WILL AIR THIS Friday, May 6th 9pm-11pm EST.
Story by Janice Morse of the Cincinnati Enquirer - read the entire story on Cincinnati.com [click here]
Written by Janice Morse • jmorse@enquirer.com | Thursday, 10 March 2011 17:50
LEBANON - Judge Neal Bronson has set a hearing to handle motions on whether Ryan Widmer should get a new trial or be acquitted.
The hearing is set for March 23 in Warren County Common Pleas Court.
After two mistrials, a third jury convicted Widmer, 30, of Mason, of murder in the 2008 drowning of his wife, Sarah, 24, in Hamilton Township.
Since the Feb. 15 verdict, Widmer's lawyers have filed paperwork alleging that the judge may have been misled into keeping a biased juror on the panel that convicted Widmer. They also allege jurors shifted the burden of proof to the defense, and that there was insufficient evidence to support the conviction. They also claim "reasonable minds" would not have reached the same conculsion that jurors reached.
Prosecutors haven't filed a formal reply yet; they have until March 18 to do so.
But, in general, the new Warren County prosecutor, David Fornshell, who took office after the Widmer conviction, has stated that he thinks the defense claims are unsupported, and that there was sufficient evidence to prove Widmer's guilt.
Story by Janice Morse of the Cincinnati Enquirer - read the entire story on Cincinnati.com [click here]
Written by Janice Morse • jmorse@enquirer.com | Sunday, 20 February 2011 19:13
Important legal concepts seem to have been lost on some Warren County jurors who convicted Ryan Widmer of murder, experts say, based on interviews reported in local news media since Tuesday’s verdict.
But Widmer’s lawyers have no recourse unless they can legally substantiate that jurors disobeyed orders, experts say.
Even so, the topic is worthy of public debate, “because we’re seeing an increasing trend of jurors disregarding judges’ simple instructions,” says attorney Mike Allen, a former Hamilton County prosecutor and municipal court judge.
Judge Neal Bronson clearly explained to the jury during Widmer’s 17-day trial:
The defendant doesn’t have to prove he’s innocent; he’s presumed innocent and the prosecution must prove his guilt “beyond a reasonable doubt.”
The defendant’s decision not to testify cannot be considered for any purpose.
“Murder” is an intentional killing while “involuntary manslaughter” would be an assault that unintentionally caused a death.
Yet one juror, quoted by WKRC-TV, Channel 12, said, “It’s just the evidence, to us, did not prove innocence.”
Another juror, quoted in the Western Star, a Warren County newspaper, said: “The fact that we couldn’t hear Ryan’s side of the story was bad,” indicating he should have testified.
Story by Janice Morse of the Cincinnati Enquirer - read the entire story on Cincinnati.com [click here]
Written by Anonymous | Saturday, 12 February 2011 13:19
It's been brought to our attention from several sources inside and familiar with the Department that the overall consensus is that Ryan Widmer is INNOCENT. Unfortunately due to nature of this information and that jobs could be in jeopardy they are not allowed to officially comment. However people talk, people have opinions and some people know what is going on isn't right. These same people are against the actions of Jeff Braley who has a track history of breaking the law, abusing his job powers and being dishonest.
Apparently the only people pushing for this trial is the Prosecutor's Office, Jeff Braley, Russel Uptegrove (from pressure of Braley) and a few others scared to admit it. This is just another example of the corruption in Warren County by the people that are in place to protect us, how scary is that.
Why does this matter? Because these are the people that know the most about this case - more than you, more than me, more than anyone. If they feel he's innocent, there's a reason for it.
We have been sent information about this lawsuit from a handful of people that feel it's important you know the truth about one of the people hired by Hamilton Township to "protect you".
If we have missing or incorrect information, please let us know as we only want to provide factual information contact us now.
So far this is what we've been informed:
Jeff Braley was investigating a party / staking out a house.
Sitting on the house waiting for something to happen to give them cause to break up the party/enter the house, he got tired of waiting.
Braley informs one of his officers to call their wife and specifically have her call the non-emergency line to report loud noises.
Unfortunately this person lived in Butler County, little hard to hear a party an entire county away....
This call gave them cause to approach and/or enter the house to bust up the underage drinking.
It's stated that Jeff Braley acted very unprofessional with the language and actions he took towards the kids.
This is the interesting part... people within the Township/Police Department were so outraged by the actions of Jeff Braley (breaking/abusing the law and his position) that they informed this family of what really happened to obtain just cause to enter the house/break up the party. They then sued Jeff Braley in Federal Court, a lawsuit still going on.
Is this really information that should be kept a secret? Is this really a person that should be on a Police Department to Serve and Protect us?
UPDATE - 1/25/2011
"Braley was also involved in the following events that would play a roll in the federal suit. Not only should a civilian be able to sue him, but the feds themselves should indict him for arresting people in Ohio, prior to being a certified peace officer. This actually did happen. The second piece is that he took part with Eugene Duveulis (spelling??), X Police Chief, and now township trustee in the interview involving a CSX investigator that involved the gag order on Greg Kelley"
UPDATE - 1/26/2011
"You might want to also post another twist to this. Mark Duvelius is an investigator underneath Scott Male, Mark is also the brother of Euguene Duvelius, who is the township trustee in Hamilton Twp. It is my understanding that he has had some involvement in this investigation with Scott Male (traveling to Iowa, etc) If you request a public records request, (outside of the gag order) or, if able too! You will find that Mark lied on the stand about some involvement with the Kilburn family years ago, and he was convicted of perjury in this case. You, also might find it interesting to find someone that could fill you in on Scott Males history with the Drug Task Force - prior to John Burke running it. It is reported or rumored that there are some juicy pieces from the past."
From one of the briefs
At the Pritchard residence, Braley approached Mary Pritchard and identified himself. (Record Entry No. 30, Deposition of Mary Pritchard, p. 36, lines 18-22)
Mary Pritchard identified herself as the homeowner and asked Braley why the officers were on her property. (Record Entry No. 20, Deposition of Jeff Braley, p. 48, lines 8-12)
During this conversation Braley told Mary Pritchard that he was going to take her fucking house. (Record Entry No. 30, Deposition of Mary Pritchard p. 40, lines 1-17; Record Entry No. 31, Deposition of Stephen Pritchard, p. 40, lines 3-9; Record Entry No. 27, Deposition of Edward Pritchard, p. 31, lines 8-9)
Braley's demeanor was nasty and aggressive while pointing his finger in Mary Pritchard's face. (Record Entry No. 30, Deposition of Mary Pritchard, p. 40, lines 1-9; Record Entry No. 27, Deposition of Edward Pritchard, p. 31, lines 7-8; Record Entry No. 31, Deposition of Stephen Pritchard, pp. 42-43, lines 24-1)
As Braley cursed, spit was coming out of his mouth. (Record Entry No. 27, Deposition of Edward Pritchard, p. 31, lines 7-8)
Braley threatened to call Stephen Pritchard's college football coach and also threatened Mary Pritchard with jail. (Record Entry No. 31, Deposition of Stephen Pritchard, p. 41, lines 13-16; Record Entry No. 30, Deposition of Mary Pritchard, p. 44, line 7-10; Record Entry No. 27, Case: 09-4594 Document: 006110628880 Filed: 05/14/2010 Page: 25 24 Deposition of Edward Pritchard, p. 33, lines 22-25)
Mary Pritchard was very upset and crying. (Record Entry No. 21, Deposition of Terry Christman, p. 44, lines 4-5, p. 45, lines 18-22) Even after the raid was over Mary Pritchard remained worried over BraleyÕs threats.
Written by Janice Morse • jmorse@enquirer.com | Friday, 21 January 2011 11:39
Warren County Judge Neil Bronson is blocking defense lawyers from cross-examining the lead detective in the Ryan Widmer murder case about alleged false statements in his personnel file.
In a decision released Friday, Bronson said, that although “designated as the state’s witness, it can hardly be said his testimony is the linchpin of the prosecution. The cross examination of Det. (Jeff) Braley regarding the application will not be allowed.”
The judge said he is concerned that any cross-examination of Braley on what’s in his personnel file raised the “danger of confusing the issues or of misleading the jury.”
Story by Janice Morse of the Cincinnati Enquirer - read the entire story on Cincinnati.com [click here]
Written by Janice Morse • jmorse@enquirer.com | Wednesday, 19 January 2011 14:49
LEBANON - Could the prosecution's mystery witness in the Ryan Widmer murder retrial be someone who became "obsessed" with Widmer after seeing him on TV?
One of Widmer's lawyers, Jay Clark, began his questioning of prospective jurors today by repeatedly asking questions about how people could become obsessed with someone who appears on television - and why a person might do that.
He suggested that whoever would try to strike up a relationship with a person who appears on TV would be striving for his or her "15 minutes of fame."
Prosecutors repeatedly objected to Clark's line of questioning but Warren County Common Pleas Judge Neal Bronson allowed most of the questions to be asked.
Thaddeus Hoffmeister, a Wyoming resident who teaches law at the University of Dayton and specializes in the study of juries, attended Wednesday's jury selection and said prosecutors repeated objections to Clark's questions were "overly adversarial," especially for a jury-selection process.
Story by Janice Morse of the Cincinnati Enquirer - read the entire story on Cincinnati.com [click here]
Written by Janice Morse • jmorse@enquirer.com | Tuesday, 18 January 2011 21:23
LEBANON - The judge in the Ryan Widmer murder retrial said Tuesday he expects to seat a jury Wednesday, but jurors won’t hear testimony until next week.
That’s apparently because defense attorneys have been told the identity of a mystery witness who allegedly heard Widmer confess to killing his wife, Sarah.
Story by Janice Morse of the Cincinnati Enquirer - read the entire story on Cincinnati.com [click here]
Written by Janice Morse • jmorse@enquirer.com | Monday, 17 January 2011 05:56
LEBANON - An Internet search for the words "Ryan Widmer" and "murder" yields about 16,000 results on Google.com.
A website started by Ryan Widmer supporters - freeryanwidmer.com - has logged about 68,000 visitors - some from as far away as Germany, Japan and China.
At a November conference in Las Vegas, a pair of lawyers - one from Florida, the other from California - approached Cincinnati lawyer Mark Krumbein, asking him about "the bathtub case."
And attorney Mike Allen, who has been providing commentary about the case for several news outlets, says: "Public interest in this case has reached a fever pitch. I literally can't walk down the street or go to the grocery store without being asked about it."
He says he has never seen such a phenomenon in his 37 years in the criminal justice system.
"People have Facebooked, Twittered and tweeted about this case more than any other case in the history of this area," said Allen, former Hamilton County prosecutor. "It just adds to the immense amount of pre-trial publicity generated."
These examples show that, because of traditional news media, new media and old-fashioned word-of-mouth, many people in Greater Cincinnati and beyond are aware of the Warren County man who faces trial for a third time in the 2008 bathtub-drowning of his wife.
Story by Janice Morse of the Cincinnati Enquirer - read the entire story on Cincinnati.com [click here]
Written by Janice Morse • jmorse@enquirer.com | Sunday, 16 January 2011 20:11
LEBANON - The third murder trial of Ryan Widmer in the bathtub-drowning of his wife of four months will differ significantly from his two previous trials.
"The third trial will be a different ballgame," says Mark Krumbein, a seasoned Cincinnati defense lawyer who has some experience as a prosecutor. "Already, this case is so different from other murder cases in so many ways."
Experts say it's rare for two mistrials to be declared in the same murder case.
Two big factors are game-changers for Warren County prosecutors and for Widmer, 30, of Mason, as his three-week trial starts Tuesday:
The prosecution's mystery witness, whose identity is being kept secret until just before his trial starts. The witness reportedly heard Widmer confess to the 2008 drowning of his wife, Sarah Widmer, 24, a Fort Thomas dental hygienist. But that person's identity is being kept secret under revamped Ohio court rules. The rules took effect July 1, a month after Widmer's second trial ended with a deadlocked jury.
Story by Janice Morse of the Cincinnati Enquirer - read the entire story on Cincinnati.com [click here]
Written by Janice Morse • jmorse@enquirer.com | Tuesday, 11 January 2011 10:32
LEBANON - A different judge - James Flannery - will decide whether to force prosecutors to reveal the identity of a mystery witness in the Ryan Widmer murder case.
Widmer, 30, is set to go on trial next week for a third time in the 2008 bathtub drowning of his wife, Sarah. The two previous trials ended in mistrials.
Prosecutors say they also have supporting evidence that they are trying to keep from the defense.
A court record filed Tuesday morning says the matter has been assigned to Flannery, and that prosecutors are withholding "additional witnesses and evidence that would corroborate the testimony of the witness identified only as Witness Doe 1."
Story by Janice Morse of the Cincinnati Enquirer - read the entire story on Cincinnati.com [click here]
Written by Janice Morse • jmorse@enquirer.com | Monday, 03 January 2011 19:52
LEBANON - Ryan Widmer will get some public money to pay the fees for two expert witnesses in his upcoming third murder trial, but he won't get money for three others, a judge ruled Monday.
Widmer, 30, sought public funds, asserting he has exhausted his financial resources while defending himself against charges that he killed his wife, Sarah, 24, by drowning her in their Hamilton Township bathtub in 2008. After two mistrials, the case is headed for a third trial Jan. 18.
Judge Neal Bronson agreed to set aside $6,500 to pay for the time spent by Dr. Michael Balko, a Kentucky forensic pathologist who specializes in study of brain problems that can contribute to a person's death. He testified in Widmer's first trial but not in the second trial. In the third trial, he is expected to testify about his examination of tissue slides that were obtained during Warren County Coroner Dr. Russell Uptegrove's autopsy of Sarah Widmer in 2008.
Story by Janice Morse of the Cincinnati Enquirer - read the entire story on Cincinnati.com [click here]
Written by Janice Morse • jmorse@enquirer.com | Monday, 03 January 2011 13:01
The lead detective in the Ryan Widmer murder case did write on a pair of documents that misrepresent his qualifications, and there is no evidence to support Lt. Jeff Braley’s allegations that someone else altered the documents, a state crime lab analysis says.
Hamilton Township officials released a report Monday from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation into the authenticity of documents that Braley, a Hamilton Township police officer, has disputed.
In September, township trustees asked the Ohio Attorney General to assign the investigation to an independent agency, noting “Lieutenant Braley welcomed the action taken and has cooperated fully,” an e-mail from Warren Ritchie, the township’s law director, said Monday.
Story by Janice Morse of the Cincinnati Enquirer - read the entire story on Cincinnati.com [click here]
Written by Lynn Hulsey at lhulsey@daytondailynews.com | Monday, 27 December 2010 22:13
The lucrative gig that Dr. Russell Uptegrove has for himself looks awful.
It reflects badly on Montgomery County Coroner James Davis and, more fundamentally, it’s emblematic of why Ohio shouldn’t elect coroners.
Dr. Uptegrove is working three jobs: He’s a full-time forensic pathologist for Montgomery County; he’s Warren County’s elected coroner, and he’s a part-time pathologist for the Butler County coroner’s office.
For this work, Dr. Uptegrove pulled in $226,643 last year, and $212,092 as of Dec. 1 this year. These figures don’t include the amounts he earned teaching at the Ohio Peace Officers Training Academy, where he earned $6,800 between 2006 and 2010.
Written by Janice Morse • jmorse@enquirer.com | Monday, 27 December 2010 19:49
LEBANON - Warren County prosecutors Monday said a judge should deny Ryan Widmer's request for the state to pay for defense experts.
In a court filing, prosecutors said Widmer has not demonstrated that he is indigent, "has not demonstrated the reasonableness and necessity of the request" and has not asked for expert witness money in a timely manner.
Widmer, 30, of Mason, is expected to go on trial for the third time Jan. 18 for the drowning of his 24-year-old wife Sarah in 2008 at their Hamilton Township home. Widmer's attorneys are seeking $48,500 in public money to pay for defense experts.
Story by Janice Morse of the Cincinnati Enquirer - read the entire story on Cincinnati.com [click here]
Written by Janice Morse • jmorse@enquirer.com | Sunday, 19 December 2010 18:53
After spending $500,000 on his two murder trials, Ryan Widmer is broke, his lawyers say, and they want nearly $50,000 in public funds for experts to testify next month as he goes on trial a third time for the 2008 bathtub-drowning of his 24-year-old wife, Sarah.
The request puts the Warren County case at yet another crucial juncture, experts say.
Denying the request likely would force the trial to be postponed and could make any guilty verdict vulnerable to being thrown out on appeal, said Mike Allen, a former Hamilton County prosecutor and current defense lawyer who has been closely following the case.
Story by Janice Morse of the Cincinnati Enquirer - read the entire story on Cincinnati.com [click here]
Written by Janice Morse • jmorse@enquirer.com | Tuesday, 30 November 2010 11:33
Because of a new court order in the Ryan Widmer case, further details, including anything about an unidentified witness who reportedly heard Widmer confess to the bathtub-drowning of his wife, will be kept secret unless lawyers reveal details in court documents or hearings.
That specific restriction is contained in a new gag order that Judge Neal Bronson filed Monday in Warren County Common Pleas Court.
Following last Wednesday's hearing about concerns that news reporters and lawyers raised about a previous gag order, Bronson filed the order to more clearly specify who can talk about the controversial case and who cannot.
Story by Janice Morse of the Cincinnati Enquirer - read the entire story on Cincinnati.com [click here]
Written by Janice Morse • jmorse@enquirer.com | Friday, 19 November 2010 17:56
LEBANON - Ryan Widmer's third murder trial will be held in Warren County, a judge ruled Friday.
Warren County Common Pleas Judge Neal Bronson shot down prosecutors' request for a change of venue in the controversial bathtub-drowning case.
"The court cannot say, at this time, that the attempt to seat a jury in Warren County would be a 'vain act.' " Broson wrote.
"Judicial economy, convenience and potential expense to the taxpayer require that the court make a good-faith effort to (empanel) a jury in Warren County."
Story by Janice Morse of the Cincinnati Enquirer - read the entire story on Cincinnati.com [click here]
Written by Janice Morse • jmorse@enquirer.com | Tuesday, 16 November 2010 17:08
LEBANON - Prosecutors on Tuesday accused Ryan Widmer's lawyer, Jay Clark, of violating a court order barring parties from commenting about the case in which Widmer is accused of drowning his newlywed wife in their bathtub in 2008.
Assistant Prosecutor John Arnold asked Warren County Common Pleas Judge Neal Bronson to order Clark "to appear before this court and show cause why he should not be held in contempt." Arnold also said the judge should consider Clark's recent out-of-court comments as an additional reason to move Widmer's trial outside Warren County when he stands trial on a murder charge for the third time following two mistrials.
Story by Janice Morse of the Cincinnati Enquirer - read the entire story on Cincinnati.com [click here]
Written by Sheila McLaughlin • smclaughlin@enquirer.com | Monday, 01 November 2010 14:53
MIDDLETOWN - Warren County Common Pleas Judge Neal Bronson improperly blocked media access to information in the Ryan Widmer re-trial last June, the Ohio 12th District Court of Appeals ruled Monday.
The decision, prompted by a challenge from The Enquirer, ruled that Bronson should first have held a hearing before barring a reporter from observing jurors on a trip to the Hamilton Township home where Widmer allegedly drowned his wife Sarah in 2008.
For the same reason, the three-judge appeals panel also ruled that Bronson was wrong to ban Hamilton Township officials from releasing personnel records of Lt. Jeff Braley, the lead investigator in the case.
Widmer's lawyers planned to use information from the file during the trial to impeach Braley's credibility. Braley claimed someone else put erroneous notations in the file about his professional qualifications and educational background.
Story by Sheila McLaughlin of the Cincinnati Enquirer - read the entire story on Cincinnati.com [click here]
Written by Sheila McLaughlin • smclaughlin@enquirer.com | Wednesday, 27 October 2010 19:18
LEBANON - Another salvo was launched in the Ryan Widmer case Wednesday when defense attorneys accused Prosecutor Rachel Hutzel of creating the media frenzy she cited as the reason to move a third trial out of Warren County.
In a motion opposing Hutzel's request for a change of venue, defense attorneys Jay Clark and Lindsey Gutierrez noted that Hutzel posted 27 press releases on her website, held press conferences and went on a radio talk show to discuss the case.
Story by Sheila McLaughlin of the Cincinnati Enquirer - read the entire story on Cincinnati.com [click here]
Written by Janice Morse • jmorse@enquirer.com | Wednesday, 13 October 2010 13:22
MIDDLETOWN - Did a Warren County judge and other public officials improperly block public access to some information in the Ryan Widmer murder case?
"We want to make sure that the public either has access to information concerning court proceedings...and about public employees...or at least that the court applies the proper procedure before it denies that access," he said after the hearing.
Story by Janice Morse of the Cincinnati Enquirer - read the entire story on Cincinnati.com [click here]
Written by Mike Mayleben | Wednesday, 06 October 2010 14:33
So much that they are now complaining to the judge.
The motion concluded saying, "In this case, the Defense and the media have forged a close collaboration in which the Defense provides information ... and these media outlets then use that (information) to generate sensationalized stories for public consumption. ... The only remedy is for this Court to transfer this case to another county 'not so permeated with publicity.'"
I can assure you - you haven't seen anything yet. The information we have to release about the history of Jeff Braley, that will blow your mind that he's even still employed after reading his past, along with information about what's been going on inside the Prosecutors Office... It doesn't matter where this trial is held - everyone will see this information to see just how crooked things are, not only with this case, but with the Prosecutors Office and Jeff Braley.
Rachel Hutzel and her team are upset because the media is reporting on the facts. That is very sad and quite pathetic, YOU ARE A PROSECUTOR, START ACTING LIKE ONE. It's bad enough the Asst. Prosecutors went into the judges chambers and lied to try and cover up the truth, now they take it one step further.
Karma..... sometimes it sucks. Just remember, YOU created this game and set the rules, now you don't like having the other side play by them. You shouldn't have leaked false information to the media about the "swingers website" that you still to this day can't backup, the make believe video, and all the other interviews you ran to do to get your face on TV.
Written by Janice Morse • jmorse@enquirer.com | Tuesday, 05 October 2010 15:18
LEBANON - Prosecutors will ask a judge to move Ryan Widmer's third murder trial outside Warren County - but defense lawyers intend to oppose the change of venue.
"I have no reason to expect that the citizens of Warren County cannot be impartial," said Jay Clark, one of Widmer's lawyers, following a half-hour-long, closed-door meeting with prosecutors and Judge Neal Bronson in Warren County Common Pleas Court Tuesday.
Widmer's wife, Sarah, drowned in the couple's bathtub at their Hamilton Township home in 2008. Widmer's first conviction in 2009 was thrown out because of juror misconduct, and a jury earlier this year was unable to agree on a verdict.
Clark said the defense will also try to obtain the name of a new witness who the prosecution claims heard Widmer admit he had drowned his wife.
Story by Janice Morse of the Cincinnati Enquirer - read the entire story on Cincinnati.com [click here]
Written by Mike Mayleben | Wednesday, 29 September 2010 08:19
News from NKU...
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University Chase College of Law Center for Excellence in Advocacy will host a discussion panel about the Ryan Widmer murder trial Oct. 5 from 7-9 p.m. in NKU's Eva G. Farris Auditorium (BEP Center Room 200).
Widmer was accused of drowning his wife, Sarah, in their bathtub on Aug. 13, 2008. He has been tried twice for murder. The first trial ended in a mistrial and the second ended in a hung jury. A third trial is scheduled to begin in January 2011.
To better understand this highly controversial case, Chase College of Law has invited a distinguished group of legal, media and law enforcement experts to discuss the case's complex issues. The discussion panel is free and open to the public.
Panelists include legal experts Mike Allen, criminal defense attorney and former Hamilton County prosecutor; Professor Mark Godsey, University of Cincinnati, criminal defense attorney; Mark Krumbein, criminal defense attorney; Daniel "Woody" Breyer, assistant chief prosecutor, Clermont County, Ohio; and Professor Mark Stavsky, Chase College of Law. Media experts include Deb Silverman, WCPO TV Channel 9 reporter; Travis Gettys, WLWT TV Channel 5 reporter; Brad Underwood, Fox 19 reporter; and Janice Morse, Cincinnati Enquirer journalist.
Law enforcement experts are Col. William Cole, chief of police, City of Bellevue, Ky.; Darrell Hawkins, forensic expert, assistant prosecutor, Clermont County, Ohio; Professor Jill Shelley, criminal justice professor at NKU; and Greg Shelley, forensic expert, Clermont County, Ohio. Professor Henry Stephens, Chase College of Law, will moderate the panel discussion.
"Our mission at the Center for Excellence in Advocacy is to ensure that every student who graduates understands the theoretical and practical aspects of the legal system," said Professor Richard Bales, director of the center. "Many of the theoretical issues can be addressed in a classroom, so at the center we focus on exposing students to the realities of the legal system by having them work with top-notch legal experts and by organizing programs such as the Ryan Widmer trial panel discussion."
Chase College of Law established the Center for Excellence in Advocacy in 2007 to teach students the practical skills necessary to be effective advocates. Since its creation, the center has hosted dozens of seminars like the Widmer panel that expose Chase students to topics and issues not covered in most law school classrooms.
Written by Mike Mayleben | Saturday, 25 September 2010 17:28
Jeff Braley's lies about documents in his Personnel File, his own hand writing expert testified in a closed door hearing that it was his signature.
Also to note, not a single person that testified in this closed door hearing defended or supported Jeff Braley.
Start contacting the State of Ohio to send a message that we will not tolerate corruption in our Prosecutor Offices or in the offices that are put in place to protect our civil liberties! http://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/BCI
Written by Janice Morse • jmorse@enquirer.com | Tuesday, 31 August 2010 15:08
A third trial date has been set for Ryan Widmer, the Warren County man accused of drowning his wife in their Hamilton Township bathtub two years and two mistrials ago.
Judge Neal Bronson set the trial for Jan. 18 in Common Pleas Court, Lebanon, and it is expected to last three weeks, officials said.
The judge also set a status conference for 2 p.m. Oct. 5.
Story by Janice Morse of the Cincinnati Enquirer - read the entire story on Cincinnati.com [click here]
Written by Mike Mayleben | Thursday, 19 August 2010 11:01
Cataplexy is a sudden and transient episode of loss of muscle tone, often triggered by emotions. It is a rare disease (prevalence of fewer than 5 per 10,000 in the community), but frequently affects people who have narcolepsy, a disorder whose principal signs are EDS (Excessive Daytime Sleepiness), sleep attacks, sleep paralysis, hypnagogic hallucinations and disturbed night-time sleep. Cataplexy is sometimes confused with epilepsy, where a series of flashes or other stimuli cause superficially similar seizures. Cataplexy can also be present as a side effect of SSRI Discontinuation Syndrome.
Written by Mike Mayleben | Friday, 06 August 2010 09:31
We've been getting reports from people that have expressed their unhappiness with Warren County Officials - You complain, they show up at your house.
Here is just one quote from a story we are working on today that will expose MORE examples of Corruption in Warren County, "Its very weird a day after I called and emailed, two people showed up at my house asking me very personal questions. They forgot to hide their I'd tags that were around their necks. It said Warren County and then I could see some sort of opera like it said operations?"
Just another PR stunt to try and deflect a circus they've started or are they crossing the line with your Constitutional Rights & Civil Liberties?
Written by Mike Mayleben | Friday, 06 August 2010 09:21
Judge Bronson has refused a motion to acquit Ryan Widmer - Prosecutors have said they will try Ryan Widmer a third time.
More details to come later today.
Warren County Officials are showing up at the homes of citizens that write them about their unhappiness with the Warren County Prosecutors Office.
"Its very weird a day after I called and emailed, two people showed up at my house asking me very personal questions. They forgot to hide their I'd tags that were around their necks. It said Warren County and then I could see some sort of opera like it said operations?"
More details coming later today on this very interesting story.
Written by Mike Mayleben | Tuesday, 03 August 2010 14:58
Not only is the growing number of tax paying Warren County citizens getting tired of the "PR Stunts" and wasted tax dollars by the Prosecutors office but now some County Employees familiar with what goes on inside the Prosecutors Office are talking.
It's not uncommon for Warren County citizens to contact us with all kinds of stories and examples of the corruption that goes on in Hamilton Township and Warren County public offices. Now a few are talking about how ridiculous this latest PR stunt is out of desperation to get a 3rd trial. These employees have asked to be kept private because of the repercussion that goes on inside the County offices, not to mention they do not want to be tracked down by different media outlets. "We feel this has become so outrageous that it's time more Warren County citizens speak out about what's really going on. Because of the nature of the information we know about, our identity must not be made public for our safety. If a third trial is granted, more and more people will become outraged with this claim there is a 'witness' that Ryan told or that overheard Ryan say he killed Sarah and why he did it. This is their hail mary to get a 3rd chance at a trial that has bruised their own ego."
Enough is Enough - it's time to stand up to the people that feel they are above the law and untouchable.
Written by Mike Mayleben | Wednesday, 21 July 2010 14:04
"Prosecutors said they have a new witness who will testify that Ryan Widmer admitted to killing his wife and explaining why he did it.
The witness, whose name was not publicly released for safety reasons, contacted prosecutors after a jury failed to reach a verdict last month in a second murder trial."
Yet another false accusation coming from the Warren County Prosecutors Office. Here is a list of False Claims made by Rachel Hutzel or one of her Assistant Prosecutors that has yet to be backed up with actual facts and/or evidence:
Ryan Widmer was an active member on a swingers website - NEVER backed up with evidence AND Rachel Hutzel has declined to several reporters when asked to corroborate her accusation.
First responding officer claims he can't remember if he helped move Sarah's body when he got upstairs - he's openly admitted to moving the body
Travis Vieux and John Arnold flat out LIED to Judge Neal Bronson in his chambers during the 2nd trial that a live blogger (me) was listening to their private conversations at their table and reading what was on their table to live blog on the internet during the trial. Judge Neal Bronson made all media move to the back of the courtroom.
Rachel Hutzel lied during email exchanges about wanting to get together to talk.
More to follow on this list of lies and false accusations from the Prosecutors Office.
Updated with the complete motion submitted by the Prosecutors Office Click here to read the motion filed by the Prosecution