Jury Selection Begins in Geontae Glass Case 2006 [TOWLES GETS D/P]

[Roamer]

http://www.sandmountainreporter.com/story.lasso?ewcd=96f8b0af69385705

Jury selection begins in case of child beaten
From staff reports (http://www.sandmountainreporter.com/contact.lasso?ewcd=fa5ab17f96d8f30959e5f301f559f54 7170e76ab5b84704f2a3480d2319f81b7)
The Reporter Published October 3, 2009
Jury selection for the man accused of beating a 5-year-old to death is scheduled to start Monday in Etowah County.

Prosecutors allege Kevin Towles, 34, killed Geontae Glass in 2006, and are seeking the death penalty.

Glass’ mother, Shalinda, is also charged in the murder.

Shalinda reported Geontae was sleeping in her car when the vehicle was stolen from an Albertville gas station on Dec. 4, 2006.

The next day, authorities discovered the car in a garage at Towles’ home on Shady Grove Road with Geontae’s body inside.

Prosecutors say the abduction story was a cover and believe Towles beat Geontae to death before he was reported missing.

An attempt to seat a jury in June was halted when the judge declared a mistrial.

[LiveLaughLuv]

I wasn't familiar with this case, so I just binged it. For those like me who need a refresher course on the events that unfolded...


GADSDEN, Ala. — A mother's report that her 5-year-old son was asleep in the back of a car when it was stolen was a hoax, and her boyfriend was charged Tuesday with killing the boy, authorities said.

The body of Geontae Glass and the car that was reported stolen Monday morning were found Tuesday in a closed garage at a house in rural Etowah County, Sheriff James Hayes said.

Shalinda Glass, 25, of Rainbow City, was charged with hindering prosecution, and her boyfriend Kevin Andre Towles, who is believed to own the house where the body was found, was charged with capital murder. They were both being held in the Etowah County jail Tuesday night.

Hayes said Glass told police that her son, who was in kindergarten, died from a beating after he brought home a bad progress report from school Friday.

The mother had reported Monday morning that her car was stolen with her son asleep in the back seat in the parking lot of a convenience store in Albertville in neighboring Marshall County, about 80 miles northeast of Birmingham. Witnesses reported seeing a man get out of a pickup truck and get into the vehicle, then driving away while someone else drove off in the pickup truck.

Marshall County District Attorney Steve Marshall said investigators believe the dead child was in the car when his mother went to the store with her 7-year-old daughter.

Authorities took the pickup truck driver into custody Tuesday for questioning. Police decided not to charge him because they believe he didn't know what was happening, Marshall said.

"We do expect others to be arrested," he said.

Authorities were trying to determine jurisdiction, but believed the child was killed in Etowah County, where the mother lives, and that the alleged cover-up was committed in neighboring Marshall County, where the car theft was reported.

Towles was believed to be the "main player" in the boy's death, Hayes said in an interview. Authorities weren't sure what happened, he said, but Towles has a criminal record and appeared to be "an abusive boyfriend of the mother."

Towles has several residences, Hayes said, and investigators searching his home in Albertville discovered evidence that led them to the house in Etowah County. Besides the body, officers found more than $30,000 in cash, a small amount of cocaine, marijuana residue and weapons including an AK-47, Hayes said.

"We believe this is what he thought was his safe house, where nobody knew where he was," Hayes said.

Hayes said the pickup truck also had been found and the driver was taken into custody for questioning. No charges were filed, but he said the investigation was continuing.

"We do expect others to be arrested," he said.

Gina Keeton, a clerk at the store, said she saw Shalinda Glass crying hysterically in the parking lot.

"When I asked her what was wrong, she said someone had taken her child and her car," Keeton said.

Police issued an Amber Alert after the abduction report, and the sheriff said alerting the public to the description of Glass' car might have thwarted efforts to dispose of the car and the boy's body.

"The Amber Alert was absolutely critical in this case," he said.

In addition to being accused in the boy's slaying, Towles will be charged with drug offenses and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, the sheriff said.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,234537,00.html

Beat to death for a bad "progress" report...for goodness sakes this child was only 5 y/o, so what if he had a bad progress report. You talk to him, you expand on the whys and how to change it. It's a learning process which momma should have taken the time to teach him.

Hmmmm :g: $30,000 in cash, cocaine, marijuana and an AK47---assault weapon, reeks of selling drugs, IMO...they deserve the DP for this senseless act upon this child. Hoping this keeps both of these individuals off the streets. IMO, they deserve to die for what they did to Geontae...

Rest in Peace Geontae :1222423:
Justice is coming and it will be swift and justified...

[LiveLaughLuv]

Judge Declares Mistrial In Kevin Towles Case; Trial Moved To October
Carson Clark WHNT NEWS 19 Sand Mountain Bureau Chief
4:20 PM CDT, June 8, 2009
GADSDEN, AL - The murder trial for Kevin Towles hit a snag late Friday. The judge declared a mistrial and pushed the proceedings back to October.

The trial had been scheduled to start today. However, there was a surprise turn of events on Friday when Towles' attorneys entered new motions pertaining to their plan for the trial. Instead of allowing or denying the motions, the judge declared a mistrial and scheduled a new one for October.

Towles is accused of killing Geontae Glass, 5, in 2006, and faking the boy's kidnapping along with the boy's mother, Shalinda Glass. She is also charged in the crime.

Authorities say the two beat the boy to death and then staged a kidnapping to cover up the crime.
http://www.whnt.com/news/whnt-kevin-towles-trial-delayed,0,6505626.story

This doesn't fully explain why this judge declared a mistrial but am glad to hear his trial will start this month...

[Nut44x4]

Prosecutors: Evidence, Towles' confession prove his guilt

By Katherine Poythress
Times Staff Writer

Published: Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at 12:36 p.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at 12:37 p.m.
Prosecutors said in their opening statements Wednesday that evidence and Kevin André Towles’ own confession will show he is guilty in the December 2006 beating death of 5-year-old Geontae Glass.

Assistant District Attorney Marcus Reid said Towles volunteered to authorities his responsibility for Geontae’s death after the 5-year-old’s battered body was found in the trunk of a green Nissan Altima in Towles’ Shady Grove home garage Dec. 4, 2006.

Law enforcement officers found the body after Shalinda Glass, Towles’ girlfriend and Geontae’s mother, reported her car stolen from an Albertville convenience store about 6 a.m. Dec. 4. She told police Geontae was asleep in the back seat when she and her 7-year-old daughter entered the convenience store. That prompted a nationwide AMBER Alert search for the child and the car, which ended up uncovering a plot to conceal Geontae’s already-dead body, prosecutors said.

The boy’s body was covered in bruises when found, with injuries on the sides, arms and legs, Reid said. Geontae’s upper thighs and buttocks had been beaten so badly, investigators could see the imprints of a piece of wood, he said, informing the jury prosecutors would present the four-foot-long piece of blood-stained wood as evidence during the trial. Reid said the wounds would not have been fatal if Glass had received prompt medical attention.

Reid said the jury will hear testimony from Geontae’s older sister, now 9, stating she never saw her brother walk, talk or move after she saw Towles take Geontae outside the morning of Dec. 3, 2006, returning with him later.

Defense attorney Dani Bone of Gadsden said he has testimonies stating the fatal blows were administered by one of two masked men who approached Towles’ house Dec. 5 and beat Geontae while holding Towles at gunpoint. He said the burden of proof, however, rests on the prosecutors and his client is not obligated to prove his innocence.

Bone also informed the jury that the state of Alabama also has charged Shalinda Glass with capital murder for the same act.

Shalinda Glass remains in jail awaiting trial.

Jurors heard the opening arguments as soon as the jury selection process was completed Wednesday morning. The court recessed shortly after 11 a.m. for lunch, to reconvene at 1 p.m.

http://www.gadsdentimes.com/article/20091007/NEWS/910079995?Title=Prosecutors-Evidence-Towles-confession-prove-his-guilt

[Roamer]

I'm so glad the mother has been charged, too!

[packy]

I'm with you, Roamer. How sad.

[Roamer]

http://www.gadsdentimes.com/article/20091013/news/910139993&tc=yahoo

Closing arguments given in murder trial


Jurors on Tuesday will begin deliberating the fate of Kevin André Towles for the slaying of 5-year-old Geontae Glass.



By Lisa Rogers (lisa.rogers@gadsdentimes.com)
Times Staff Writer


Published: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at 7:08 p.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at 7:13 p.m.
Jurors have seen images during the capital murder trial of Kevin André Towles that will stay with them for a long time, Etowah County District Attorney Jimmie Harp said during closing arguments Tuesday.


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“These are the images that stay in your mind for as long as you have a mind,” Harp told jurors.

Those images are some of the evidence jurors will consider when deliberations get under way today. Circuit Judge Allen Millican is expected to charge the jury, giving them instructions about what they can consider while deliberating.

Towles is charged with capital murder in the beating death of 5-year-old Geontae Glass in December 2006.

Towles’ girlfriend and the child’s mother, Shalinda Glass, also is charged with capital murder and awaiting trial.

Shalinda Glass reported her car was stolen about 6 a.m. Dec. 4, 2006, while she and her 7-year-old daughter were inside an Albertville convenience store. She told police Geontae was asleep in the back seat. That prompted a nationwide search for the child and car.

Geontae already was dead — and buckled in the car’s back seat — and the theft of the car was staged as part of a plan to cover up his death.

It is believed that Geontae died several hours after he was beaten at Towles’ Shady Grove Road home and the plan was hatched to fake the car theft as a way to dispose of the child’s body.

Geontae’s body was found in the trunk of the car hidden in a garage at Towles’ home several hours after he was reported missing.

Defense attorneys for Towles, 34, called no witnesses to testify and rested their case before noon Tuesday.

In closing arguments Tuesday afternoon, Towles’ court-appointed attorney Dani Bone told jurors Towles has been “wrongly accused.”

Bone referenced testimony from several witnesses called by prosecutors, and said several witnesses were questioned about whether Shalinda Glass seemed afraid in the minutes before she reported her car stolen.

“If somebody killed that child besides Shalinda Glass, why didn’t she call for help?” Bone said.

Bone referenced testimony from Dr. Emily Ward.

“(She) said that had the child been given nutrition, and not have been dehydrated, the injuries were survivable,” Bond said.

Bone said it was Shalinda Glass who was responsible for her child.

“That’s your responsible party,” he said.

Harp said that was the first time he has heard from defense attorneys that Shalinda Glass killed her son.

“Her butt’s going to trial,” he said. “After this guy beat him to death, she let him die. Her day is coming.”

Bone said there was no evidence that Towles ever touched the wooden stick that was used to beat Geontae, whose blood was on the stick.

“After he got that last beating, he wasn’t able to walk anymore,” Assistant District Attorney Marcus Reid said.

Ward testified that the child’s injuries were so severe, he most likely was paralyzed after he was beaten and that the injuries show he was beaten over a period of days. Some injuries were more fresh and others already had scabs. She said there were so many wounds, she did not count them.

“You take a stick like this and beat a child,” Reid said, holding the stick placed in an evidence bag in his hand. “He had wounds on his head. It had taken the skin off his buttocks with this stick and he can’t do anything but lay in the corner like a dog.”

Nobody testified to seeing Towles beat the child, but it was Towles “who took him out and who brought back in,” Reid said. “You heard what (Geontae’s sister) said after André took Gee out and brought him back in.”

She testified earlier that Geontae walked outside with Towles, but when they came back in, Towles was carrying the child, with his head on Towles’ shoulder as if he were asleep.

Carol Griffith, assistant district attorney, told jurors the stick was a “deadly weapon or dangerous instrument,” and that can be considered when determining the intentional act.

“The blows were so severe to this child, with such force, in striking of blows there is evidence of intent,” she said.

Reid told jurors they had heard the voice of children — Geontae’s sister and Towles’ biological son — during the trial.

“You’ve also heard the voice of another child,” he said. “He tells you who did this. There is one voice speaking from the grave.”

Reid said testimony from Geontae’s teacher about his reaction to a conduct grade on the Friday before his death tells a lot. “He told her ‘’My daddy is going to spank me,’” Reid said. “Gee is speaking to you.”

Jason Wollitz, retained to represent Towles, said the state has not proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Towles is the “sole person responsible for this act.”

Wollitz said, “You have to be positive to be able to look in the eyes and others and say ‘I did the right thing.’”

Harp asked jurors to remember Towles’ statement to investigators after his arrest.

“He said ‘I am responsible,’ now hold him responsible,” Harp said. “I’m asking you not to leave your common sense at the door. I ask you to hold him responsible for the death of Geontae Glass and find him guilty of capital murder.”

[Roamer]

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(http://del.icio.us/post?url=http://www.gadsdentimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091014/NEWS/910149964/1017/NEWS&Title=Towles-convicted-in-child-s-murder?Title=Towles convicted in child’s murder)


Towles convicted in child’s murder


By Lisa Rogers (lisa.rogers@gadsdentimes.com)
Times Staff Writer


Published: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 9:41 p.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 9:43 p.m.

Kevin André Towles seemed unmoved after a jury found him guilty Wednesday morning of capital murder in the 2006 beating death of 5-year-old Geontae Glass.


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(http://helpfindthemissing.org/forum/#)




It took jurors less than an hour to reach the verdict after deliberations began about 9:45 a.m.

The sentencing phase will begin Thursday morning.

Jurors will hear from prosecutors and defense attorneys as they give opening statements, call witnesses to testify and give closing arguments in the sentencing phase.

The jurors will deliberate much like in the trial phase to make a recommendation of a sentence of death or life in prison without parole.

Etowah County Circuit Judge Allen Millican will give the final sentence at a later date, taking the jury’s recommendation into consideration.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys and those involved in the case are under a gag order from Millican not to discuss the case.

However, District Attorney Jimmie Harp has previously said he would seek the death penalty if Towles was convicted of capital murder.

Towles’ girlfriend and the child’s mother, Shalinda Glass, also is charged with capital murder and awaiting trial.

Towles’ home.

http://www.gadsdentimes.com/article/20091014/NEWS/910149964/1017/NEWS?Title=Towles-convicted-in-child-s-murder

[Roamer]

Mother of Geontae Glass Indicted
11/06/09 3:58 pm | reporter: Jeremy Campbell (http://www.abc3340.com/news/talentbios.html) producer: Jeremy Campbell (webteam@abc3340.com)








UPDATE: Jury Recommends Death Sentence for Towles (http://www.abc3340.com/news/stories/1009/668506.html)
Murder Trial Explores Death of a 5-Year Old (http://www.abc3340.com/news/stories/1009/666440.html)



Gadsden, AL - Shalinda Kalika Glass, 28, Rainbow City, has been indicted by the Grand Jury on several charges, according to Sheriff Todd Entrekin.

Glass is indicted on two counts of murder and two counts of capital murder for the death of her son, 5 year-old Geontae Glass. Geontae was murdered in December 2006.




Shalinda Glass has been in custody at the Etowah County Detention Center without bond since December 4, 2006.

www.abc33/40 (http://www.abc33/40)

[Roamer]

http://www.abc3340.com/news/stories/1209/689538.html



UPDATE: Jury Recommends Death Sentence for Towles (http://www.abc3340.com/news/stories/1009/668506.html)




Gadsden, AL - Kevin Andre Towles, age 35, was sentenced by Judge Allen Millican to death in connection with the killing of 5 year old Geontae Glass. Earlier Towles was convicted of capital murder by an Etowah County Jury.

District Attorney, Jimmie Harp, stated "We are pleased we are pleased that Circuit Judge Allen Millican imposed the sentence recommended by the jury in this case and sentenced Kevin Andre Towles to death by lethal injection. The cruel murder of 5-year-old Geontae Glass was truly a crime that shocked the conscience of every person with a heart. On behalf of the State of Alabama and the Etowah District Attorneys Office, we would like to express our gratitude to the Judge, the jury and all of the agencies that assisted in the investigation and trial of this case. We hope that this sentence, which represents justice for Geontae Glass, will send a loud and clear message that violence against children will not be tolerated in this community."

Chief Deputy District Attorney Marcus Reid commented, "At a time of year when most people are celebrating a gift of life, it is sad that we are forced to deal with death. We must remember, however, that it was the choice made by the Defendant during the Christmas season of 2006 that brought us all to this juncture. The senseless and brutal killing of a helpless child who was forced to die a slow, lingering death cries out for the imposition of the ultimate penalty. In this case, justice has been served."

[LiveLaughLuv]

District Attorney, Jimmie Harp, stated "We are pleased we are pleased that Circuit Judge Allen Millican imposed the sentence recommended by the jury in this case and sentenced Kevin Andre Towles to death by lethal injection. The cruel murder of 5-year-old Geontae Glass was truly a crime that shocked the conscience of every person with a heart. On behalf of the State of Alabama and the Etowah District Attorneys Office, we would like to express our gratitude to the Judge, the jury and all of the agencies that assisted in the investigation and trial of this case. We hope that this sentence, which represents justice for Geontae Glass, will send a loud and clear message that violence against children will not be tolerated in this community."

Chief Deputy District Attorney Marcus Reid commented, "At a time of year when most people are celebrating a gift of life, it is sad that we are forced to deal with death. We must remember, however, that it was the choice made by the Defendant during the Christmas season of 2006 that brought us all to this juncture. The senseless and brutal killing of a helpless child who was forced to die a slow, lingering death cries out for the imposition of the ultimate penalty. In this case, justice has been served."

I so much agree with all that Chief Deputy DA Marcus Reids comments and a just sentence for a senseless brutal killing of a child...I do believe anyone who is convicted of murdering a child under 12 should meet the same fate...in all states across the nation...The courts need to send a message, this will not be tolerated...if you kill a child, you too shall die...JMHO

Justice has been half served....:1222423:

Now to wait for the decades of appeals until this evil monster meets his fate...:INhouseReading04:

I know want to know what the mother faces???