subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Sun, Jul 05 2009 
Obituaries | Obituaries Archives | Daily record | Gas information | TV Listings |

Published: June 29, 2008 10:26 pm    print this story     

Murder trial jury selection begins today

By Cass Rains Staff Writer

Jury selection begins today for a man accused of first-degree murder and shooting with intent to kill during a 2005 attempted robbery in Blaine County.

Jessie Floyd Johns, 57, also faces charges of grand larceny and possession of a firearm after former felony conviction. Prose-cutors are seeking the death penalty.

A change of venue to Garfield County from Blaine County was granted for Johns, as well as Wendell Arden Gris-som, who was convicted by a jury in March and sentenced to death.

The incident occurred about 12:30 p.m. Nov. 3, 2005, about eight miles east and 21⁄2 miles north of Watonga.

Blaine County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a shooting at the home of Lauren Drue Kopf and found Amber Matthews, 23, of Kingfisher, dead. Kopf, then 23, had been shot three times.

Kopf escaped from the house in a white Chevrolet pickup, later identified as be-longing to Grissom. Kopf’s children, who were 11⁄2 years and 5 weeks old at the time, were in the home during the shootings but were not injured.

Following a short manhunt, both men were arrested just inside the western edge of Kingfisher County.

Johns was arrested at the Hill Stop, a cafe, convenience store and gas station in Omega, 12 miles east of where the shootings occurred. Grissom was arrested in a wooded area near Hill Stop.

Johns confessed he and Grissom had “scoped out” one other house as a possible site to commit a burglary, according to an affidavit filed with the charges, and Grissom decided to stop at Kopf’s home.

The men had escaped on a four-wheeler taken from a garage at Kopf’s home.

In addition to the death penalty, Johns faces a life sentence on the charges of shooting with intent to kill. Grand larceny has a possible penalty of up to five years in prison, and the firearms charge is punishable by one to 10 years.

District Judge Ronald Franklin will hear the case.

Undersheriff Jerry Niles said security during the trail will be increased. No handbags, backpacks, purses or briefcases will be allowed on the second floor of the Garfield County Court House.

Niles also said no food, newspapers or cell phones would be allowed, either.

print this story     
Click here to load this Caspio Bridge DataPage.
Click here to load this Caspio Bridge DataPage.

Zillow
monster
autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide

Need Extra Money? Featured Coupons
Featured Advertisers

Premium Jobs

$800 Sign On Bonus
Enid Senior Care is now hiring
CMAs & CNAs with $800. SignOn Bonus.
Contact Tammy or “Z” at 580-237-1973
...>MORE

SUN LOAN ASSISTANT MGR--ENID
"Check Out What You're Missing!"
"I couldn't think of a better way to start the day than to be at a job that I lov...>MORE

Science & Mathematics Instructor
NOC in Enid is currently seeking a full-time, tenure-track instructor for the Science and Mathematics Division. Teaching...>MORE

Bank Teller
RoseRock Bank is looking for a full time Teller. Experience is preferred but not required. Strong math and communication...>MORE

Great Plains Regional Medical Center
FT RN’s $7500 Bonus
LPN’s $5000 Bonus

Great Plains Regional’s & Elk City’s explosive growth means gre...>MORE

Diesel Assistant...Autry Technology Center
To assist instructor in Diesel Technology program. High School Diploma or GED with career training or related job experi...>MORE

Salt Fork Group Home in Nash, OK.
Part-time and Full-time help needed at
Salt Fork Group Home in Nash, OK.
For more information visit
ww...>MORE

Delivery/Warehouse
Must have good drivers license. Mon-Sat. Paid weekly. Apply in person at Garfield Furniture, 205 S. Grand.
No phon...>MORE

Ross Health Care
Home Health - PRN
RN Field Nurse
LPN Field Nurse
Apply at 310 E. Garriott, Enid OK
Call 580-213-333...>MORE

Feed Truck Driver
For local delivery. Need or be willing to get CDL license, farm background & good driving record. Please bring phone num...>MORE

See all ads
More Premium Jobs!

Child Nutrition Manager.Chisholm School
CHISHOLM PUBLIC SCHOOL
Accepting applications for: Child Nutrition Manager
Pick up application/mail resume to:...>MORE

Custodian...Chisholm High School
CHISHOLM HIGH SCHOOL Is accepting applications for: Custodian. Pick up application/mail resume to:
Jaymie Morley, ...>MORE

Route Bus Driver...Chisholm Public School
CHISHOLM PUBLIC SCHOOL
Is accepting applications for Route Bus Driver
Pick up application/mail resume to:
...>MORE

Collision Repair...Autry Technology Center
Autry Technology Center Part - Time Teaching Assistant
needed to assist instructor in
Collision Repair Technol...>MORE

Field Technician
Oklahoma Environmental, Inc. is seeking a field technician. To be considered for this position, you must be detail-orien...>MORE

See all ads

bottombanner
Our Partners
Spry

Loading Calendar...
(requires Javascript)
© 2008, The Enid News & Eagle
P. O. Box 1192, Enid, OK 73702
Phone: 800-299-6397 Fax: 580-548-8147
Email news tips & feedback
rtj

 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. • CNHI Classified Advertising Network • CNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index