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Brown under arrest
Bearden and Brown Arraignment
Brown's trailer, 2 blocks from Ryan's house
Skipper's car found burned
William David Brown Jr.'s Criminal History and Family Tree: (Info obtained from Polk Co. Sheriff's Office)
2006, Arrested for stalking
2006, Arested for narcotics
2007, Arrested for aggravated stalking
2007, Arrested for stalking
2007, Arrested for murder
William's father, a habitual violent offender and meth addict
Cousin, Ray Alan Brown, habitual offender and meth addict
Uncle, J.T. Brown, habitual violent offender and meth addict
Press Release November 3, 2009
Ryan Skipper's Family Comments on the Guilty Verdict We would like to thank the State Attorney's Office and especially Mr. Castillo for consistently striving to uncover the truth and seek justice for our family and for Ryan. We want to thank the detectives of the Polk County Sheriff's Office who worked diligently and showed compassion to our family. Thank you to the crime scene technicians whose attention to detail helped uncover the truth. And thank you to everyone else along the way who committed their time and talent to ensuring that justice was served. Lastly, we thank the jurors who have taken time from their jobs and families to fulfill an important civic duty. You paid attention to testimony that was brought before you and rendered a conclusion that serves justice and benefits society.
To the public, we want you to know that Ryan, like so many gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people, was a good and upstanding member of this community. We all deserve to be judged by our abilities and character instead of our differences. We are all human beings and we all deserve the right to pursue happiness, to have a job, to be parents either naturally or by adoption, to be in a committed loving relationship which is legally recognized, to serve our country in the military openly and honestly with pride. Finally we want the public to know the devastation hate crimes inflict is not only on the individual victim but their families, friends and the entire community feels the impact.
We will always cherish our memories of Ryan. We along with countless others will continue to honor Ryan by always standing up for truth, honesty and equality for all!
Ryan Skipper's Family
November 3, 2009
Equality Florida's Brian Winfield Reacts to Guilty Verdict at Press Conference (excerpts) Today's verdict concludes the final trial of Ryan's two attackers. But it does not end the epidemic of anti-gay hate violence in Florida.
Ryan was killed because he was a gay man who lived his life honestly. During the trials, witnesses revealed that Ryan's murderers bragged about what they had done and "felt that they were doing the world a favor by getting rid of," their words "one more faggot."
Hate crimes are attacks on not only the victim, but also on their family, their friends, their community. They are intended to instill fear. The rate of the most violent categories of hate violence against gay and transgender people has increased 33% each year in Florida for three of the last four years. Anti-gay hate crimes are a public crisis that calls for public outcry.
The violence Ryan suffered is the most extreme expression of an all too common sentiment - that gay and transgender people are less valued. The silence of elected officials and even the media in the face of these violent attacks must end. Gone are the days of blaming the victim for his own murder.
November 3, Verdict Day, photos courtesy of the Lakeland Ledger...
Prosecutor Castillo
Defense Att. Wells
Judge Hunter
Lynn, Pat & Damien
GUILTY
Justice for Ryan
Pre-Trial Statement from Ryan Skipper's Family Regarding the Oct. 26th
Murder Trial of William David Brown, Jr. in Polk County, Florida:
Two and a half years ago, our son Ryan Skipper was killed in a violent hate crime. Ryan was an openly gay man. His killers thought no one would care and, WORSE, that they would be praised by their peers for these violent actions.This trial is about finding justice for Ryan, for our family, and for our community.
We are here to let the world know that Ryan, like so many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, was an upstanding citizen in this community. We are here because this tragedy continues to scar our lives. And we are here to encourage others to stand with us in fighting against hate, bigotry and inequality wherever we may find it.
Ryan was loved just the way he was. He was important to his family, friends, and others. His murder has caused incalculable harm to a great many people.Losing Ryan has forever changed our family and brought a heartache that we hoped no other family would know. However, the tragedy is that this hate crime was not an isolated incident! Anti-gay hatred, once directed at Ryan, has not left our society.Since Ryan’s murder in 2007, five others that we know of in Florida’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community have lost their lives to hate.Many more have suffered brutal beatings, vandalism and discrimination. WE KNOW THIS BECAUSE WE HAVE CONSOLED THEIR GRIEVING FAMILIES.THIS VIOLENCE HAS GOT TO STOP.
NOW is the time and THIS is the reason, we must all stand together in supporting equality, dignity and respect for all people.
Thank you,
Ryan's family
Why was the 2007 murder of Ryan Skipper, the most despicable and violent anti-gay hate crime in the history of the state of Florida, NOT a hate crime? Even though the Polk Co. Sheriff called it a hate crime, and even though a witness testified that Ryan's alleged killers felt they were "doing the world a favor by getting rid of one more faggot," and even though the state attorney and judge explicitly stated at Bearden's trial that the murder was a result of anti-gay hate, and even though Florida has a gay-inclusive hate crime statute, the murder of Ryan Skipper is not officially a hate crime. Confused? Here's the sad reality - Florida's hate crime statute is worthless and irrelevant for murder cases, so prosecutors have no reason to charge it. If the Matthew Shepard Act had been around when Brown and Bearden were arrested, their trials would have been completely different. Here's why...
Florida's Hate Crime Statute: Is only a sentencing enhancement tool for lesser crimes.
Is completely irrelevant in first degree felony cases.
Is not a separate criminal charge with a separate punishment.
Does provide for civil action.
Is entirely inadequate and is therefore seldom utilized by prosecutors.
Matthew Shepard Act: Will create a separate, federal, criminal hate crime charge.
Will provide for a separate, defined punishment.
Will allocate needed resources to investigate and prosecute anti-gay bias.
Will force a public discussion and acknowledgement of anti-gay hate.
Accused killer, William Brown, Jr
TRIAL DIARY
December 1, 2009 Life Sentence x 2 William David Brown, Jr. was sentenced to 2 life terms in state prison, one for first degree murder, and one for robbery with a deadly weapon.
November 3 GUILTY! Assistant State Attorney Castillo began his closing argument at 9:20am. Within his closing he replayed the Brown confession videotape for the jurors. Castillo pointed out the inconsistencies, lies and motives within Brown's story - that he never carried pocket knives, yet was found twice with pocket knives; that he admitted to being in the car with only Ryan and Bearden, knew that a stabbing took place in the car, and yet couldn't say if he did it or not because he conveniently "blacked out;" that he said "I don't know" if he killed Ryan because he was gay; that Brown's interest in destroying evidence, like the car and his own shoes, was proof that he, not Bearden, wielded the knife and needed to destroy his trace evidence; and on and on and on... Castillo stated that Brown's involvement in the crime was motivated by robbery, and the brutality of the violence directed at Ryan was due to "animosity because of Skipper's sexual preference...These kinds of injuries are not necessary for robbery. This is someone who is determined to terminate the life of another human being," he said. The Defense Attorney, Deborah Wells, presented a pathetic closing argument essentially blaming the sheriff's department for a "shoddy" investigation, even though nothing about it was shoddy. The jury was not at all confused by what they had heard during the trial, despite Ms. Well's efforts. The jury was sent out for deliberations and exactly 2 hours later we were all called back for the verdict. Count 1 - GUILTY of first degree murder; Count 2 - GUILTY of robbery with a deadly weapon. Brown showed no emotion. The Defense refused to wave Brown's statutory right to a pre-sentencing investigation, even though it will have no impact on the ultimate sentence. So sentencing will not occur until December 1, at which time he will be sentenced to life in prison with no parole. There was a big media presence (see below for links): Lakeland Ledger, Orlando Sentinel, WFTS-TV, Bay News 9 -TV, WTSP-TV, and Tampa's Fox affiliate. After the verdict, a press conference was held outside. Brian Winfield spoke for Equality Florida, Lynn Mulder read the family statement, and then the family took questions (see above for family statement). Damien Skipper and Lynn and Pat Mulder were supported by a dozen of their friends and family members.
November 2, 2009 The State & Defense Rest Their Case
Another juror has been excused for illness, leaving 8 women, 4 men, no alternates. Before noon the State and Defense concluded their presentations of evidence. The State presented fingerprint analysis and additional crime scene photos. Prints inside car confirmed as Brown's. The Defense called no witnesses - William Brown was sworn in out of the jury's presence, and stated that he declined to testify. The judge immediately denied the Defense motions for dismissal and for acquittal. Closing arguments, followed by jury deliberations, will begin Tuesday at 9am. The jury's verdict is expected to be rendered Tuesday afternoon. The family of Ryan Skipper will make a public statement outside of the Bartow Courthouse on Tuesday approximately 15 minutes after the verdict and sentencing are complete. Media present: Lakeland Ledger.
October 29 and 30 Recess... Last witnesses on Monday / Closing Arguments on Tuesday Trial resumes on Monday, November 2 with the last witnesses in the prosecution's case. Defense will not call witnesses. Closing arguments are expected on Tuesday, and it will go immediately to the jury.
Wednesday, October 28, Day Three Defense attorney Deborah Wells made hay of the inconsistencies in Kirchoff's various transcripted testimonies from depositions and the Bearden trial. Learned that Kirchoff's hand was injured on the day of Ryan's murder. Says he slammed it into a wall. The State called 4 Sheriff Office employees including crime scene techs who photographed the houses where JT and the meth nest lived, and William Brown's dad's trailer where detectives found Brown's shoes soaking outside in a bucket of bleach. An impression specialist testified that Brown's shoe print was found at the scene of the abandoned car. Photographs were introduced of Brown's hands taken after the murder which showed a cut on the palm of one hand. The most dramatic testimony came from the supervisor of homicide who testified that he questioned Brown and then videotaped his interrogation. Twice asked if he killed Ryan Skipper, Brown said, "I don't know." The tape was played for the court and in it Brown essentially confesses to the murder. He said he (in passenger seat) and Bearden (in backseat) were in Ryan's car, Ryan was driving, the attack started while Ryan was driving and continued after he stopped the car and got out, ultimately falling on the dirt road. Brown stated that Ryan was stabbed in the stomach, back and throat, but Brown claimed to have blacked out and was in shock about the events. Brown also said that he had known Ryan for 3 weeks, and that Ryan had touched his "private parts." Said he didn't like it, but that Ryan was a nice guy. Said he was drunk on Bud Light on the night of the murder. Ultimately left Ryan on a deserted road, took the car to be cleaned at two drug houses, and burned and abandoned the car at Lake Pansy. On the tape the interrogator asks Brown if he told his cousin Ray (who had been questioned prior to Brown) that Brown had killed Ryan because he was gay. He said, "I don't know." Another witness, Angela Waldron, said she had run into Brown on the afternoon after the murder and said Brown told her he had had a confrontation with someone and had stabbed him. Said he didn't know if he had killed him. There will be no court Thursday or Friday as the prosecutor waits for 2 last witnesses to arrive from out of state. He expects them to take the stand Monday, closings to be given Tuesday, and the case to also go to the jury on Tuesday. (No cameras were in the room for the dramatic video of Brown.) Later, media present included Bay News 9, WFTS, WTSP and the Lakeland Ledger. The Mulders were interviewed about their views on today's signing of the Matthew Shepard Act and how that law might have affected this trial.
Tuesday, Oct. 27 Assist. State Attorney presented 9 witnesses including sheriff department deputies and homicide detectives who testified to conversations and interviews with the defendant, and of 2 small folding knives found on different occasions on his person; an administrator from Traviss Tech who confirmed Ryan's parking decal found after the robbery; Robert and Daniel Aguerro who witnessed Brown and Bearden cleaning out the bloody stolen car on their property; the Polk County associate medical examiner who meticulously described the 19 stab or slice wounds including the 3 fatal wounds in each lung and across the carotid artery, testifying that Ryan either suffocated or bled to death quickly; and former meth addict John Kirchoff who testified that Brown was in the room when the robbery of Ryan Skipper was discussed and planned, and statements made by the defendant on the day after the murder stating that he had killed someone. Kirchoff's testimony will continue Wednesday with his cross-examination. Media present: Lakeland Ledger and WTSP Tampa TV. Check their sites for coverage.
Monday, October 26 Convened at 9am in Courtroom 9c with Judge J. Michael Hunter. Jury consists of 12 with one alternate - 9 white women, 4 white men, all mostly middle to late age. William David Brown charged with 1st degree murder, robbery w/ deadly weapon, arson and tampering with evidence. Media present included Tampa TV stations ABC Action News, WTSP (CBS), WFLA (NBS), and Bay News 9. (No Orlando TV.) Newspaper reporters from Orlando Sentinel (Jeff Kunerth) and Lakeland Ledger were present. Assistant State Attorney Cass Castillo gave a 20 minute opening statement which foreshadowed the following: that FDLE matched a shoe print from Brown to the scene where the car was found, that Brown confessed to the crime during a taped interview, that Brown soaked his shoes in bleach after the murder, that Brown confessed to a friend that he killed Ryan, and that Brown had a knife in his pocket when he was questioned originally before his arrest. Immediately following the prosecutor's opening statement, the defendant and his attorney, Deborah Wells, rose and asked to speak. The jury was removed and the defendant then entered a guilty plea for 2 counts against him: arson and tampering with evidence. This leaves murder and robbery. The defense reserved their opening statement until prosecution rests its case. Castillo presented 9 witnesses today, including Ryan's friends Kelly Evans and Karl von Hahmann who presented a timeline for the night of the murder. Crime scene techs, deputies, the woman who found Ryan's body on a dirt road at 1am, and the man who first noticed Ryan's stolen car abandoned at Lake Pansy were also called. Video and photos of the crime scenes were presented to the jury, one of whom was visibly moved. Evidence presented included a mold made of Brown's shoe, and 10 latent fingerprints from the car or items in the car.
We thank the following media companies, journalists and photographers for their dedicated coverage and accurate reporting of the trial of William David Brown, Jr. It is only by exposing hate, by reporting it honestly and fully, that we as citizens will ever influence a public outcry against it.
GUILTY ON ALL CHARGES: Second-degree murder, Theft of a motor vehicle, Accessory after the fact to robbery with a weapon, Tampering with evidence, and Dealing in stolen property
Bearden cries at verdict
Smug while finger printed
Mulders' press conference, 2/27/09
Bittersweet day for Ryan's family and friends
Ryan's parents address the media after the verdict...
State Prosecutor Castillo and Judge Hunter express their views that Ryan Skipper was murdered because he was gay... Ryan Skipper was brutally murdered because of "hatred, contempt, utter disregard for another human being because he was gay."
A Statement from Ryan Skipper's Parents, Lynn & Patricia Mulder, Verdict Day, February 27, 2009
Today’s verdict cannot bring our wonderful son, Ryan Skipper, back to us.Our lives are forever changed.Although we are disappointed that today’s verdict was not first degree murder – a verdict we feel was justified by the evidence – we accept the jury’s lesser verdict which still holds Joseph Bearden responsible for the murder of our son. We are grateful to Assistant State Attorney Cass Castillo for so ably and passionately representing our son in the courtroom.We would like to thank the jury for their careful consideration, and we thank the men and women of the State Attorney’s Office, and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, for working so diligently to hold responsible the people who murdered our son, Ryan. We thank our many friends, family and others in the community for their steadfast support and love throughout this very difficult time. There is no joy in today’s verdict for our family.And we recognize that the defendant’s family is affected by this verdict as well.We hope that everyone who is outraged by hate-violence will honor Ryan’s memory by speaking out against prejudice and inequality.True justice for Ryan will be realized when our community and world treat all people with equal dignity and respect.
BEARDEN TRIAL REPORTS: Friday, February 27 - GUILTY! After 11 hours of deliberations, Joseph "Smiley" Bearden was found guilty of murder in the 2nd degree shortly after 2pm Friday. He was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole (parole no longer exists in the state of Florida). He was also found guilty of "theft of a motor vehicle," "accessory after the fact to robbery with a weapon," "tampering with evidence," and "dealing in stolen property." Judge Hunter stated during the sentencing that he believed Bearden killed Ryan Skipper, in large part, because Ryan was gay. Theories for why the jury chose 2nd degree murder instead of 1st degree murder are varied. Some believe their choice of 2nd degree murder was based on the prosecutor not being able to prove that Bearden wielded the knife that stabbed Ryan Skipper 19 times. Another theory is that the standard jury instructions, as approved by the Florida Supreme Court, include a reference to "hate" as a motivating factor for a 2nd degree murder conviction. Even though the State Attorney's Office never pursued a "Hate Crime" charge, the prosecutor, the judge and the jury acknowledged that Ryan Skipper was indeed murdered because he was gay. The judge used his own discretion (if not an official "hate crime enhancement") when he sentenced a non-remorseful Joseph Bearden to life in prison. The other accused killer, William "Bill Bill" Brown, Jr., known to have wielded the knife, will face trial in October.
Thursday, February 26 Very detailed jury instructions were read and the jury then began their deliberations. From 10:00am until 5:00pm the 12 member jury deliberated, and, unable to reach a verdict, they were sent home for the evening. By the defendant's request, the jury is not being sequestered. The jury consists of 9 women and 3 men. We learned at the end of the day that the jury foreman is a white, male Evangelical priest.
Wednesday, February 25 Keep reading to the end - STATE SAYS IT WAS A HATE CRIME. The judge started the day by denying the testimony of Angela Tyler, the last-minute witness who said Ray Brown had implicated himself to her. The witness information was not determined to be reliable. (As a side note, Tyler spent the day in the courtroom being friendly with Ray Brown's and Joseph Bearden's family members. And at the conclusion of the day's proceedings, Tyler mouthed "I love you" to Joseph Bearden who then mouthed "I love you" to her. Kind of impugns her credibility by being secret lovers with the defendant, wouldn't you say?) The judge also denied bringing the newly discovered knife-stuck-in-the-tree into this trial, saying after 18 months there would be no DNA or prints, and that it would be irrelevant to Bearden's specific case (but potentially relevant to Brown's). Brown's father said when interviewed by detectives that he had placed the knife in the tree 4 years ago. Defendant, Joseph Bearden, then indicated to the court that he would not be taking the witness stand after all. Defense called another of the date-impaired people in Wahneta who said she received a call from Maria Aguero about selling a car. Couldn't say when. In the end, it turned out the defendant had lived with this witness for 9 months until she kicked him out - only when another male friend got out of state prison and wanted to move in with her. Another non credible witness for the defense which is desperately just trying to muddy the waters with complete garbage. Closing arguments came in the afternoon. It was then that State Attorney Castillo said there were 3 reasons for the murder of Ryan Skipper. #1 - robbery; #2 - witness elimination;#3 - sexual preference. Castillo said the perpetrators murdered Ryan because "his life was less precious, less important, less significant... he was weak, a faggot...it (murder) was not a big deal." Castillo gave a powerful 90 minute closing, spelling out the lies and evidence linking Bearden to first degree murder and robbery. The defense attorney, Hileman, gave a weak closing, all the while trying to make self-deprecating jokes at which the jury did not smile. After Hileman, Castillo gave a somber a very powerful rebuttal and ended his statement by reminding the jury of the brutality of Ryan's murder and how that indicated premeditation. He then told them, with a measured emphasis on every word, that the brutality of the murder came from "hatred, contempt, and utter disregard for another human being because he was gay." The jury will be given their instructions Thursday morning and will begin deliberations.
Tuesday, February 24 Defense called Detective Bias who stated that 5 items, including 2 knives, had been collected from JT Brown's house following the murder. He also stated that a small amount of marijuana had been found in Ryan's house. The defense called a 20 year old woman who testified that Joseph Bearden had once been found sleeping on her driveway although she could not say on what day or month this might have occurred. The woman was a friend of Bearden's, although she did not know his last name. The woman testified that the defense team had suggested that she say the date was in March, although she has no personal recollection. The defense called Ryan's roommate Kelly back to the stand to confirm that Ryan never carried a wallet (Ray Alan Brown testified that Ryan had shown him his wallet.) Defense then called a neighbor of the Agueros who testified that he saw Maria Aguero cleaning a car in the middle of the night. He could not identify a date when this occurred, and on cross examination said that the Agueros often had cars delivered to their home in the middle of the night, including "fancy" cars. They also were often visited by law enforcement. After lunch, the defense called a woman to the stand, Angela Tyler, who proffered testimony, with the jury out of the room, that may or may not come in to the case. Tyler stated that Ray Alan Brown had come to her house upset about something his cousin William Brown had done. Ray told her that he had to help his cousin because he "was family." Ray said he had been in a vehicle with William when a gay man made some kind of pass that made William stab him. This is the witness who Ray Alan Brown allegedly threatened yesterday, telling someone he would "fuck her up." Court ended at 2p when the judge angrily scolded the defense for not informing the judge of their witness plans. At that point, a note was read by the judge revealing that a person related to William Brown was watching TV coverage of the trial and was reminded that 18 months ago William Brown's father, William Brown Sr., was observed climbing a tree where he hid a knife, possibly a knife tied to the murder. (Note: Brown, Sr., tells investigators he placed the knife in the tree 4 years ago. Judge disallows "evidence" in Bearden's trial.)
Monday, February 23 Court proceedings were held up today until 2p. The attorneys' morning hours were spent at deposition as the defense brought forth a late witness the state had not yet talked to. The witness is said to have 3rd hand information regarding Ray Alan Brown's connection to this crime. The prosecution called their last witness, a finger print examiner from the Polk County Sheriff's Office. Of a total of 203 finger prints recovered from Ryan's car and the items within it, 8 were identified as belonging to suspect William David Brown. 2 prints from the exterior of Ryan's car were identified as belonging to the other suspect, Joseph Bearden. The majority of finger prints belonged to Skipper. None belonged to Ray Alan Brown. In a surprise move, the state attorney did not call Ray Alan Brown as the final witness and they rested their case. The defense began their case-in-chief by calling William David Brown to the stand. Brown, dressed in an orange jail jumpsuit, pleaded the 5th - out of the presence of the jury - and then left the courtroom. The defense then called Ray Alan Brown to the witness stand. Brown testified that he and Bearden had served time together at juvenile rehab some 8 years earlier. They had not been in touch with each other until one week before the murder when Brown found out that a friend's sister was sexually involved with Bearden. During that week he had contact with Bearden 4 or 5 times. Ray Brown testified that on the night of March 13, Bearden came by Brown's father's house with a laptop in his hands and wanted to sell it. Brown stated that Skipper had dropped Bearden off in his car, and then returned 5 minutes later when he was asked to come into the house. Brown testified that William Brown, John Kirchoff, Bearden and himself asked Ryan for a ride to a gas station for generator fuel. Ryan complied, and they returned to the house afterwards. Brown then stated that he saw William David Brown and Joseph Bearden get in Ryan's car which Skipper then drove away. Ray Brown claims that he heard nothing about a robbery in the 10 minutes that Ryan was in the house. During Brown's testimony many attorney-judge sidebars were held. During those breaks, Brown smiled often and mouthed conversations with his grandmother and his girlfriend who were in the courtroom. At one point Brown even mouthed something to Bearden who immediately looked away. Brown also complained when a journalist took his picture. At the end of testimony it was revealed that Brown may have expressed a threat regarding an upcoming witness. A legal assistant from the defense attorney's office stated that she was present outside the courtroom when Brown told her he would "fuck her up" regarding a potential witness who is expected to say something unfavorable about Brown. Tuesday's proceedings will get started at 9:15a.
Friday, February 20 Today's witnesses included the medical examiner who described in great detail each of the 19 knife wounds suffered by Ryan in the final moments of his life as he bled to death in the dirt on Morgan Road. The mortal injury was determined to be the severely slit throat which severed his carotid artery. Ryan was stabbed in his back - wounds which punctured his kidneys - after he had already died. The 19 stab and slash wounds included 6 to his neck, 5 to his torso, and 8 to his arms. The ME said the injuries suggest that 2 different knives may have been used. Ryan also suffered a severe contusion to his skull caused by a blunt impact of some kind. The ME completely contradicted accused killer Joseph Bearden's story about doing drugs with Ryan that evening of March 14, 2007. According to toxicology reports, Ryan was not under the influence. His blood revealed only a trace presence of a prescription medication, and no marijuana. His urine revealed a trace amount of marijuana that could have occurred up to 3 weeks before his death, but not within 48 hours of it. That completely unravels Bearden's story. Another witness, J.T. Brown, uncle of alleged murderer WIlliam David Brown, Jr., described the pathetic world of meth addicts who live in sheds without running water or electricity. J.T. Brown alleged that Ryan left with "Smiley" Bearden and "Bill Bill" Brown that night, and that "Bill Bill" (William D. Brown, Jr.) returned the next morning and spoke of having killed someone. J.T. Brown also revealed that William David Brown, Jr. had referred to Ryan in conversation 3 or 4 days before the murder as someone who could fix the broken computer at J.T.'s house. (You may recall that Skipper had been enrolled in computer classes at Traviss tech school and Brown had been by Ryan's house and sought him out on more than one occasion.) At the conclusion of the day, it was announced that the prosecution's case will probably end on Monday with the testimony of Ray Alan Brown, a man who was once also a suspect in the murder of Ryan Skipper.
Thursday, February 19 The trial was held up for 90 minutes after it was learned that a writer who has been in attendance each day had inappropriately talked with multiple jurors in the lunchroom. This led the judge to question the jurors to ascertain whether their contacts with the woman had prejudiced their ability to fairly and objectively decide the case. He determined there was no prejudice so the trial resumed late in the morning, minus one of the 14 original jurors who was excused from the case due to an illness. Autopsy photos of Ryan Skipper were introduced through a crime scene tech which showed a severely lacerated throat and multiple stab wounds. Thursday's witnesses included John Kirchoff, a self-described former meth addict who was present in the house in Eloise when the decision was made to rob Ryan Skipper. Kirchoff testified that Bearden and Brown left with Ryan that night, and that Brown returned the following morning with visible blood stains and said, "I killed him." According to Kirchoff, Brown also told him that he had been sexually assaulted by his own father on numerous occasions which led Kirchoff to think Brown may have killed his father that night. An audio tape of Joseph Bearden, recorded a day after the murder by the Polk Co. Sheriff's Office, was played in the afternoon. On the tape, Bearden blamed the robbery and murder on William Brown and Brown's cousin, Ray. But while doing so he implicated himself in the planning of the robbery. At the end of the day the State Attorney indicated that he may rest the State's case-in-chief on Friday. The defense indicated their case would require only 1 or 2 days at most.
Wednesday, February 18 Today's witnesses included crime scene technicians, Sheriff's Department homicide detectives, and witness Robert Aguero. Accused co-defendants Joseph Bearden and William Brown allegedly drove Ryan's stolen car to Aguero's house in Haines City and asked for $1,800. While there, Bearden allegedly admitted to having harmed the owner of the car and, according to Aguero, said, "It was all right in their eyes because he was gay."When asked if Bearden expressed his opinion of gay people, Aguero stated, "He (Bearden) said he didn't like them." Testimony then followed from Aguero that "He (Bearden) felt he was doing the world a favor by getting rid of one more faggot." A homicide detective stated that when Joseph Bearden showed up at the Wahneta home of William Brown, Brown told Bearden, "You know this guy's a fucking faggot." Today's evidence included a shoe print from William Brown left at the murder scene near Ryan's body.
Tuesday, February 17 Numerous witnesses called today, including people who found Ryan's body and car, crime scene technicians who processed and collected the evidence, 2 of Ryan's friends who knew of Ryan's whereabouts the night of the murder and the timeline of events. Karl Von Hahmann had dinner with Ryan at Mimi's Cafe and they departed the restaurant in separate cars at 10:30p. Karl gave Ryan $15 for a haircut the following day, and $40 to pay for marijuana. Ryan was to stop at a co-worker's house to provide them with the key to the Sunglass Hut for the following day. Kelly Evans, Ryan's roommate, testified that she was home and in her bedroom when Ryan came home that night. He was there only 5 minutes and then left the house, and there was no indication that anyone was with him. A woman (Maria Aguero) testified that she lived in a house in Haines City with her brothers and her children and she witnessed Joseph Bearden and William Brown attempt to clean and sell Ryan's stolen, bloody car at 2:30am. Vitamin Water bottles and Mountain Dew bottles and cans have been found at the murder scene, in the car, and at the home where Ryan's car was cleaned. Still no explanation of their importance. Aguero testified that Bearden said to her that they (Bearden and Brown) "had fucked him up." Bearden had lived at the Aguero house for 2 weeks at a previous time so they were familiar with Bearden who was known to Maria only as "Smiley."
Monday, February 16 Jury selection took up most of the day with opening statements following at 3:00pm. The jury consists of 14 (2 backups): 10 women and 4 men. The prosecution says Joseph Bearden, along with the other accused killer, William David Brown, Jr., murdered Ryan Skipper in the dark of night on a dirt road in Polk County (Morgan Road) some time before 1:00am on March 14, 2007. Based on information from the alleged killers, shortly after 11:00p on March 13, as Ryan drove home from dinner with his friend, Karl Von Hahmman, Skipper stopped and gave a ride to Bearden. According to the defense, Bearden went back to Skipper's house and they smoked pot. Bearden then wanted meth and asked Ryan to drive him to a house where he could get some. Bearden tried to sell a broken laptop (which he said Ryan had given him) to the men at the meth house. Instead, a plot was hatched by the men in that house to rob Skipper of his car. The meth addicts present included Joseph Bearden, William David Brown, Jr., Ray Alan Brown, J.T. Brown, and John Kirchoff. Bearden, according to the defense, claims it was William Brown and his cousin, Ray, who decided to rob Skipper, and it was they who killed him. The defense says that Bearden was in a meth haze and slept at the meth house while the robbery and murder ensued elsewhere. State Attorney Castillo says Skipper was in his Chevy Aveo with Bearden and Brown shortly after midnight when the two men attempted a robbery and subsequently murdered Skipper. Skipper suffered numerous stab wounds in his shoulders and back, and also suffered severe lacerations on both sides of his neck that severed Ryan's carotid artery. The death occurred outside of the car, on the dirt road. (Castillo made special reference to 3 Vitamin Water bottles that were found at the murder scene, in the burned car, and at a house where the accused tried to sell the car. Their importance will be made clear later.) According to Castillo, Brown and Bearden attempted to sell the car, making incriminating and anti-gay comments in the process to those they encountered. The car was found the following afternoon, burned and abandoned at Lake Pansy, about 15 miles away from where the brutal murder occurred. State Attorney Castillo says evidence will include collected shoe impressions and fingerprints, and testimony from Ray Alan Brown. The Defense says the defendant, Joseph Bearden, will testify.
Friday, February 13: Jury selection progressed slowly on Friday when alleged murderer, Joseph Bearden, showed up in court with new tattoos on his face and neck. A large teardrop tattoo above and below his left eye, and a large tattoo on his neck visible above his shirt collar provoked much conversation and led Judge Hunter to query the jurors about their courtroom speculation as to what the tattoos might mean. (In the prison world, a tear drop tattoo signifies that someone has committed murder.) Jury selection will now continue on Monday morning with opening statements expected Monday afternoon.
