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Prosecutors say a $27,000 drug debt prompted the shooting of Jennifer Heckel. During opening statements Thursday, they stated Christopher Logsdon shot Heckel, thinking she was another woman named Kayla Rodriguez. They say he later bragged in jail about killing Heckel.
"The investigation showed that Logsdon and Craig went to the Heckel home believing they would find Kayla Rodriguez, a woman who bore a resemblance to Jenny. The two had planned for sometime to rob and murder Rodriguez and had shared that intent with several people they knew," Deputy District Attorney Tom Stanton said.
Prosecutors say they will prove to jurors that Logsdon shot Heckel at least three times. They say a fourth bullet missed the young mother. They say Logsdon and another man, Billy Joe Craig committed the crime. They say they went to Heckel's home in June 2011 thinking it was where Rodriquez lived.
"Evidence will show, that this defendant Charles Christopher Logsdon then pointed the gun at the back of Jenny's head and pulled the trigger," Stanton said. He says Logsdon also bragged about the crime to other inmates inside the Reno County Jail. Many of those inmates are expected to testify during the trial.
Former neighbors of Heckel also took the stand Thursday. They described her 5-year-old son coming over to tell them his mommy was hurt. They went to the house and found Heckel on the kitchen floor. "When I reached down to touch her I thought she had fainted or whatever. When I reached down to touch her I saw her eyes were open and you don't faint with your eyes open," said neighbor Leland Spivey.
Also in court, jurors heard a taped interview with Heckel's son. His details helped lead police to the suspects. The boy is expected to testify in person tomorrow.
Defense attorneys argued Logsdon didn't shoot Heckel and that the real killer is still out there. "Who that person is, I don't know. Who went over there, I don't know," said defense attorney Michael Brown. Brown also told jurors that the inmates who say Logsdon bragged about the crime have made deals with prosecutors to get lighter sentences for their own crimes.
Testimony will continue Friday. The trial is expected to last up to six weeks. Craig's trail is scheduled for January.