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Thread: Death Penalty Trial: Jury Selection Underway for Jerry Don Elders in 2021 TX Carjacking and Slaying of Robin Waddell

  1. #1
    Administrator Helen's Avatar
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    Death Penalty Trial: Jury Selection Underway for Jerry Don Elders in 2021 TX Carjacking and Slaying of Robin Waddell


    Robin Waddell





    Texas police officer 'ambushed,' shot at traffic stop; suspect in custody: Officials

    The officer is "alert" and in stable condition, the police chief said

    By Emily Shapiro
    ABC News

    A man was captured in Texas Wednesday afternoon after he allegedly shot a police officer during an "ambush" at a traffic stop overnight, authorities said.

    Jerry Don Elders, 39, allegedly fired multiple shots at a Burleson police officer when he approached Edlers' car for an equipment violation at about 4:15 a.m. Wednesday, Burleson Police Chief Billy Cordell said.

    The officer is "alert" and in stable condition, Cordell said. Authorities believe he was shot three times.

    "He had a through-and-through shot to his neck," Cordell said at a Wednesday afternoon news conference. "It's an amazing story. ... It could have been a very different outcome."

    After the shooting, Elders and two others who were in the car with him fled the scene, Cordell said.

    The suspects' car then caught on fire and they abandoned the vehicle, he said.

    Authorities believe one of the suspects went to a home and carjacked a resident, police said.

    "At 8:44 a.m. this morning, a female arrived at the Joshua Police Department ... with gunshot wounds," Cordell continued.

    She was taken to a hospital and was pronounced dead, he said.

    Elders -- who allegedly abandoned a car and was found in a wooded area near Gainesville, Texas, on Wednesday afternoon -- was "likely involved in the death" of that woman, Cordell said.

    "There was a second subject with [Elders in the wooded area]," Cordell said. "We don't know for sure who that is. They are continuing to search for that person."

    As for the third person in the car during the shooting of the officer, Cordell said, "We know who they are. We've been in contact with them."

    https://abcnews.go.com/US/texas-poli...ry?id=77064581
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

  2. #2
    Administrator Helen's Avatar
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    Man Charged in Burleson Officer's Shooting Faces Capital Murder Charge in Carjacking Victim's Death

    Robin Waddell was fatally shot during a carjacking in Burleson, April 14

    By Frank Heinz
    nbcdfw.com

    The man suspected of shooting a Burleson police officer multiple times during a traffic stop last week has been charged with capital murder in the death of a woman who was carjacked and killed after the initial shooting.

    The Johnson County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday Jerry Don Elders was involved in the April 14 death of Robin Waddell who was carjacked outside a home on the 8000 block of County Road 802 in Burleson and shot multiple times.

    Investigators said someone driving Waddell's stolen Toyota Tacoma pickup crashed through the back gate of the nearby Joshua Police Department and left her, with several apparent gunshot wounds, outside the station's back door at about 8:45 a.m. that morning.

    Police found the woman and she was transported to Huguley Hospital South in Burleson where she later died.

    Investigators have not released any further details about the murder, only that they obtained a warrant for Elders, "for the offense of capital murder for his involvement in the carjacking and death of the female victim."

    Elders was arrested hours after both victims were shot when he was spotted driving Waddell's pickup truck near the Texas-Oklahoma state line.

    The manhunt for Elders began after police said he was stopped for an equipment malfunction by Burleson Police Officer Joshua Lott. Police said Elders was behind the wheel with two passengers in his car when he was pulled over and that as Lott approached the vehicle Elders reached across the vehicle and fired several shots.

    Lott was hit three times, in the chest, shoulder and neck, and to the surprise of many was discharged the next day. As he left the hospital, he told NBC 5's Scott Gordon that he was "doing great."

    The man riding with Elders, identified by the Johnson County Sheriff's Office as Jeremy Wayne Brewer, was arrested April 15 on unrelated, outstanding warrants and is being held on bonds totaling $258,000. The woman riding with Elders and Brewer talked with investigators but has not been charged with any crime.

    Elders is currently being held in the Johnson County Jail on bonds totaling more than $1 million on charges of aggravated assault against a public servant as well as for theft and drug charges.

    Bond has not yet been set for the capital murder charge and it's not clear if Elders has obtained an attorney.

    https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/ma...death/2611962/
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

  3. #3
    Administrator Helen's Avatar
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    Elders’ capital murder bond set at $1M

    By Matt Smith
    Gainsville Daily Register

    Five Johnson County Sheriff’s Office bailiffs surrounded Burleson resident Jerry Don Elders on Friday morning as he entered the 413th District courtroom for a short magistration hearing on his capital murder charge. Elders, 39, has also been charged with aggravated assault against a public servant with a firearm and two counts of possession of a controlled substance. Johnson County Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Ronny McBroom on April 15 set Elders’ bond at $1 million on the aggravated assault charge, $10,000 on one of the possession charges and no bond on the other.

    413th District Judge Bill Bosworth on Friday added another $1 million to Elders’ bonds on the capital murder charge.

    Elders sat quietly with his attorneys, Miles Brissette and Bob Gill, throughout the hearing, which lasted about five minutes.

    “It is not yet the time for me to accept a plea from you as you have not been indicted,” Bosworth told Elders.

    Bosworth added that the grand jury, once they review Elders’ case, can decide whether or not to indict him.

    Under the capital murder charge, Johnson County District Attorney Dale Hanna can elect to seek the death penalty or life in prison without parole should Elders be found guilty.

    That decision has yet to be made, court officials said. Hanna, after Friday’s hearing, said no date has been selected to present Elders’ charges to the grand jury.

    Hanna requested that should Elders be able to make bond on the capital murder or any of his other charges that the matter be reviewed by the court “prior to the bond being made,” a request Bosworth granted. Bosworth told Elders’ attorneys that they will have the opportunity to request bond adjustments if and when any such hearings occur.

    Elders’ assault and murder charges stem from the April 14 shooting of a Burleson police officer and subsequent death of a Burleson woman.

    Burleson Officer Joshua Lott, at 4:06 a.m. that day conducted a traffic stop on a maroon 2003 Mazda Tribute driven by Elders in the 1100 block of S.W. Hillside Drive.

    Burleson Police Chief Billy Cordell said the traffic stop was for a defective taillight.

    Lott, who was driving a marked Burleson Police Department vehicle and wearing a Burleson police uniform, noticed a male driver later determined to be Elders, as well as a female in the front seat and another male in the back, as he approached the vehicle from the passenger side.

    The woman in the front passenger seat leaned back in her seat as Elders displayed and fired a gun three times striking Lott in his chest twice and neck once before fleeing the scene, according to Elders’ arrest warrant.

    Cordell said Elders began shooting immediately at Lott.

    “He had no warning,” Cordell said. “Nowhere really to go.”

    Burleson police at 4:23 a.m. received word that the vehicle was on fire in the 700 block of S.W. John Jones Drive. The Mazda sustained extensive burn damage, according to reports, but detectives salvaged a tool case containing several items of Elders’ identification.

    Johnson County Sheriff’s Office deputies subsequently located the woman in the car who advised that she was present during the shooting of Lott and confirmed that Elders discharged the gun at Lott, according to reports. The woman also said she was present when the Mazda caught fire. Elders’ arrest warrant contains no details of how or why the vehicle caught fire.

    Later that morning, Johnson County Dispatch received a 911 call concerning a silver Toyota Tacoma later determined to belong to Burleson resident Robin Waddell.

    The caller told dispatch that the Tacoma drove through the rear parking lot gate of the Joshua Police Department and that a woman was laying near the back door of the police station and appeared to be injured. That caller and another witness told officers that the Tacoma left the scene driven by a man and traveled toward west Farm-to-Market Road 917.

    Rescue workers transported Waddell to Texas Health Huguley Hospital where she was pronounced deceased at 9:30 a.m. Waddell received two gunshot wounds, according to Elders’ capital murder arrest warrant, one to her upper right arm and one to her back.

    A witness called the Gainesville Police Department later that same day to report that a man had abandoned a silver Toyota Tacoma and fled into a tree line about 300 yards away. Gainesville police responded and took Elders into custody. Police also determined that the truck Elders fled from was registered to Waddell.

    Elders, during a police interview following his arrest, stated that he was the one who shot Lott during the earlier traffic stop, according to reports.

    Elders said he fled the scene in his Mazda but then fled on foot towards a wooded area after the vehicle caught fire. Elders said he hid in the woods then made his way onto a property on County Road 802 where he located a feed truck and slept on the flat bed of the truck using bags of feed to keep warm, according to reports.

    Officers subsequently identified the land as Waddell’s property.

    Elders told police that he entered the passenger area of the feed truck because it was too cold outside and once again fell asleep.

    Elders said a “lady” opened the door of the truck he was sleeping in at some point during the morning and surprised him, at which point Elders said he pointed a gun at her and demanded the keys to the truck, according to reports.

    After Waddell said she could not find the keys to that truck Elders demanded the keys to the Tacoma, according to reports. Elders said Waddell refused to give him the keys so he forced her to drive the Tacoma “and drop him off somewhere or take him somewhere,” according to reports.

    Elders told officers that Waddell, while driving him on Main Street in Joshua “intentionally” drove the Tacoma through the closed gates of the Joshua Police Department lot. Elders said he panicked and shot Waddell twice as she was getting out of the truck, after which he slid into the driver’s seat and drove off, according to reports.

    Police later recovered a Smith and Wesson .38 Special 5-shot revolver from the front driver’s seat floorboard area of Waddell’s truck, according to reports.

    Later that same night police arrested Jeremy Wayne Brewer, 32, of Johnson County, on charges of theft and manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance. McBroom set Brewer’s bonds at $250,000 and required a hearing in the 413th District Court should Brewer attempt to seek release on bond. Police said they believe Brewer to be the person in the back seat of the Mazda when Lott was shot.

    Lott was transported to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth where he was treated and released on April 15.

    Officers from multiple law enforcement agencies lined the parking lot upon his release and caravan of patrol cars escorted him and his family back to his home.

    Area residents and officials gathered in front of the Burleson Police Department on April 14 and 15 to honor Waddell and Lott.

    https://www.gainesvilleregister.com/...7c4ee0c12.html
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

  4. #4
    Administrator Helen's Avatar
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    Elders indicted for capital murder in connection with April shootings

    By Matt Smith
    Cleburne Times Review

    Grand jurors on Thursday indicted Jerry Don Elders, 39, on capital murder and other charges.

    In addition to capital murder, grand jurors indicted Elders on a charge of burglary of a habitation, which includes a theft of a firearm charge, and a third indictment of aggravated assault of a police officer, which includes a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.

    Johnson County District Attorney Dale Hanna said that no date has been set for Elder’s arraignment. Nor has a decision been made on whether to seek the death penalty or life in prison without parole should Elders be found guilty on the capital murder charge.

    Elders remains at the Johnson County Jail in lieu of more than $2 million in bonds.

    Elders’ charges stem from the April 14 shooting of a Burleson police officer and the subsequent shooting death of a woman.

    Burleson officer Joshua Lott, at 4:06 a.m. that day, conducted a traffic stop on a Mazda Tribute driven by Elders in the 1100 block of S.W. Hillside Drive.

    Burleson Police Chief Billy Cordell said the traffic stop was for a defective taillight.

    Lott, who was driving a marked Burleson Police Department vehicle and wearing a Burleson police uniform, noticed a male driver later determined to be Elders, as well as a female in the front seat and another male in the back, as he approached the vehicle from the passenger side.

    The woman in the front passenger seat leaned back as Elders displayed and fired a gun three times striking Lott in his chest twice and neck once before fleeing the scene, according to Elders’ arrest warrant.

    Cordell later said that Elders began firing at Lott immediately.

    Rescue workers transported Lott to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth where he was treated and released on April 15. Officers from multiple law enforcement agencies lined the parking lot upon his release and him and his family back to their home.

    Burleson police at 4:23 a.m. April 14 discovered the Mazda driven by Elders on fire in the 700 block of S.W. John Jones Drive. The car sustained extensive burn damage, according to reports, but detectives salvaged a tool case containing several items of Elders’ identification.

    Johnson County Sheriff’s Office deputies later that day located the woman in the car who said she was present when Elders shot Lott and present when the Mazda caught fire.

    Johnson County Dispatch later that same morning received word of a Toyota Tacoma owned by Burleson resident Robin Waddell.

    The caller told dispatch that the Tacoma had driven through the rear parking lot gate of the Joshua Police Department and that a woman was laying near the police department’s back door and appeared to be injured.

    That caller and another witness told police the Tacoma left the scene driven by a man.

    Rescue workers transported Waddell to Texas Health Huguley Hospital where she was pronounced dead at 9:30 a.m. that morning. She received gunshots wounds to her upper right arm and another to her back, according to reports.

    Gainesville police took Elders into custody later that same day.

    Elders, during a subsequent police interview, stated that he was the one who shot Lott, according to reports.

    Elders, after his car caught fire, fled on foot towards a wooded area and located a feed truck on Waddell’s property, which he entered and fell asleep in.

    When confronted by Waddell later that morning, Elders pointed a gun at her and demanded the keys to the truck, according to reports.

    After Waddell told Elders she could not find the keys to the truck he demanded that she drive him in her Tacoma and “drop him off somewhere or take him somewhere,” according to reports.

    Waddell, while driving on Main Street in Joshua, “intentionally” drove her Tacoma through the closed gates of the Joshua Police Department, according to reports. Elders later told police that he panicked and shot Waddell twice as she was getting out of the truck, after which he slid into the driver’s seat and fled the scene.

    Police later recovered a Smith and Wesson /38 Special 5-shot revolver fro the front driver’s seat floorboard area of Waddell’s truck, according to reports.

    https://www.cleburnetimesreview.com/...16c7eb0a3.html
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

  5. #5
    Wilso
    Guest
    DA to seek death penalty against Elders

    Matt Smith
    Times-Review

    Johnson County District Attorney Dale Hanna on Thursday announced that the state will be seeking the death penalty against Jerry Don Elders, who is charged with capital murder for the death of a Burleson woman.

    Under a capital murder charge, the district attorney has the option to seek either life in prison without parole or the death penalty if convicted.

    Elders, 39, pleaded not guilty to capital murder and other charges during his arraignment in the 413th District Court.

    Elders has also been indicted on charges of possession of a controlled substance, burglary of a habitation and theft of a firearm as well as aggravated assault of a public servant and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.

    After being led into the courtroom, Elders briefly conferred with his attorney Bob Gill and Miles Brissette but otherwise sat quietly during the brief arraignment hearing.

    No date has been set for trial. Elders remains jailed at the Johnson County Jail in lieu of more than $2 million in bonds.

    Johnson County last sought the death penalty in 2012 when Fort Worth resident Mark Anthony Soliz was found guilty of the 2010 shooting death of a 61-year-old woman in her home near Godley. The state executed Soliz in 2019.

    Elder’s charges stem from the April 14 shooting of a Burleson police officer and the subsequent shooting death of a woman.

    Burleson officer Joshua Lott, at 4:06 a.m. that day, conducted a traffic stop on a Mazda Tribute driven by Elders for a defective taillight.

    As Lott approached the car a woman in the passenger seat leaned back at which time Elders displayed and fired a gun three times striking Lott in his chest and neck. Rescue workers transported Lott to John Peter Smith Hospital where he was treated and released the following day.

    Burleson detectives located the Mazda driven by Elders later the same day

    Johnson County Dispatch later that same morning received word of a Toyota Tacoma owned by Burleson resident Robin Waddell.

    The caller told dispatch that the Tacoma had driven through the rear parking lot gate of the Joshua Police Department and that a woman was laying near the police department’s back door and appeared to be injured.

    That caller and another witness told police the Tacoma left the scene driven by a man.

    Rescue workers transported Waddell to Texas Health Huguley Fort Worth South Hospital where she was pronounced dead at 9:30 a.m. that morning. She received gunshots wounds to her upper right arm and another to her back, according to reports.

    Gainesville police took Elders into custody later that same day.

    Elders, during a subsequent police interview, stated that he was the one who shot Lott, according to reports.

    Elders, after his car caught fire, fled on foot towards a wooded area and located a feed truck on Waddell’s property, which he entered and fell asleep in.

    When confronted by Waddell later that morning, Elders pointed a gun at her and demanded the keys to the truck, according to reports.

    After Waddell told Elders she could not find the keys to the truck he demanded that she drive him in her Tacoma and “drop him off somewhere or take him somewhere,” according to reports.

    Waddell, while driving on Main Street in Joshua, “intentionally” drove her Tacoma through the closed gates of the Joshua Police Department, according to reports. Elders later told police that he panicked and shot Waddell twice as she was getting out of the truck, after which he slid into the driver’s seat and fled the scene.

    Police later recovered a Smith and Wesson .38 Special 5-shot revolver from the front driver’s seat floorboard area of Waddell’s truck, according to reports.

    https://www.cleburnetimesreview.com/...ff20b3520.html
    Last edited by Helen; 07-15-2021 at 08:37 PM. Reason: spacing

  6. #6
    Moderator Bobsicles's Avatar
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    Burlson is in Tarrant County, one of the best counties for the death penalty. Unless he gets a plea deal, he’s headed for Polunsky

    It’s also a part of Johnson County, which had Mark Soliz executed so I feel good about this
    Thank you for the adventure - Axol

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  7. #7
    Senior Member CnCP Legend Mastro Titta's Avatar
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    Jerry Don Elders' jury trial will start on October 31st, 2022, at 9.00 AM. Johnson County DA's office is seeking the death penalty in this case.

    https://pa.johnsoncountytx.org/Publi...CaseID=1075681

  8. #8
    Moderator Bobsicles's Avatar
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    Elders new trial date set for April 15, 2024

    https://pa.johnsoncountytx.org/Publi...CaseID=1075681
    Thank you for the adventure - Axol

    Tried so hard and got so far, but in the end it doesn’t even matter - Linkin Park

    Hear me, my chiefs! I am tired. My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever. - Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt

    I’m going to the ghost McDonalds - Garcello

  9. #9
    Administrator Helen's Avatar
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    Jury selection begins in Burleson death penalty case involving officer, murdered kidnapping victim

    By Jason Allen
    CBS News

    BURLESON- Tuesday started the long process of choosing a jury in the capital murder trial of Jerry Don Elders.

    Elders is accused of shooting Burleson Police Officer Joshua Lott during a traffic stop in April 2021.

    The same crime spree, according to police, included kidnapping Robin Waddell, stealing her truck, and killing her after crashing through a gate at the Joshua Police Department. She was 60 years old.

    Elders got caught in Gainesville, Texas, after being on the run. If convicted, he faces life in prison or death by lethal injection.

    The trial is set to begin in April.

    https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/j...apping-victim/
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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