365 Days of Texas True Crime: Nettie Part 2
18 months after Velma Nesset was murdered and left under a drainage culvert as she walked to work a 22 year-old man was arrested and charged with her murder. Johnny Ray Foote had worked with Nesset at the mall for just a month and he happened to live in the same apartment complex as she did. When police brought him in for questioning they were able to obtain a confession, but was that confession coerced? 244th Judicial District Judge Joe Connally didn t seem to think so based on the evidence that was presented to him at the time. Defense attorney John Hoestenbach tried to have the statements that Foote had made to investigators during questioning suppressed. He argued that his client had a low IQ and very little education and he was vulnerable to the pressure the police were putting him under during their interrogation. Hoestenbach argued that the confession was simply to end what he called, police harassment.
Sheriff Mike Griffis said there have been no positive tests for the virus in months. Author: Zach Leff Updated: 3:48 AM CDT May 19, 2021
ODESSA, Texas Sheriff Mike Griffis and Ector County Jail has provided an update on their COVID-19 results in the facility lately.
Griffis said that there have been no COVID-19 positive tests in months.
There have been also around 30% of the staff vaccinated, and while inmates have not received the vaccine yet, the jail is working on allowing them to get the vaccine if they want soon.
There has been more weeks, months that we have not have COVID-19 then we did, Griffis said. I believe we had one of the best COVID-19 rates in the state when it comes to county jails and you know we have no COVID-19 right now.
Ashley Schwarz was being held in jail on a $600,000 bond. Author: NewsWest 9 Updated: 2:47 PM CDT April 30, 2021
ODESSA, Texas
(Editor s note: The above video is from earlier coverage of this case.)
The woman accused of forcing 8-year-old Jaylin Schwarz to jump on a trampoline until she died has been released on bond.
According to Ector County Jail records, Ashley Schwarz, the guardian of the girl, was released on April 30.
Her bond, as well as that of Daniel Schwarz, her husband and other guardian of Jaylin and her sister, was set at $600,000 each.
Both are facing capital murder charges.
The two had a hearing at the end of March to ask for a bond reduction down to $100,000 but the judge denied both requests.
Judge denies bond reduction for Jaylin Schwarz s adoptive parents newswest9.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from newswest9.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.