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6:20 p.m. - Jury returns guilty verdict
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A Morgan County jury tonight found John Myers II guilty in the death of Jill Behrman, the Indiana Acute Care Facility
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plan scrutinized Respiratory Therapy Tech
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leaders begins his attorney maintained that the state had only
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mild day Acute Care Facility

• For the record But prosecutors successfully argued that no one but
the killer could make as many references to the Collection Associates, Billing
Behrman case as Myers did with family and friends. Acute Care Facility
Several family members testified against him. RN's, LPN's
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Behrman, 19, was reported missing after a ride
through northern Monroe County. Her remains were View all Top Jobs
not discovered for nearly three years.

Sentencing will likely take place Dec. 1.

Morgan County Sheriff Robert
Garner, (right), escorts defendant
John R. Myers II from the
courthouse today. - CHARLIE NYE /
The Star
Myers' brother Sam yelled "Good luck John," as he
was led from the courtroom.
Behrman's parents hugged prosecutors after the
verdict was announced and family members were
crying in the courtroom.
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Trial background
The accused: John R. Myers II, 31,
Ellettsville: A single father of Two and
handyman, he has pleaded not guilty to
murder.
The victim: Jill Behrman, 19,
Bloomington. An Indiana University
coed, the avid bicyclist vanished May
31, 2000 during a ride through northern
Monroe County. Despite the focus of
national media attention, she remained
a missing persons case until her
remains were found in a woody field in
remote Morgan County March 9, 2003.
KEY EVENTS
Oct. 16: Judge Christopher Burnham
bars Myers' criminal history from the
trial. In court, prosecutors say Myers
abducted Jill Behrman, 19, while she
was on a bike ride May 31, 2000, after
a chance encounter. They say he took
her to his trailer, stripped her naked,
then later marched her into the woods
in Morgan County and shot and killed
her. Myers' attorney tells jurors
authorities have the wrong man.
Oct. 17: Jurors hear about, and see
pictures of, the crime scene, and view
pictures of Berhman's bones that were
reassembled by a forensic
anthropologist team at the University
of Indianapolis.
5:20 p.m. - Court says panel has a verdict 2007 Pontiac G6 $199/mo Up to $4,500 Off
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Reporters were notified of the development at 5:20
p.m. today by Deputy Morgan County Prosecutor
Bob Cline. Myers was being brought back to court
from the jail where he was taken after final arguments
concluded around 4:30 p.m.
Cline said court would reconvene within the hour.
Myers is charged in the death of IU Student Jill
Behrman. Behrman disappeared in 2000 while riding
her bicycle in the hills outside Bloomington. Her body
was found in a remote, wooded area in 2003.
Prosecutors have put forward an admittedly
circumstantial case, but say only the killer could know
as much as Myers seemed to know. Defense
attorneys said prosecutors have presented no
evidence to directly link Myers to the killing.
4:30 p.m. - Jury considering the evidence
MARTINSVILLE, Ind. - The jury finished listening to
closing arguments and began deliberations, which
should last until 10 p.m. unless the 12-person panel
reaches a conclusion sooner.
Prosecutor Steve Sonnega wrapped up the arguments by asking jurors to think of
themselves as fact-finders.
"The truth was taken to the grave," he told them. "Thanks to Betty Swaffard (John R.
Myers II's grandmother) and her courage and her strength and the grace of God, the truth
is that John Myers killed Jill Behrman. Don't let this window of opportunity close without

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Guilty verdict in Behrman case | IndyStar.com http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061030/LO...

Oct. 18: Behrman's parents, Eric and
Marilyn, testify about their daughter's
love of cycling. They tearfully recall the
hopelessness they felt when a search
and reward of $100,000 turned up
nothing, then of sadness when they
heard she'd been found dead.
Behrman's bicycle is shown to jurors.
Oct. 19: Defense lawyer Patrick Baker
suggests that Behrman was secretly
pregnant and possibly involved
romantically with a co-worker at an IU
gym, and that police were too quick to
dismiss that man as a suspect.
Baker's description of Behrman's
character brings condemnation from
her parents.
Oct. 20: Baker files two motions for
mistrial - one because the Behrman
parents are still witnesses but were
giving interviews to the media, one for
a detective's accidental use of the
word "polygraph" while on the stand.
Both motions are rejected. Also, a
forensic pathologist testifies Behrman
was likely raped, forced to lie face-first
in the soil and shot.
doing justice."
Attorneys for both sides then left the courtroom.
4:00 p.m. -- Defense calls prosecution case 'speculation'
MARTINSVILLE, Ind. - Attorneys for John R. Myers II said the state provided no
physical evidence or proof that Myers killed Jill Behrman.
During closing arguments this afternoon in Myers' murder trial, Patrick Baker held up a
blank sheet of paper before the jury.
"Here's the evidence against Johnny Myers," said Baker. "Nothing -- because it does not
exist."
In a 65-minute closing presentation, Baker and his father, Hugh Baker, co-counsel, argued
the state failed to pursue other suspects and scenarios that could have led to the person
who actually killed Behrman.
"The state's evidence does not exclude every reasonable theory of innocence," said
Patrick Baker. "The state has not proven anything. Nothing. It’s called speculation,
speculation, speculation."
Baker said there are several other, more plausible explanations for what happened to
Behrman, including the theory that she was involved in a relationship with an older
co-worker and may have been pregnant, or that three "druggies" who were initially
implicated in the case actually killed Behrman. One admitted in court she provided
misleading information to throw investigators off their trail.

Oct. 21: Myers' two brothers, his
mother, grandmother and aunt take
the stand. The grandmother and aunt
testify to having conversations with
Myers in which he doesn't confess, but
implicates himself in Behrman's
disappearance.
Oct. 23: Myers' ex-girlfriend testifies
that he took her on a three-county
nighttime drive in March 2003 to show
her a woody, remote location -- the
same spot where Behrman's remains
would be found three years later. Also,
six former coworkers recall odd
statements Myers uttered between
2000-2003 about random details he had
of Behrman's disappearance.
Oct. 24: Wendy K. Owings, a
Bloomington woman who was
investigators' original suspect (along
with two friends she implicated) admits
lying about her involvement in 2000
because she faced her own legal woes
and wanted to use her tips to reduce
prison time. Also, a jail worker and
inmate at Monroe County Jail testify
about statements Myers made during
separate stays between 2002 and
2005, where he talked about Behrman.
The prosecution is expected to make a rebuttal statement later this afternoon
The jury should begin deliberating by this evening.
2:52 PM -- Proscutor uses elaborate computer presentation
MARTINSVILLE, Ind. - After a four-hour delay, and with one less juror, closing arguments
finally began this afternoon in the John R. Myers II murder trial.
Prosecutors made a simple request: bring justice to Jill Behrman.
Prosecutor Steve Sonnega showed an elaborate computer presentation flashed on a big
screen that detailed how authorities pieced together Myers' involvement in the Indiana
University student's death.
One slide on the computerized presentation showed a color photo of Myers' face along
with 15 pointed arrows detailing the names of people who had information or evidence
linking Myers to the girl's death.
Sonnega also highlighted large portions of a May 2, 2005 transcript that Myers gave to two
Indiana State Police detectives. In the transcript, Myers never confessed, but Sonnega
claimed that Myers was elusive.
But ultimately, Sonnega said, Myers was caught in a big lie.
When detectives asked him if he had ever talked about Jill Behrman, Myers replied "no."
But Sonnega said in truth, Myers had spoken to 14 people about Behrman - including his
grandmother and aunt.

Oct. 25: The state rests its case after
calling more than 50 witnesses. Indiana
State Police Det. Rick Lang takes the
stand. Prosecutors and defense focus
on a May 2, 2005 interview between
Myers and police, and tactics used to
ellicit a comment.
Oct. 27: The defense rests after
calling two witnesses.
"Who is lying? All these people or the defendant?" Sonnega said. "He is trying to go around
the truth. Why? Because the truth convicts him."
Myers seemed calm in the packed courtroom. His attorney, Patrick Baker, will offer
closing arguments next.
2:31 PM -- Judge interviews all jurors, lets final arguments start
After a four-hour delay so that jurors could be questioned, attorneys begin to present
closing arguments in the murder trial of John R. Myers II.

The prosecution began at 1 p.m. with its version of the 2000 abduction and slaying of Indiana University student Jill Behrman.

Prior to starting opening arguments Morgan County Judge Christopher Burnham said that he could find no indication that jurors had been
tainted by inappropriate outside influence over the weekend. The judge said he spent "quite some time" this morning interviewing each
juror in the presence of the prosecutor and the defense attorney to determine if anything had occurred over the weekend that would
have influenced their ability to render a fair and impartial verdict.

Burnham said they found no evidence of that in the interviews with the jurors.

Earlier in the day one of the jury members had been dismissed for personal reasons and questions were raised about the possibility that
jurors had been privy information that might have influenced the outcome of the trial.

11:05 AM -- No sign of outside influence, detective says

MARTINSVILLE, Ind. - Indiana State Police Det. Rick Lang, lead investigator in the Jill Behrman killing, elaborated on why the judge in
the John R. Myers II murder trial called for a recess until 1 p.m. today.

"It's individual questions of the jurors ... to make sure jurors make a decision on what they heard in the courtroom," Lang said. "There is
no indication of outside influence with the jury whatsoever."

"I'm not sure how it started," Lang said, "but they want to make sure that everything is done right. It was information that apparently
had come from somewhere and like I said, the judge and both parties want to make sure their (the jury's) decision is based on what
happened in the courtroom."

No official word on what caused the delay was immediately available, said Dave Remondini, an Indiana Supreme Court representative
assisting the Morgan Superior Court.

Although the legal issues that were debated behind closed doors were not known, Myers' defense attorney, Patrick V. Baker, has asked
for a mistrial at least three times of the course of the 11-day trial, which wrapped up last Friday.

None of those motions for mistrial were granted by Judge Christopher Burnham.

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Burnham has said in court after one of those denials that he does not want a mistrial.

Lang said he didn’t want to think about the long investigation ending in a mistrial. “I think we're in good position and we have good
information to provide the jury with. This is just another glitch and another hurdle that we'll get over like we have over the last six and a
half years."

Baker declined to comment, as did prosecutors in the case.

10:04 AM -- Attorneys, judge meet behind closed doors

MARTINSVILLE, Ind. - The judge in the John R. Myers murder trial called for a recess until 1 p.m. today to make sure the jury had not
been improperly influenced.

The six-man, six-woman jury has been sequestered during the trial.

Officials in Morgan Superior Court would not comment, but attorneys for the state and Myers' defense met behind closed doors for an
hour this morning with Judge Christopher Burnham to discuss the issue with the jury. The judge then called for the recess.

Myers is accused of abducting IU student Jill Behrman in 2000 and killing her with a shotgun blast to the back of her head.

The trial had been expected to resume today with closing arguments beginning at 9 a.m.

On Sunday, jurors viewed 18 locations related to Behrman's disappearance and death. One of those spots they saw firsthand -- at
Warthen and Duckworth roads in Morgan County -- was where the woman’s student's remains were found.

When court started nearly all of the estimated 80 seats in the second-floor courtroom at Morgan County Courthouse are taken up.

Myers, 31, Ellettsville, has pleaded not guilty to the kidnapping and murder of Behrman, a 19-year-old IU student who vanished May 31,
2000 while on a bicycle ride through the hills of northern Monroe County. Her remains were found near Paragon March 9, 2003.

Myers did not comment as he arrived to the courthouse today. He was escorted inside by sheriff's deputies.

Myers' entourage arrived just after 8 a.m., with his mother Jodie and Myers' brother Sam walking out in front. They did not comment.

The Behrman family, led by Jill's parents Eric and Marilyn, also arrived a short time later in a large show of force but they did not
comment.

Morgan County Sheriff Robert Garner also arrived to the courthouse and had mixed emotions about the ramifications of the closing
arguments. "How can you be satisfied? It's a tough deal."

Each side will get 90 minutes to make its case, and the jury will be read instructions that explain to them the difference between
circumstantial and direct evidence. They'll be reminded that prosecutors have the burden and must show Myers is guilty beyond a
reasonable doubt.

One of the 12 jurors was replaced with an alternate because of personal reasons.

9:05 AM -- Closing arguements to start.

MARTINSVILLE, Ind. - Jurors will hear closing arguments in the trial of John R. Myers II today, a day after they viewed 18 locations
related to Jill Behrman's disappearance and death. One of those spots they saw firsthand -- at Warthen and Duckworth roads in Morgan
County -- was where the Indiana University student's remains were found.

Closing arguments begin at 9 a.m., today and nearly all of the estimated 80 seats in the second-floor courtroom at Morgan County
Courthouse are taken up.

Myers, 31, Ellettsville, has pleaded not guilty to the kidnapping and murder of Behrman, a 19-year-old Indiana University student who
vanished May 31, 2000 while on a bicycle ride through the hills of northern Monroe County. Her remains were found near Paragon March
9, 2003.

Myers did not comment as he arrived to the courthouse today. He was escorted inside by sheriff's deputies.

Myers' entourage arrived just after 8 a.m., with his mother Jodie and Myers' brother Sam walking out in front. They did not comment.

The Behrman family, led by Jill's parents Eric and Marilyn, also arrived a short time later in a large show of force but they did not
comment.

Morgan County Sheriff Robert Garner also arrived to the courthouse and had mixed emotions about the ramifications of the closing
arguments. "How can you be satisfied? It's a tough deal."

Each side will get 90 minutes to make its case, and the jury will be read instructions that explain to them the difference between
circumstantial and direct evidence. They'll be reminded that prosecutors have the burden and must show Myers is guilty beyond a
reasonable doubt.

One of the 12 jurors was replaced with an alternate because of personal reasons.

This story will be updated.

Copyright 2006 IndyStar.com. All rights reserved

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