Kylie Hartman testifies in the Charles Christopher Logsdon murder trial Wednesday.
(Pool Photos by Sandra Milburn ~ Hutch News)
The murder trial for Charles Christopher Logsdon continued Wednesday after being recessed early on Tuesday afternoon.
On the stand Wednesday morning was Kylie Hartman who at one time had been charged with a conspiracy with Billy Craig to create fake drivers licenses. Craig is a co-defendant in the murder of Jennifer Heckel.
She testified over a meeting between four people over the plan to rob Kayla Rodriquez supposedly over money owed from fake social security cards. It was said to be over 10-thousand dollars. That included Craig, Logsdon, Matthew Barnes and Jason Casanova. They planned to go to Kayla Rodriquez home and rob her.
Hartman also testified on how Billy Craig started freaking out when he learned that the wrong person had been killed, even broke down over over the death, but said it was only for a second.
She also talked about the supposed “drug cartel” in Wichita. The state asked her if she knew of Billy Craig going to Wichita to do his business, in other words buy drugs. She told the jury that she didn’t know what the trips were over, but did know that he went to Wichita on occasion.
Her attorney Sam Kepfield attempted to keep her off the stand prior to her testimony which was turned down by Judge Trish Rose.
Hartman apparently talked about the case with other inmates in the county jail. Brandy Ruiz who was serving a 6-month sentence in a misdemeanor case took the stand over a note she sent Police Detective Dean Harcrow over the killing. She had apparently been cell mates with Hartman at some point and Hartman would talk with her over the case.
But, there is some question over the cast of characters that went to the Heckel home the night of the murder according to the note she sent the detective. The state believes it was Craig, Logsdon, Barnes and Casanova while the defense pointed out that she mentioned Gabriel Sanchez, Matt Barnes and Billy Craig in that note with no mention of Charles Logsdon. The state then recalled Police Lt. Marty Robertson to testify that Sanchez was in jail at the time of the killing and couldn’t have been involved.
Ruiz said she decided to come forward because she wanted the victim to be able to rest in peace.
Bryce Noyes who initially refused to testify and was taken to jail for contempt did testify Thursday and told the jury that he had been approached by Kylie Branton and Chris Logsdon about getting them a weapon. He then asked “why do you need a gun?” They allegedly told them that they may rob someone of their drugs and money. Noyes indicated that Branton yelled it across a group of people that had gathered together.
Later, after the murder He told the jury that she then asked if he wanted to purchase a 22 caliber rifle and he told her “no.”
Logsdon and Craig are both charged with the murder of Jennifer Heckel which occurred on June 14, 2011, but the intended victim was Rodriquez.
The trial continues with the state expected to show a number of videos on Thursday of interviews with some of the witnesses who already took the stand and were less than fourth-coming with their testimony.