The preliminary hearing for two men suspected in the murder of a Hutchinson woman last summer is underway in Reno County District Court.
48-year-old Billy Craig Jr., and 32-year-old Charles Logsdon are charged with first degree murder, conspiracy to commit first degree murder, conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The charges coming from the shooting death of 27-year-old Jennifer Heckel. She was killed in her home at 501 Coronado back on June 14. Prosecutors say it appears she was a victim of mistaken identity.
On the stand Monday morning were the responding officers that evening who discovered the victim dead in her kitchen of multiple gunshot wounds, one to the head, one in her back that exited her chest, and a third that grazed her on the side.
Both Sgt. Brice Burlie and then Detective Glenn McMurray told of their initial investigation, and also to seal off the area as a crime scene. The state also showed a video of the crime scene which included the body of the victim on the kitchen floor.
They also say another bullet went through a kitchen window out of the house and through a shed on the property.
KBI Crime Lab Investigator Corey Latham told of finding two of the bullets, one under the victims head, and one in a wall. He also told of another bullet going out a window and through a shed about 27-feet away from the home.
The victims 5-year-old son apparently went across the street and told an elderly couple that his mother was hurt. They then also went into the house and found the body. They then called 911.
Also on the stand was Karra Branton who claims she was involved in a plot with Craig and Logsdon to rob a woman what is believed to have been the intended victim of money and drugs. But, she also indicated that Craig wanted to give that woman 800-dollars in fake money for the drugs. She had trouble remembering the part about the robbery, so the state showed two videos of interviews she did with law enforcement right after the killing, where she told them that exact thing.
The state is seeking a hard-50 sentence for Craig and Logsdon, if they’re convicted in the murder case.
Testimony resumes Tuesday morning and is expected to last through the week.