A new tipster forwards this story from the newspaper. They suggest a strong link between the players in this case and the organized criminal activity in our county. If you know the story, please feel free to e-mail additional details. I would be most interested in who talked the guy into pleading the fifth.
Trial put on hold when stepfather refuses to testify Witness takes Fifth
Amendment, surprising court in murder case
JAY MEISEL ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE.....
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DANVILLE -- The trial of Gregory Lynn Strother, accused of killing and
decapitating a Rover man, came to a sudden halt Friday when Strother's
stepfather, a key prosecution witness, refused to testify.
"I take the Fifth," Charles Jester, 31, of Harris Brake said after he was
called to the stand in Yell County Circuit Court to testify in the capital
murder trial of his stepson Strother, 25, of Rover.
Both Strother and Jester were charged in the July 15, 1999, slaying of
Randy Lynn Reed, 19, but Jester's decision to take the Fifth Amendment
protection against self-incrimination was particularly surprising because
he had already pleaded guilty to the charge.
In April, Jester pleaded guilty to capital murder and was sentenced to
life in prison with a promise that the state would not oppose his parole
if he ever became eligible. In return, Jester agreed to testify against
Strother.
Jester's refusal to testify surprised Yell County Prosecuting Attorney
Jerry Don Ramey, who asked for a delay in the trial to give Jester time to
consult with an attorney. Circuit Judge Paul Danielson of Booneville
delayed the trial until Wednesday and reappointed Mac Carder as Jester's
public defender.
Jester's decision not to testify could result in his guilty plea being
nullified. When asked if he intends to seek to revoke the guilty plea and
plea arrangement, Ramey said, "I anticipate that's something I will talk
to his attorney about."
Ernie Witt, one of Strother's attorneys, said he believes Jester's refusal
to testify benefits neither side.
Witt unsuccessfully asked Danielson to either declare a mistrial or
proceed without testimony from Jester. "The state hasn't been diligent
with Mr. Jester in this matter," he said.
But Ramey said he had become aware that Jester might refuse to testify
only within the previous 24 hours.
On July 16, 1999, a farmer found Reed's headless and handless body
drifting in the Fourche La Fave River near Houston in Perry County with a
cement block tied around its waist.
Authorities identified the body from Reed's Social Security card, which
was found in a pants pocket.
Law enforcement authorities have said they believe Strother and Jester
murdered Reed in Yell County and then took the body to a remote location
where they sawed off the head and hands.
Authorities believe the motive for the murder was that Strother and Jester
thought Reed was a drug informant.
During Friday's trial, Larry Johnson, an investigator for the Yell County
sheriff's office, said that after Jester and Strother were arrested,
Strother volunteered to take authorities to "where he had buried the head
and hands." Johnson said Jester had no difficulty locating the burial
area.
The pair was arrested after authorities received a telephone call from Tom
Franks of Perry County, who was a friend of Jester's. Franks said that on
the night of July 15, 1999, he awoke to find Strother and Jester in his
mobile home.
"It looked like they might have been in a fight," Franks said, adding that
he saw blood on Strother's leg above the knee.
Franks said that as he was trying to get the pair out of his home so he
could go back to sleep, Strother told him that there was a body in the
truck.
"He told me if I didn't believe him to go look in the truck," Franks said.
Franks told the men he wanted no part of what had occurred and said he
convinced them to leave. The next day, he contacted authorities. He also
discovered that one of the concrete blocks used for steps for his mobile
home was missing, he said.
Well Mr Sam Tilden, its best off to leave things the way it is.dont be opening up a can of worms and getting old past coming to light while you still got ur hands and head!!!
Threat much???? Is it possible these two were set up???
No, I think he's just stirring shit up, the one Makin a threat that is. As for anyone else here, I don't believe this has anything to do with corruption. This did have some ties in drugs, but mostly over a girl, between jester and randy. Randy was hit in the back of the head with a bat, killing him, likely by accident.
I dated Randy at one time and we were friends up until he passed away and from what I was told he was still alive when he had his hands and head removed. And Ive been hearing since he was murdered that a DEA agent was the one to put the hit on him.i cannot prove it but I new randy and his family and what those monsters did to him is just sick.
This was my cousin. I doubt the DEA thing cause why would you live his social and all in his back pocket after disposing of his head and hands. The whole thing is awful. People wonder why I listen to true crime podcasts and shows and honestly I was 7 when this happened and I wanted to understand but still don’t have any answers on how someone could do this
What you mean another murder to the Perry County Machine?
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