BEDFORD — The conviction of Joseph Clark brought closure, but not only for the family of murder victim Holly Notestine.
In late January, a Butler County jury could not come to a verdict on Clark’s guilt in the 2000 disappearance and slaying of the Bedford County woman. A mistrial was declared in early February.
Some of those jurors returned to Bedford last week, this time to watch from afar as jurors from Dauphin County weighed the evidence and found Clark guilty of first-degree murder.
One Butler County woman listened to two days of testimony, then visited with Notestine’s sisters and her partner Ronald Grubb.
“She told us she needed to come because she needed closure on this,” said Cindy McMurtie, Notestine’s sister. McMurtie attended nearly every session of both lengthy trials.
To Grubb and his daughter Chasity, the woman offered condolences.
“She told us we never should have had to go through this a second time,” Grubb said, “and she thought Clark was guilty from the beginning.”
A second female Butler juror attended the proceeding for an afternoon in the final days of testimony.
A third Butler juror, a man, came to Bedford the day of closing arguments. He told Higgins he likewise was sorry the Grubb-Notestine family had to go through a second trial.
The Butler County jury heard two weeks of testimony that began on Jan. 14, and deliberated for six days into early February. At day four of deliberations, members told Judge Daniel Howsare they had not reached a verdict.
At day five, they used the term “deadlocked.” At the close of the sixth day, they made it clear they were at an impasse and a mistrial was declared.
Jury foreman James Demchuk later told The Tribune-Democrat the vote to convict was 10 to 2.
“Two of them appeared to be the type of people who couldn’t convict anybody of anything,” Bedford County District Attorney William Higgins said.
In an e-mail to The Tribune-Democrat on the day Clark was convicted of first-degree murder, a Butler County juror who asked that her name not be used, talked of the traumatic experience the panel went through in January.
“All I feel now is relief,” the juror wrote. “ I personally thought he was guilty. And I certainly pray for (Clark’s) family, as their tragedy really starts now.”
She talked of Clark’s denial of committing the crime. The juror said that the best thing would be for him to admit to the kidnapping and murder.
“For what ever reason we couldn’t come to a verdict,” the juror wrote. “For three to four weeks, our entire lives revolved around this tragedy.
“Some of us felt a duty to Holly to see it through and we will probably remember her and her family for the rest of our lives.”
Local News
‘Guilty from the beginning’: Butler jurors watch Dauphin panel reach verdict
- Local News
-
-
Proposed bill would expand use of traffic-light cameras
Some call it the hand of “big brother,” others are convinced cameras at signal lights would be effective in curbing red-light runners and ultimately saving lives.
-
Minister's trial date set
An issue has been resolved over the report from an examination of a girl allegedly taken by her mother to a Bedford motel to have sex with a traveling minister, clearing the way for a trial.
-
AP: Almost half of new veterans seek disability
America’s newest veterans are filing for disability benefits at a historic rate, claiming to be the most medically and mentally troubled generation of former troops the nation has ever seen.
-
Geistown beginning crime watch program
Residents will patrol Geistown streets in the coming weeks as part of a community watch program.
-
Persons of the Week: Nanty Glo vets will remember fallen comrades
Michael Kurtz, Tom Kasecky and Steve Kasecky will be among members of the Loy A. Douglass Post 3489 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Nanty Glo who will be honoring fallen veterans today, Memorial Day.
-
AG candidates face potential conflicts of interest
Both candidates for Pennsylvania attorney general have family ties that could pose a conflict of interest for the one who is elected as the state’s next chief legal officer.
-
Lawmakers: Capitol rallies unpersuasive
Nancy Richey stepped to the podium with a microphone at the Capitol rotunda with the hope that the right people would hear her message.
-
Richland closer to new chief
The search for Richland’s next police chief is winding down.
-
In brief: Thunderstorm downs trees, knocks out power
A late Sunday afternoon thunderstorm brought high winds, hard rain and hail to the Cambria-Somerset region.
- District Deaths May 28, 2012
- More Local News Headlines
-
Beryl Makes Landfall on Florida Coast
UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla
Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
