Ramey, in the center, is flanked by Jail Administrator Jerry Doan and Court Security Keith Kocher on his way back from a very brief hearing, where Ramey's fate wasn't decided...but was moved decidedly forward.
RICHLAND CO., Ill. - The latest in the case of accused rapist/murderer Glenn Ramey in Olney has two separate developments, both of which the state says they feel confident about, and both of which are going to create a swell of outrage for Olney/Richland County residents: The trial will likely be moved out of Richland County.
The developments in that, as well as the fact that Ramey will have yet another, separate jury trial - this one for fitness - has apparently infuriated the family members of Sabrina Stauffenberg, the 8-year-old little girl whom authorities say Ramey brutally murdered after a sexual assault last November 23, as evidenced by their comments outside the courthouse after the 12-minute hearing today, Friday, May 19, 2017...comments about how there "shouldn't be ANY trial, they should just stand him up against the wall and shoot him!"
But their comments, it appears, are exactly WHY there will likely be a change of venue in Ramey's murder trial; prosecutor Brad Vaughn advised Disclosure that he doesn't have a preference of where the trial should be moved, "as long as it's out of Richland County."
That matter, as well as the issue of fitness, was the setting today in Richland County for Ramey.
Ramey, 53, was brought over to the courthouse from the jail looking a little cleaner than in recent hearings, but with his scruffy, partial-growth beard, deep facial scars and straggly hair slicked straight back (whether fresh from a shower or from a handful of hair gel, it was impossible to tell), he still just doesn't clean up well.
With the courtroom holding about 20 friends and family members of Sabrina's, the hearing kicked off at a minute after 1 p.m. today, this after a delay (the hearing was originally scheduled for 8:45 a.m. this morning, but at about 9:10, an announcement was made through the courthouse's new PA system that it was going to be rescheduled to 1, leaving everybody having to either return home or, like us at Disclosure, having to scramble around to cover some other courthouse ground before heading back for the perp walk.)
And during the 12-minute hearing, both the state and the defense were in agreement on two things: Ramey has a right to a jury trial as to mental fitness, and he is going to have to have the murder trial moved owing to the perception that there will be no way both sides will be able to find an unbiased jury.
Richland County State's Attorney Brad Vaughn told Judge Larry Dunn about a jury trial years ago in Crawford County that involved a soldier accused of setting his house on fire and killing his wife and two kids. Vaughn's part was as defense attorney; and he said that they likely went through 300 prospective jurors in order to find 12 who could hear the case impartially.
Vaughn likened this case to that, telling Dunn in no uncertain terms that the motion filed by Ramey defense attorney Jim Lane today for change of venue would not be challenged. Dunn directed both Vaughn and Lane to start thinking of place where they'd like to move the trial to, within the Second Circuit first (Crawford, Lawrence, Wayne, Wabash, Edwards, White, Jefferson, Franklin, Hamilton, Gallatin and Hardin counties), then outside the circuit. The Second is bordered by the Fifth to the north of Crawford; the Fourth to the north and west of Richland, and the first to the south and west of Hardin. There was no mention whatsoever of prospective counties made by either attorney or by the judge.
However, there will be a jury trial before the murder trial, and that would be the fitness trial.
Since a bona fide question has been raised as to Ramey's mental capacity/ability to understand the charges against him and to assist in his own defense (basically, telling his attorney his side of the story), and those questions have either been answered in the affirmative or negative by the doctors having examined Ramey, he has a right to have a jury trial to determine fitness if he so chooses. And Ramey, apparently at the advice of Lane, has chosen. So the next couple of hearings will be held in an effort to nail down a fitness hearing, which Dunn has stated looks to tentatively be held in August.
Part of the outrage that decision has prompted in the crowd of Sabrina supporters is that this means there will be even more delay in the actual trial.
And most importantly of all, Dr. Jerry Boyd, the doctor that was appointed to evaluate Ramey's fitness, and was allowed to listen to four phone calls Ramey made from the jail, submitted his report under seal to the court earlier this week, meaning at least Boyd has issued his opinion as to whether Ramey is fit and faking, or unfit and may have to be remanded to the Department of Human Services for treatment so he can attain fitness prior to trial.
The report was made available to the state and the defense, but the public isn't allowed to see it. This material will be covered in a fitness jury trial. A June 8 date has been set for a conference with attorneys for further scheduling the fitness trial, which Dunn, looking at his calendar, said will likely take place in August.
There was no discussion as to whether that jury trial will be moved from Richland, but it doesn't appear that it's going to be. If that changes, we'll update.
Be sure you pick up the current issue of Disclosure, May-June 2017, which has Ramey on the front page with some issues included in this report outlined in full, and with even more details that no other media (none of which were present today) has touched upon. Vendor list is at this link; easy e-Edition access at this one, choose a Day Pass for $2.99 or a Month Pass for $5.99, regardless of how many issues we're producing each month (and right now, it's up to two...with three close behind, and maybe WEEKLY if we can. For that, we thank YOU, our wonderful readers, as you rely on our coverage of this and other high-profile cases in the coverage area...THANK YOU!!)
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