Coates' murder trial continues as texts are revealed to jury
NORWICH – As the murder trial of Jeremy Coates continued Wednesday an investigator showed the jury text messages between the defendant and an alleged accomplice in the case, who previously pleaded guilty to other crimes and is now a key witness for the prosecution.
State Police Investigator Terry Shultz showed text messages to the court he said police had seized from Melissa Crispell's cellphone.
Crispell, 43, was originally charged with second-degree murder – among other counts of assault and robbery – but she accepted a plea deal on May 12, 2017, she is facing 15-to-25 years in state prison and will be sentenced after Coates’ trial.
She will testify as part of the deal. According to Shultz, Crispell gave her phone to police willingly, and told them her password to access it.
Shultz testified the phone messages were sent before, during, and after the day David Green, 58, of Oxford was murdered.
Shultz said he discovered a series of text messages between Crispell and Coates on the day of the murder.
The texts were shown on a projector in court and read aloud by Shultz. According to the investigator the messages were as follows:
"Still thinking doing house tonight," sent Crispell.
"We talk about that later," responded Coates.
"Not being too bright," sent Crispell.
"Why would you even tell anyone were going to the house tonight," she added.
"I forgot, slipped my mind," Coates responded.
Shultz said two phone calls were made after the texts.
Later on the night of the murder, Shultz said more texts were sent.
"He has weed, hasn't touched mine," sent Coates.
"Turn him on lol," he added. "Well?"
"Show him your big tires," Coates sent, correcting the message a moment later. "Tits," he clarified.
"I knew what you meant," replied Crispell.
"Do him while he is having an orgasm," sent Coates.
"I don't want to wait all night, any ideas," added Coates.
According to the phone records, those were the last texts sent that night, but more continued the following morning.
"Just got home babe, text me when you can, lots of issues," said Crispell.
Shultz said multiple "affectionate," text messages were sent between the two the day after the murder.
"Shall I take part of our bounty and pick up dinner tonight," read another text also sent by Coates that day.
Defense Attorney Zachary Wentworth challenged the merits of the messages after he pointed out the text transcripts were labeled with an incorrect date, which he said was off by 2 years, dated in 2014 instead of 2016 when murder occurred.
Coates' former roommate, Randy Buck, also testified that the morning after the murder he awoke to find Crispell and Coates arriving at their home. He said he went downstairs to let them in, and then the Crispell dropped off a bag containing unknown items. He said as they entered he went back to bed.
Buck said days later he noticed the police were watching his home, and eventually during the execution of a search warrant, he was detained by police.
He said he demanded to speak to an attorney, and never received one, and after 5 hours of waiting he was released.
Buck added that once he left the building, McBride had a conversation with him about the guns and maintaining the safety of the community.
According to Buck, he was hesitant to get involved, but McBride told him he may be charged with a crime if they found the weapons in his home.
Buck then assisted police in retrieving the guns, knives, and other objects hidden in the home's attic and under the floor in the kitchen.
He testified that the photos taken of the guns on his phone were taken after he had a discussion with Coates about trading guns in place of his rent.
Buck noted that Coates has never told him that he killed anyone.
He also pointed out that the guitar in evidence belonged to him, and he said he willingly traded it to Coates for some jewelry.
Pictured: District Attorney Joseph McBride, Assistant District Attorney Laura Parker, State Police Investigator Timothy Tuttle, and Senior Investigator Steven Ryan reviewing evidence for the trial. (Zachary Meseck Photo)
State Police Investigator Terry Shultz showed text messages to the court he said police had seized from Melissa Crispell's cellphone.
Crispell, 43, was originally charged with second-degree murder – among other counts of assault and robbery – but she accepted a plea deal on May 12, 2017, she is facing 15-to-25 years in state prison and will be sentenced after Coates’ trial.
She will testify as part of the deal. According to Shultz, Crispell gave her phone to police willingly, and told them her password to access it.
Shultz testified the phone messages were sent before, during, and after the day David Green, 58, of Oxford was murdered.
Shultz said he discovered a series of text messages between Crispell and Coates on the day of the murder.
The texts were shown on a projector in court and read aloud by Shultz. According to the investigator the messages were as follows:
"Still thinking doing house tonight," sent Crispell.
"We talk about that later," responded Coates.
"Not being too bright," sent Crispell.
"Why would you even tell anyone were going to the house tonight," she added.
"I forgot, slipped my mind," Coates responded.
Shultz said two phone calls were made after the texts.
Later on the night of the murder, Shultz said more texts were sent.
"He has weed, hasn't touched mine," sent Coates.
"Turn him on lol," he added. "Well?"
"Show him your big tires," Coates sent, correcting the message a moment later. "Tits," he clarified.
"I knew what you meant," replied Crispell.
"Do him while he is having an orgasm," sent Coates.
"I don't want to wait all night, any ideas," added Coates.
According to the phone records, those were the last texts sent that night, but more continued the following morning.
"Just got home babe, text me when you can, lots of issues," said Crispell.
Shultz said multiple "affectionate," text messages were sent between the two the day after the murder.
"Shall I take part of our bounty and pick up dinner tonight," read another text also sent by Coates that day.
Defense Attorney Zachary Wentworth challenged the merits of the messages after he pointed out the text transcripts were labeled with an incorrect date, which he said was off by 2 years, dated in 2014 instead of 2016 when murder occurred.
Coates' former roommate, Randy Buck, also testified that the morning after the murder he awoke to find Crispell and Coates arriving at their home. He said he went downstairs to let them in, and then the Crispell dropped off a bag containing unknown items. He said as they entered he went back to bed.
Buck said days later he noticed the police were watching his home, and eventually during the execution of a search warrant, he was detained by police.
He said he demanded to speak to an attorney, and never received one, and after 5 hours of waiting he was released.
Buck added that once he left the building, McBride had a conversation with him about the guns and maintaining the safety of the community.
According to Buck, he was hesitant to get involved, but McBride told him he may be charged with a crime if they found the weapons in his home.
Buck then assisted police in retrieving the guns, knives, and other objects hidden in the home's attic and under the floor in the kitchen.
He testified that the photos taken of the guns on his phone were taken after he had a discussion with Coates about trading guns in place of his rent.
Buck noted that Coates has never told him that he killed anyone.
He also pointed out that the guitar in evidence belonged to him, and he said he willingly traded it to Coates for some jewelry.
Pictured: District Attorney Joseph McBride, Assistant District Attorney Laura Parker, State Police Investigator Timothy Tuttle, and Senior Investigator Steven Ryan reviewing evidence for the trial. (Zachary Meseck Photo)
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