Jury now selected, Attkisson murder trial to commence Monday

Melissa "Lisa" Attkisson, 44, was found dead at her Berry Street home in Greencastle on Jan. 29, 2020. Investigators determined she had died of blunt force trauma and ruled her death a homicide.

Courtesy photo

With 12 jurors and three alternates now selected, the first jury trial in Putnam Superior Court in nearly two years will begin Monday.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys spent Friday narrowing a pool of more than 40 candidates to the 15 who will decide the fate of John H. Gonzalez, 30, Terre Haute.

Gonzalez is charged with murder in the Jan. 28, 2020 death of 44-year-old Melissa “Lisa” Attkisson of Greencastle.

Before jury selection began in earnest, Putnam Superior Court Judge Denny Bridges impressed upon the potential jurors in the morning session what a change it is to even be conducting a jury trial in the post-COVID-19 era.

“You are a part of history in Putnam County though not in the state of Indiana,” Bridges said. “This is the first trial we’ve had in my court since 2019.”

Still, the proceedings will look a bit different.

First of all, even jury selection itself looked different, with the potential jurors spread out in the gallery of the Putnam Superior Courtroom rather than sitting in the closer quarters of the jury box. This was to facilitate social distancing.

Furthermore, jury selection was performed in two sessions, one at 9 a.m. and another a 1 p.m., a further step to keep too many from gathering in one place.

Although Friday’s selection process took place in the normal Superior Courtroom, the trial itself will be in the smaller courtroom that normally houses Putnam Circuit Court.

With no jury box in the smaller courtroom, the jurors will sit in the “gallery” area, while an extremely limited number of others will be allowed in the room.

However, the entirety of the proceedings will be livestreamed at https://public.courts.in.gov/INCS#/, where “Putnam Superior Court - (Judge Denny Bridges)” can be selected.

The trial is on the court calendar for five days — Monday, Aug. 9 through Friday, Aug. 13 — though the judge and attorneys have said it could be over as soon as Wednesday.

Another change for COVID-19 is that the jury will not use the normal jury room between the two main courtrooms but will instead deliberate in the Magistrate Courtroom elsewhere on the third floor.

Bridges issued an order on Friday not only limiting the number of spectators to six people, but also noting that the court would make every effort to facilitate social distancing, would be livestreamed and that masks are available and encouraged, but not required.

Putnam County Prosecutor Tim Bookwalter and Deputy Prosecutor Austin Malayer represent the State of Indiana in the case.

Meanwhile, court-appointed defense attorney Jim Hanner, who has lost his voice due to a medical condition, has teamed up with fellow Parke County attorney Jim Bruner in representing Gonzalez. Bruner did nearly all of the speaking for the defense on Friday.

John Gonzalez, 30, Terre Haute, is accused of killing Melissa "Lisa" Atkisson on Jan. 28, 2020. His jury trial is set to begin on Monday, Aug. 9.

Attkisson’s body was discovered on the morning of Jan. 29, 2020, and Gonzalez was found five days later in western Illinois, near Attkisson’s stolen vehicle and in possession of several of her belongings.

Gonzalez had been living with Attkisson at the Berry Street home.

Gonzalez’s other charges include Level 6 felony auto theft, Level 6 felony theft of a firearm, Level 4 felony unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon and Level 5 felony carrying a handgun without a license with a prior felony conviction.

The Banner Graphic will be following the trial as it develops.