Early 2012 Updates on Baby Kate: Delays and Get Aways

[XLFD]

In today's local media, there were two local updates on the Baby Kate case.  It looks as if WMOM had the first posting of the story, followed by WOOD and then the LDN (on the web).  I am glad our Daily News gets updates from other sources.  Here is what WOOD says:

 

With no reason revealed, the Mason County Circuit Court confirmed the trial for Sean Phillips, accused in the disappearance of his baby girl, Katherine Phillips, has been delayed.

The trial for Phillips was scheduled to begin January 17. Phillips is charged with unlawful imprisonment and parental kidnapping. There is no new date set for the trial.

Baby Kate, as she came to be called, was 4 1/2 months old when she last was seen June 29, 2011 with Phillips. Baby Kate lived with her mother Ariel Courtland at the time.

Phillips remains in jail on a $250,000 bond. He rejected a plea deal in October. He could face up to 15 years behind bars if convicted.

 

WMOM alone also reports that:

 

It wasn't a joyous holiday vacation for everyone.  Over the Christmas break, Ariel Courtland, the mother of missing Baby Kate, was granted a personal protective order.  Her complaint states that April Reynolds of Grand Rapids has threatened violence and harassed her.  It says that since July of last year, Ms. Reynolds has posted inflammatory information on a Facebook page.

That page was taken down over the New Year's weekend.

It included posts with interpretation of alleged facts that have yet been proven in the disappearance case of Baby Kate.  Courtland claims that Reynolds called her over 30 times on Christmas Eve.

Reynolds was involved in the candlelight vigil in September and "protests" at the county jail on Halloween.  Sources tell MOM news that the police have intervened but have not yet commented on the PPO issued to Ariel Courtland.

 

April has posted on here that this article is not totally true.  I would not be surprised if it wasn't, I have heard PPOs can be gotten without much burden of proof of anything.  But I invite any or all parties in that disputation of facts to present their claim or their defense, and offer any corroborating evidence.  I would also like to find out the reason for all the delays and the lack of information released about mundane aspects of this case to the public at large.  I can see why many people are just getting frustrated over it all.

[Willy]

I for one will be glad to see this finally going to trial. This has turned into a circus. Someone knows where the baby is but they're not talking. I hope there will be a Perry Mason moment where someone blurts out a confession. I see three scenarios as to what transpired regarding the baby's disappearance. 1. The father flipped out in a moment of anger and possibly fatally injured the child. 2. Foul play has befallen the baby by the Mother and the father is taking the fall to protect her. 3. The father gave the child to a third party for whatever reason. The sooner the courtroom drama starts the sooner this will be over. Of course we can't count on news reports from the LDN so I'm guessing we will have to get information regarding the trial from other sources.

[SomethingCompletelyDifferent]

I think the trial will be interesting but we know that Sean isn't going to take the stand and incriminate himself by revealing Baby Kate's whereabouts, and Ariel hasn't budged in that he was the last one with her, so I predict he will walk and we will never know where Kate is.

My speculation (and prayer) has been and still is that she is safe with another family somewhere, having been either illegally adopted or sold outright by her parent(s). Either way, as it appears from all we now know about her home situation, I can only hope she is safer and happier than she would have ever been here with her biological family.

[XLFD]

Amen, Miss Different.  Jury selection started at 9 AM today; I earlier misstated that the jury had been selected, but that was for another trial.

[masonco]

Willy

I'm thinking (hoping?) it is number 3

[Robert]

I don't know much about this case, not ready to study it but am I the only one that finds it odd? I can't imagine the whereabouts of this child remains unknown or the actual charges brought. Is it just me?

[XLFD]

Here's WOOD TV's take on the case filed by Leon Hendrix earlier today.  WOOD has been following this closely since day 1, and even though they are 100 miles away, they've been the most on target throughtout.

The accompanying article says the jury was seated today, and the trial will resume at 9:30 AM tomorrow with the swearing in of the jury, and the opening statements.  Folks who have kept on this case, really know little more than what you do, Robert.  It is extra intriguing because of the mystery and the lack of any solid evidence against Phillips or anyone else.

Community wants answers about Baby Kate: woodtv.com

 

[masonco]

I was just coming here to provide a link to this video. I can't get sound on my computer, so beyond reading lips could not hear video.

[XLFD]

Unless your sound system has been frazzled, you should be able to get that corrected by a computer techie, Masonco.  I believe the link to the article is just below the video above, if you can't hear the video. 

[masonco]

I keep hoping to get a computer guy to come out and fix my computers. It is a matter of getting $$$. I have an XP and it needs updating.

I read the article. The Mason County Press had lots of updates today on Facebook. If it was Rob Alaway doing the reporting, he did a great job...more than TV did and of course much more than LDN.

[XLFD]

Both Rob (w/camera hanging) and Lisa Enos (seated) representing MCP were present as shown in this photo (courtesy of WOOD).  I noticed how he was standing a little away from the LDN's Jeff Kiessel

[masonco]

I did not get any updates today though, I wonder why?

[Willy]

Whoever took this photo was getting eyeballed by the models. Was that you X? Did you make more friends that day?