Drew FavakehSavannah Morning News
This column is part of a weekly roundup of notable grand jury indictments and court decisions, following through on cases reported by Savannah Morning News public safety reporter Drew Favakeh. If there are cases you're curious about, email Drew at AFavakeh@savannahnow.com.
Motion filed in Leilani Simon case
On June 15, attorneys for Leilani Simon, the mother charged with malice murder in the death of her son, 20-month-old Quinton Simon, filed a motion to quash a subpoena that is seeking her journals and diaries. Chatham Public Defender Robert Attridge argued that the journals and diaries are protected by the United States Constitution.
A motion hearing is scheduled for July 21.
Questions Arise: Savannah Police detective under review over search warrants in Charles Vinson murder case
Murder charges dropped against Marquis Parrish
On June 16, Chatham County Assistant District Attorney Brian DeBlasiis dropped murder charges against Marquis Parrish. Parrish had been charged in the 2021 murder of 23-year-old Charles Vinson.
In May, the Savannah Police Department launched an internal investigation into Detective Ashley Wood for falsifying information, including security footage and text messages, in multiple search warrant applications tied to the murder investigation, which led to the arrest of Parrish. But both Parrish's defense lawyer and the assistant district attorney working the case asserted in previous court filings that Parrish was not present in the security footage.
The court filing reads that “the state believes that the defendant was truthful and, as a result, does not believe it can prove the charges against him beyond a reasonable doubt," the court filing reads. "The defendant’s interview has also aided the State in its evaluation and determination of the facts of this case. Further, the State acknowledges that in light of new information, the defendant has a reasonable chance of prevailing on his motion to suppress.”
Wood remains on administrative leave.
Roundup: Four murder suspects re-indicted, one murder suspect indicted
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Homicide: Savannah Police investigate fatal shooting of 26-year-old man on West Park Avenue
Motion made to protect integrity of trial proceedings in murder case
Ahead of the June 20 jury trial of Herschel Orr and Vincent Truesdale for the murder of Gary Pitts, Chatham County assistant district attorneys Whitney Gregory and Brian DeBlasiis filed a motion for appropriate measures to ensure the integrity of trial proceedings.
Those measures include:
- Not livestreaming the trial;
- Prohibiting the use of cellphones;
- Prohibiting certain members of the defendants’ family and associates from the courtroom;
- Metal detection at the doors;
- Any other measures the court deems appropriate.
The measures stem from courtroom interruptions that occurred in late May and mid-June.
During a May 24 trial proceeding, Gregory and DeBlasiis noticed a flash out of the corner of their eyes. They turned around and saw a Black male in a black T-shirt pointing his phone at Gregory. He snapped a picture. During a break, ADA Claire Farley reported the interruption to the courtroom deputy. The man stayed in the courtroom for part of the trial, but walked out when he was confronted by another courtroom deputy.
During jury selection on June 14, the man was again in the audience. “He was staring at the State in an intimidating manner frequently,” according to the court filing. The lead detective also noticed the same man, according to the court filing. After the trial, courtroom deputies confronted him again and made him delete the pictures.
That same night, a jail call between Vincent Truesdale, a defendant in the trial, and his aunt, revealed Truesdale referencing one of their “associates” nearly getting arrested for taking pictures during the trial. The State is currently trying to identify the man by his legal name.
On June 15, the court also struck a juror from the jury because they suspected that she knew Truesdale, although she denied knowing him.
That night, in another jail call from Truesdale, this time with his mother, Truesdale’s mom mentioned how a lot of people on the jury knew her, but they didn’t say anything.
Other juror issues persist.
“During pre-trial witness meetings, the State observed noticeably nervous witnesses who were afraid of the defendants and their associates and the consequences of testifying. Several witnesses expressed hesitation because of the consequences they may face in the street. One witness mentioned things being posted on Facebook. That witness and others were concerned the courtroom would be open to the public and that the case would be livestreamed.
Trial transcripts aren’t publicly available yet.
