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I’ve written a couple posts and shared them here on the disappearance of Danielle T. Brown and the arrest of the man believed to have been responsible. However, I want to share another one. Leon Co., Fl police have charged Danielle’s alleged killer, Elijah James, with first degree murder but at this time he is fighting to have his arson trial verdict, in the state of Georgia, overturned.
Danielle’s demise happened sometime after 11:30 PM Friday, February 5, 2010 and before 5AM on Saturday, February 6, 2010. Danielle and Elijah had been friends since 2006, and were allegedly once intimately involved. Mr. James has a history of arrest for drugs and other offenses (allegedly including violent crimes) before and since they had become friends.
Elijah’s prior drug arrest doesn’t reflect on the person Danielle was though.
The night of February 5, Danielle was taking Elijah to a residence that belonged to his mother on Kings Post Way located in northeast Leon Co., FL off Miccosukee Road. Come to discover, this residence was allegedly empty and had no working utilities; which begs the question - why did Elijah want her to take him there? Did he know his mother no longer lived at the house and was in fact living in Pavo, GA? Did he really intend residing at that home since she’d advised him he was no longer welcome to stay at her and her mother’s house with them? Or was it a ruse to cause Danielle to disappear? It’s been said dissidence existed between the two on that fateful day. Reportedly, the Leon Co., police did find some things belonging to Danielle scattered in the yard at that house. And too, when her cousin called Danielle at or about 11:40 the night of Feb 5 she stated she could overhear Danielle and Elijah arguing. Allegedly, the phone call was abruptly disconnected; voice mail answered any later calls to Danielle’s cell.
Mr. James was apparently as busy as a bee that early morning of Feb 6, 2010 as his lawyers have been since his arrest for arson, and since his trial and sentencing. During those early morning hours February 5, 2010 he allegedly managed to take Danielle’s life, hide her body and pick up his cousin before driving her car to a store and buying beer. Was it celebration time? It was said that he was pushing stuff around on the back seat and advised his cousin to wait before getting in the car - so, was he covering up the blood later discovered inside the car? From Feb 6 early morning hours and Monday, Feb 8 2010, Mr. James had a grand time visiting family, sleeping and going to the Lowe’s store with family members to purchase, a gas can, a sponge, the carpet cleaner, a bottle of windex cleaner, a new chainsaw, pair of gloves, trash bags and a shovel. The new chainsaw was said to have been needed for his work as a tree doctor.
During this time he had possession of Danielle’s car.
We know that because he’s seen on the store camera video when he and his cousin purchased beer. Oddly at some point in time Monday the 8th, Mr. James was no longer in her car, he was seen walking near the Pavo, GA dump; Danielle’s car was found at the dump burned. How, I ask how did he lose possession of the car Monday? Some unknown person or persons stole it from the family member’s home where he was and took it for a joy ride then drove it to the dump and torched it? I highly doubt that scenario. Forensic evidence during his arson trial in GA showed they discovered blood inside the car trunk and in the interior. Also, a gas nozzle was found in the car inside a sponge. Ut-oh, Mr. James just happened to have needed a sponge and gotten one at Lowe’s along with a gas can! That is evidence of guilt to me.
Although defense tried, the ‘someone else did it because two other people were seen in the car’ strategy, Elijah James was found guilty of theft and arson and sentenced to 20 years in a Georgia prison. However, his court dates are far from over; he has a first degree murder trial to attend. Despite Danielle’s body not having been discovered yet or how the appeals process goes in his bid for a new trial, he will go to trial in Leon Co., Florida for Danielle’s murder.
In Mr. James’s bid for a new trial, in GA., he says the verdict in his arson trial is contrary to evidence and no evidence supports the verdict and sentence that he was given. (Boy do I smile at that piece of astoundingly ridiculous defense news!) I hope Superior Court Judge James E. Hardy will see through the illogical aspect of that claim and deny his motion at the hearing set for June 13, 2011 at the Jail-Justice Center courtroom. If the judge does decide he deserves a new trial then, sadly, they will likely delay the murder trial.
Elijah James really needs to make up his mind about that car. His claim was, (when LE spoke to him during their search for her as a missing person) that Danielle dropped him off at the house off Miccosukee, Rd., in Leon County and left driving her car. He said he then hitchhiked and a white man who only called himself Chuck picked him up on Miccosukee Rd. and gave him a lift to Pavo, GA. I asked myself then and still do ask, if that is a truth then how did he regain possession of Danielle’s Buick LeSabre? He was surely in her car when he picked up his cousin and at that store buying beer. If she was alive and gave him permission, then why was her blood found all inside it? Why was a piece of her driving license, and her cell phone found on the side of the road in GA?
I await a date being set for this murder trial and Justice for Danielle T. Brown.
The previous posts can be located here:
http://tigresspenssurmisals.blogspot.com/2010/03/disappearance-of-danielle-t-brown.html
http://tigresspenssurmisals.blogspot.com/2010/08/danielle-t-brown-may-have-justice-after.html
The hearing that was set for earlier this month was postponed. No new date has been set for it yet that I can find.
ReplyDeleteMaybe one day he'll go before a jury for Danielle's muder. At the speed justice is driving at this time it could be sometime in 2012 before that takes place though.
TigressPen
James next hearing with the trial for murder of Danielle is set for Sept 30th. 2011. I hope a trial date is set soon. He is still fighting the 20 year sentence with the arson of the car in GA...
ReplyDeleteTigressPen
It feels good to finally add a trial date for Danielle's alleged killer. James goes to trial for first degree murder in Florida on May 7, 2012. This is a death penalty trial.
ReplyDeleteOur sweet Danielle did not deserve to die bc she befriended a psycho liar, fool and a disappointment to God himself. I know our butterfly is flying with her true angel friends...and family...she was loved.
ReplyDeleteI think of Danielle often Anonymous. And look forward to the day she gets justice. I have no doubt they have her killer charged and in jail. He can appeal and reappeal the arson trial verdict all he wants. It doesn't change the facts.
ReplyDeleteTigressPen
I am so thrilled Elijah will be brought to trial in Florida for Danielle's death in May of 2012.
ReplyDeleteI was saddened when the search of Loveridge Plantation in March came up empty. I was so hoping Danielle's body would be discovered.
ReplyDeleteI posted back in Feb of this year that ELijah's trial was to be this month but it's been set for Oct this year.
ReplyDeleteI keep hoping for justice for Danielle. Maybe in Oct that justice will happen.
The trial has been reset for Jan 28 2013. I so pray for justice for Danielle. She has gotten so justice with the arson trial but justice for her death awaits. Who else could have killed her? Elijah was in her car, he did not catch a ride with the elusive Chuck. Her blood was found in her car. And no one has seen her but him since she left her home with him.
ReplyDeleteTigressPen
I want to try and keep information concerning progress of the trial on this post - trial starts next week- unfortunately I am typing one handed due to broken wrist on left hand and I have a cast ( makes use of fingers clumsy). I will add what I can though. I pray Danielle finally has justice served to her. Pray James will tell where he dumped her body too.
ReplyDeleteTigresspen
The trial was delayed again. Apparently one of James' lawyers has a client set to be put to death in Feb and he needs to appeal this clients sentence. The trial was reset for March 25.
ReplyDeleteJury selection begins today! YAY!! Praying for justice for Danielle.
ReplyDeleteApparently when 27 of 50 potential jurors were questioned by judge concerning knowledge of this case all said they knew nothing. That is good. Maybe we'll have 12 jurors with no preconcieved notions and they will listen attentively to evidence presented.
ReplyDeleteabove post was by me: TigressPen
ReplyDeletenote: noticed typo should be 'preconceived' not preconcieved.
Defense began the day asking for a mistrial and a redo of jury selection. They claimed a pattern of excluding blacks due to three potential jurors saying they didn't believe in DP. Judge denied the request. I think if there had been a pattern by State the judge would have put a stop to it during jury selection.
ReplyDeleteCampbell, the Pros handling the case summed up their DNA evidence in OS. He said Dnaielle's blood was discovered on King's Post Way as was some personal items belonging to her. Also, they found Brown's blood in the drivers seat and in trunk of her Buick. Apparently her blood had soaked all the way through the floor to the steel below. Moreover, both James and Brown's DNA were found on the pressure washer and a log chain as well as on the spade of the shovel. Remember James bought a shovel at Lowe's that weekend. Guess he threw it on top Danielle's blood when he put it in the car.
Defense told jurors not to rely on assumptions, no body, no cause of death. HA!! I think all the blood inside her car, her torn DL with his DNA on it. A button from her jeans found at King's Post Way and video of him Driving into Circle K grocery without Danielle in car, shows something happened. A struggle. And she died. You don't need a body to prove death.
Danielle's sister testified Danielle and Elijah were arguing as he loaded his possessions in her car that fateful night. Danielle drove with James in back seat.
ReplyDeleteShe said on Sunday James told her that Danielle had dropped him off on King Post Way then left to met a man at Dutch Inn.
If she dropped him off and hitch hiked to GA as he told LE he had but was picked up by a white man named Chuck, how did he end with her car at Circle K in the early hours of Sat morning.
Was a very interesting day in court yesterday. Danielle's mother, sister and cousin testified. The cousin said she was supoose to meet Danielle that night and they were to have drinks and go dancing with a couple men. She called Danielle's cell and was told by Danielle was angry and taking James to King's Post Way and she'd met her afterward. The cousin said Dnaielle always called her before and after a date but that night didn't. Mom testified that Danielle was angry with James because she'd told him to move out her home but when she arrived home that night he was still there and asleep in her bed. The two argued.
ReplyDeleteJames is claiming innoncence. He is saying someone else, one of her other men friends, must have caused Danielle to go missing that night.
Today was a day of Elijah James family sitting in witness chair. But too, Sgt. Reeves gave testimony. Reeves told the jurors about his interview with James a few days after Danielle went missing. James advised him that Danielle had dropped him off on King Post Way and driven off in her car alone. James said he had been with a couple people named Roscoe and Patricia before paying Chuck to take him to Pavo, GA at his mother's house. (He was telling his family a different story) The Prosecutor played the tape from James and his cousin Solomon Mills' visit to Circle K between 5:30 and 6 AM on Feb. 6, 2010 (Danielle went missing on night of Feb 5, 2010)
ReplyDeleteMills testified it was him and Elijah in the store. They bought beer and cigarettes, James paid cash for the purchase. Afterward the two went back to Mills home and James counted his money. He said it was $980.00. (James is charged with theft- police believe he stole the money from Danielle) Mills told the court that James had said he and Danielle had an altercation. Sadly, he didn't say James advised he'd killed her. But when they left for the store to make their purchas he said James had driver's door and back door of the car. James told him to wait a minute and was doing something in the back seat - spreading something over the back seat. James' sisters also testified. Each told of his coming to their home.
Rebecca said he showed at her home early Sat morning around 8:30, he was driving a silver Buick and parked in back. Rebecca said James went with them to get haircuts and asked to go to Lowe's. He bought a shovel, a chain saw and some gloves. On the way home he stopped at Citgo and got a gas can and filled it with gas. When the arrived back James put his purchases in back of the silver car. Of interest is that he also told them he dropped Danielle off at a Motel and she was suppose to call him.
His younger sister told that James came to their home, where she lives with their mother, and said he and Danielle had broken up and he needed a place to stay for a while. He also cleaned the yard and burned debris.
TigressPen
Much has been heard so far today in the trial. From fire marshall investigator to James's cousin and an inmate telling jurors what EJ said he did with Danielle the night she disappeared. The fire investigator told the jurors what he collected from Danielle's car, how it was burned and that the license plate was missing plus VIN number was removed. He aslo went to EJ's mother's Pavo, GA home and collected evidence including samples from a burn pile and clothing, a pair of camoflauge pants, a brown hoodie, work boots, two sweat shirts and other items from one of the bedrooms. Remember his sis, the one who live swith his mother, testified EJ was cleaning up the yard and had a burn pile going when she arrived home from work. it is possible he burned his clothing from the fight he had with Danielle. We haven't heard what forensics, if anything was relevant, found from the burn pile evidence yet...
ReplyDeleteAn inmate named Walden testified that James admitted to him He'd killed Danielle and went on to describe how he had fought with her, had sex then killed her and fed her body to hogs. He also allegedly told Walden he'd burned his clothes. Also, EJ's cousin Eugene talked with EJ while they were in jail and EJ told him he'd chopped her body up and fed it to hogs. He'd made a statement, 'they'll never find her' he didn't know why they kept looking for her.
The hog testimony makes me feel physically ill. I wonder is Elijah James psychopathic?
They had CAs, deliberations, more motions and a verdict today in the trial. The defense played down the murder portion of Danielle's death in their CA. They said it was excusable because she screamed at him, called him a racial slur and made him feel a second class citizen. HOG WASH!! (excuse the Hog word since he allegedly fed her to hogs) ... but that 'excusable' ascertions just angers me.
ReplyDeleteWhile jurors were in delibs defense asked that EJ be elvaluated by a psychologist because he has shown signs of decreased IQ. They didn't want DP if he was found to be guilty of 1st degree.
Well he wasn't - jury came back with guilty of second degree murder and guilty of robbery. The 2nd degree murder comes with a mandatory life sentence. Sadly, I don't think that is LWOP.
Above post at 5:28 PM was made by me- TigressPen
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