TUCSON, Arizona (13 NEWS) – Convicted child murderer Christopher Clements’ second murder trial continues Friday, with more witnesses including his ex-girlfriend, law enforcement and medical experts stood on the witness stand.

The trial will end around 3:30 PM on Friday and will resume at 10:30 AM on Tuesday.

For more information on Friday’s testimony, scroll down to the subheading “Trial Day 4: More Witnesses.”

Background

Clements faces kidnapping and murder charges in connection with the disappearance and death of Isabel Celis in Tucson in 2012.

The case quickly gained national attention as Isabelle went missing from her bedroom more than a decade ago and communities in southern Arizona searched for her.

Despite several clues, the case was not solved until 2017. That’s when Clements’ treasurer called his FBI and told him that Clements knew where Isabel was buried.

A month later, Clements led investigators to search for Isabel’s body in a desert area near the West Avra ​​Valley and North Trico roads in rural Pima County.

Clements, who is pleading not guilty to the charges, said he had nothing to do with Isabel’s death.

A year later, Clements was indicted in connection with the deaths of Isabel and Maribel Gonzalez. Maribel’s body was found in the same area as Isabel’s.

last year, Clements is Convicted of Kidnapping and Murder of Maribel Gonzalez and was sentenced to life imprisonment. On June 3, 2014 Maribel, aged 13, went missing while walking to a friend’s house. A few days later, her body was found in a desert area near the road between Toriko and Avra ​​Valley.

Clements has already served 35 years in prison for the Maricopa County robbery.

Trial Day 4: More Witnesses

On Friday, Clement’s ex-girlfriend was back on the stand.

Stark was with Clements from 2012 to mid-2020.

Prosecutors asked Stark about some photos found on Clements’ electronics.

Starks said he could not recognize anyone from photographs of the young girl taken around Tucson.

Starks was also asked about a woman named Sarah that Clements may have met when she and Clements were dating.

Starks said he found an app he couldn’t open on Clements’ iPad. The same app was brought up during Marvielle’s death trial: a secure photo app with a passcode.

When asked directly if he ever downloaded pictures of his young children, Starks said no.

She was also asked about searches stored on Clements’ electronic device, and Starks said he never searched anything for Isabelle.

During cross-examination, Starks was asked about her criminal record and confirmed that she had been convicted of a felony.

Starks said he doesn’t remember if Clements ever spoke to her about his involvement in Isabel’s disappearance.

She said Clements had asked her to check a note under a rock in the front yard of the house.

The note allegedly had Isabel’s name, but Clements’ attorney Eric Kessler says there is no evidence it ever existed.

After Starks ran for office, the prosecution ran Tucson Police Department detective Eddie Orozco.

Orozco was there when Isabel’s remains were discovered from the roads of Avra ​​Valley and Toriko in rural Pima County.

During Orozco’s testimony, the state showed photos of Isabel’s body. At that time, her family left the court.

They returned later, but bowed their heads and did not look at the scene.

In addition to Isabelle’s small skull and other remains, investigators said they found a blanket.

During Orozco’s cross-examination, Kessler asked when detectives told Isabel’s father Sergio about her remains being finally recovered.

“Did he show emotion when you told Mr. Sellis that the remains were his daughter?” Kessler asked.

Orozco said Sergio not only showed no emotion, nor did he ask where the remains were found.

Orozco confirmed that Sergio had shown emotion, but not until he realized the discovery would affect his opera concert that night.

The state then called Dr. Jennifer Cheng to the stand. Cheng is a forensic scientist in Pima County.

She said she looked over Isabel’s remains and showed evidence of trauma that occurred at or around the time of her death.

She said it was traumatic and the way she died was murder. However, the remains were so old that there was no way to determine the cause of death.

previous coverage

• Six-year-old Isabel Celis goes missing from her family’s Tucson home
• Psychics are involved in the disappearance of Isabel Celis
• Police: CPS previously contacted Isabel Celis’ family
• Father of boy prank call apologizes to Isabel Celis family
• Neighbors heard a man’s voice near Isabel Celis’ home on the morning she disappeared
• Maribel Gonzalez’s father speaks out after body found in desert
• Friends react to Maribel Gonzalez’s suspicious death
• Police: Maribel Gonzalez murdered
• Grieving but unbroken families of murder victims speak out
• Christopher Clements Indicted in Deaths of Isabel Serris and Maribel Gonzalez
• Documents reveal chilling details about investigation of Isabel Celis, Maribel Gonzalez
• Murder suspect Christopher Clements repeatedly clashed with Tucson police
• Clements pleads not guilty to deaths of Isabel Celis, Maribel Gonzalez
• New documents reveal details of murder of two Tucson girls
• Detailed documentation hours, days and weeks after the disappearance of Isabel Serris
• Maribel Gonzalez’ best friend remembers her on graduation day
• State will not seek death penalty for man accused of murdering Isabel Celis, Maribel Gonzalez
• KOLD ONLY: Video of the Interrogation of Accused Child Murderer Christopher Clements
• KOLD ONLY: FBI interrogation video shows suspect accused of killing child tried to negotiate with special agent
• Prosecutors say photos prove Christopher Clements kidnapped and killed Isabel Celis
• Clements Convicted of Robbery in Maricopa County
• Clements, accused of Tucson child murderer, sentenced to prison in Maricopa County robbery case
• High-profile murder begins in Tucson
• Clements first murder trial jury
• Opening Statement in Clements Murder Trial
• Victim’s mother stands trial for Clements
• Ex-girlfriend of child killer continues to testify
• Clements phone shows ‘unusual activity’ on night Maribel Gonzalez disappeared
• DNA expert says Clements can’t be ruled out as a suspect
• A search of Christopher Clements’ computer revealed hundreds of erotica images of children, photographs taken of young girls around Tucson
• State files lawsuit in Clements murder trial
• The defense calls the first witness at the trial
• The defense calls only three witnesses to settle the case
• Closing arguments and case are left to the jury
• the jury cannot reach a verdict in the first full day of deliberation
• Christopher Clements convicted of kidnapping and murder
• Judge Denies Christopher Clements’ Request for Retrial
• Clements gets life in prison for Gonzalez’s death
• Jury in Christopher Clements Second Murder Trial
• Clements’ second murder trial swells with opening statement
• Isabel Celis’ father, brother stand trial for Clements’ murder
• Isabel Celis’ mother stands up for day 4

disappeared in the desert

KOLD has covered this case for years. In 2021, he released his award-winning podcast, “Disappeared in the Desert.”

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