TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – The second murder trial against convicted child murderer Christopher Clements continues Thursday, Feb. 23, with dozens of witnesses, including the first defense attorney, taking the stand. .

For more information on Thursday’s testimony, scroll down to the section labeled “Trial Day 7: 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 some leads, the incident remained cool until 2017. That’s when Clements’ fiancé called the FBI, and she 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, at the age of 13, Maribel 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 7: More Witnesses

Clements’ attorney, Eric Kessler, called Jill Cena to the stand to open the day. Senna was a psychotherapist and neighbor of the Celis family.

The unusual move that the state had yet to finish witnessing was due to Senna’s scheduling issues.

Senna told the court that her daughter was friends with Isabel. She said she still remembers April 21, 2012, the day Isabel went missing.

She said she saw Isabel’s father Sergio riding a bicycle that day. Senna said she doesn’t remember if Sergio asked if Isabel was playing with her daughter.

The state then called FBI agent Tony Taylor to the stand.

Taylor helped the Tucson police search for Isabel.

He was Clements’ girlfriend when Melissa Stark called the FBI in 2017, and Clements said he had information about the location of Isabel’s remains.

Clements was in the Maricopa County Jail at the time for robbery.

Taylor went to talk to Clements and said he seemed to be expecting an agent.

An agreement was reached with Clements on March 2, 2017. The state said it would dismiss the unrelated charges and release the vehicle if Clements told them where Isabel’s body was.

According to Taylor, Clements gave the agent a note with Avra ​​Valley and Trico Road on it. This is where Isabel’s body was found.

Clements later went to the area with agents to show them where Isabel was buried.

The state is then called TPD Det. Jeff Lockwood.

Lockwood said investigators had examined Clements and Stark’s financial records.

They found that he spent $110 on car washes on April 21, 2012.

On May 18, 2012, Clements purchased a plane ticket and flew to Hawaii the next day.

TPD Det. The next person called was Josh Cheek. He didn’t finish his testimony on Thursday and will be back on Friday.

Teak also responded when Isabel’s body was found near the Avra ​​Valley and Toriko Road.

He said investigators were unable to find a prison call between Clements and Stark, but said it wasn’t uncommon. You can avoid tracking.

Cheek said on April 22, 2022, Clements’ mobile number stopped working and he got a new number.

He also talked about a photo of a young girl found in a hidden app on Clements’ electronic device.

He said some of the photos were taken at the Speedway and Walgreens at Cracroft.

previous article

• 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 3
• Clements ex-girlfriend stands up
• More Expert Witnesses Discuss Clements Electronics, Search History
• Mothers say they don’t know why Clements had pictures of their young daughters

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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