8 years, 2 months ago by Scott Hardy
The fate of Curtis Lovelace is in the hands of an Adams County jury. That jury of 10 women and 2 men got the case at 1:00 P.M. Thursday, nine days after they were first brought into Courtroom 2A.
The jury earlier heard closing arguments from both Special Prosecutor Ed Parkinson and defense attorney Jay Elmore. Parkinson told them that Quincy Police Detective Adam Gibson “uncovered a shoddy investigation” into Cory Lovelace’s 2006 death, and that she “died at the hands of another on the evening of Feb. 13. Parkinson also said that he didn't think Baird “tried to intentionally skew the investigation”, but that “ he “gave deference to a fellow worker.” Parkinson went on to say that Baird “should have removed himself from the case”, saying he was too close to the case. He also said that Lovelace’s “ story was manufactured” after recounting what he called numerous inconsistant statements.Parkinson closed by saying “Cory Lovelace took her last breath at the hands of another - him” and pointed at Lovelace.
Elmore’s close took over two hours. He told the jury the Lovelace’s marriage “was infused with alcohol abuse”, and recounted the children's statements about what happened during their mother’s last hours. Elmore said “I’ve never seen anything like the 360 Ed Parkinson did to Jeff Baird.” He also asked the jury “Were Curt’s actions that morning one of a guilty man or an innocent man?”
Elmore attacked the prosecution’s case, saying it had holes, and that Gibson “had no training or supervision” as he investigated the case in early 2014, and that he “embraced” Dr. Jane Turner’s finding of death by suffocation some 10-12 hours before. Elmore also speculated that “Quincy gossip” may have led to re-opening the case.
Elmore repeatedly said that Gibson and the prosecution were trying to “hoodwink” the jury, and again stessed that “to believe Dr. Turner, you have to reject the statements of the children.” He also said that “Curt had never been violent, no one has testified to that”, and that Lovelace did not testify because “ Curt’s talked enough.”
Parkinson responded by saying “We’re not trying to hoodwink you, we're trying to find justice for Cory Lovelace.” He finished by saying “Listen to Cory - she did not have to leave this earth at age 38.”
Lovelace, if convicted, could get from 20 - 60 years in prison.
