(La Junta, CO) -- Today in the murder trial of Edward Aragon, a jury packed their things, received their certificate of service and did not get to deliver a verdict in the trial that has consumed the last two and a half weeks of their lives. Judge Michael Davidson gathered the jury today in an Otero County District court room to tell them it has been discovered that evidence held by the Rocky Ford Police was lost or missing. Judge Davidson said that evidence that was missing reappeared on Tuesday of this week. Further, it was discovered that a Federal investigation was ongoing where investigators in that case had in their possession the evidence log for the Rocky Ford Police Department. Judge Davidson told the jury there were too many questions, such as how was the evidence lost and how it it reappear? Davidson stated he felt it affected fairness and the defense asked for a mistrial. As Judge Davidson granted the mistrial he told the jury this is the fault of the Rocky Ford Police Department.
Davidson told the jury he appreciates the hard work and time they put into the trial and met with them afterward in another courtroom to answer any questions they had.
It was decided that Aragon would be released into the custody of the Otero County Sheriff. A new jury trial for him was put on the books to begin June 15th of 2022.
Judge Michael Davidson is a judge in the 15th Judicial District and was selected to hear this trial in the 16th judicial district.
~Anne Boswell
###