Jeremy Brilliant/Eyewitness News
Indianapolis - The trial for a man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend and disposing of her remains across the city got underway Monday.
One of the biggest challenges for the prosecution in this case is the fact that the remains of Heather Norris have never been found. Police have said all along that the suspect, 24-year-old Joshua Bean, confessed to the crimes.
Bean has been in jail more than a year awaiting trial for the charges of murder and abuse of a corpse. Police say he admitted to stabbing his girlfriend to death in his south side home, then dismembering her body.
Video from a Lowe's hardware store in Beech Grove shows Bean buying a chainsaw, a utility knife and a mop.
Bean was accused of hitting Norris on several occasions, including a 2006 arrest when she suffered a concussion. Police say the domestic abuse eventually led to the murder, then a brutal aftermath.
"Including burning her and then dismembering her and then taking different portions of evidence to different dumpster sites on the south side," said IMPD Det. Todd Lappin.
Attorneys spent Monday picking a jury, asking prospective jurors about pretrial publicity, DNA credibility and domestic violence.
Bean's neighbor is monitoring the trial closely and has doubts about Bean's alibi about cuts on his hands the day Norris disappeared.
"He came out with the story that he got attacked at his mailbox and that never happened," said Mark Mercer. "The day he said he got attacked I was sitting on my front porch. So he never got attacked at the time he said he got attacked."
Still, Mercer is somewhat surprised that Bean allegedly committed such a crime.
"He was a very well-behaved guy, he had a good job, he had everything to look forward to," he said.
Investigators believe Bean scattered Norris' remains in ten different locations. The victim's cousin says finding those locations is important.
"To locate Heather's remains - the family does need that for closure," said Teresa Dean, victim's cousin.
Heather's mother Debbie has set up a web site dedicated to her daughter's memory and dedicated to educating teens about domestic violence - and what can happen to someone who stays in an abusive relationship.
Norris' best friend had questions about their relationship, but never predicted it would lead to her death.
"I asked her to leave his house and I was never supportive of their relationship," she said.
