Martinsville - On Monday, jurors serving in the Jill Behrman murder trial heard from the ex-girlfriend of the man accused of the crime. Carly Goodman testified about their breakup which happened just weeks before the Indiana University student went missing.
John Myers the Second is on trial right now, charged with killing the 19-year-old six years ago. Jurors are sequestered and working six days a week. They're hearing mostly circumstantial evidence.
Two witnesses for the prosecution took the stand Monday. The prosecution is trying to show that Myers was very familiar with rural Morgan County, where Behrman's remains were found in 2003.
Carly Goodman, who dated Myers in 1999 and 2000, said she and Myers often went on long drives together. She told the court that during one drive in 2000, Myers took her to a remote area near Paragon. It was the same area where proseuctors say Behrman's remains would be found three years later. Goodman, who testified that the drive was at night with the headlights off, said she was scared.
The judge ruled that evidence of Myers' violent dating relationship with Goodman was inadmissible. Goodman said when she broke up with Myers, he went into a rage. It was a few weeks later that Jill Behrman went missing.
A relative of John Myers, Richard Swinney, also testified. He talked about conversations he had with Myers and said that Myers often hunted near Paragon, his weapon of choice being a 12 gauge shotgun. That was the same type of weapon that investigators believe killed Jill Behrman.
A coworker of Myers will testify Monday afternoon.
Trial timeline
Day one: Prosecutors reveal Jill Behrman was shot execution-style in the head with a shotgun.
The prosecution claims John Myers abducted Behrman, forced the 19-year-old inside his Monroe County mobile home, shot her, and left her body in the woods of Morgan county. Myers' attorney told the jury authorities have the wrong man and have no solid evidence to convict him.
Jurors heard graphic descriptions of the discovery of Behrman's remains during Tuesday's testimony. A forensic archeologist testified using dozens of crime scene photos, including shotgun pellets, teeth and bones. He told the jury no clothing was found at the scene.
Jill's parents took the stand on day three. Eric Behrman testified about their daughter's love of bike-riding. He tearfully recounted the difficult day Jill went missing and the hopelessness of their search to find her. Jurors also viewed pieces of Jill's bike, found less than a mile from John Myers' home.
Thursday, Myers' defense attorney put out the theory that Jill Behrman was pregnant and involved with a married co-worker, alleging a possible motive for an alternative suspect.
That co-worker took the stand to clear his name. But the defense's description of Jill's character brought strong criticism from the Behrmans.
Myers' defense team called for a mistrial, arguing Jill's parents violated witness orders by talking to the media. The judge rejected the motion.
It was revealed Friday that Myers was a suspect in Jill Behrman's murder long before his arrest. When questioned about his alibi in 2000, Myers' response was "here or there?" Police failed to follow up on Myers until years later.
An IU pathologist testified that Berhman was likely raped because her murder fits the classic scenario of a rape homicide.
On Saturday, Myers' family members took the stand, saying a shotgun was missing from their home shortly after Jill's death. Myers' aunt and grandmother testified they had several conversations with him where he appeared to implicate himself in the murder. Myers' defense attorney says the case is based on innuendo, speculation and guesswork, none of which points he says to his client as Jill Behrman's killer.
