Kidnap-Killing Trials For 2 Won’t Be Moved

Trials for two teenagers accused of the kidnap-slaying of a Spokane woman will not be moved out of Spokane County - at least for now.

Defense attorney John Rodgers asked Superior Court Judge Tari Eitzen to move the trial for Jerry Boot, claiming there was so much publicity about the killing his client could not get a fair trial.

Boot’s cousin, Kevin Boot, also is accused in the crime.

Both are charged with first-degree aggravated murder and will be tried as adults: Kevin Boot in February and Jerry Boot in March.

Eitzen rejected Rodger’s request, but said she will ask for an unusually large pool of potential jurors from which to choose.

If it proves impossible to find impartial jurors, Eitzen said she will shift the trials to King County.

The Boots are charged with abducting Felicia Reese, 22, last December, as she arrived at the Sheraton-Spokane Hotel for a Christian conference.

Police say they forced her into the back seat of her car, robbed her of $43 and drove to Minihaha Park, where one of them shot her in the head.

Each of the cousins blames the other for firing the fatal shot.

, DataTimes