Trial delayed for mom, stepdad in slaying of 16-year-old daughter

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - The trial was set to begin Monday for a couple charged in the death of the woman’s daughter, but it’s been delayed.

Leon Tripp and Tanya Tripp are both charged with malice murder in the death of Latania Janell Carwell.

The trial was set to start Monday, but a surprise hearing was called at 10 a.m.

It’s the first time in years we’ve seen Leon and Tanya Tripp together in the same room. That was about the extent of we saw in court for them.

No family was present, just the two of them, law enforcement and attorneys.

Both shuffled in to stand before what they thought would be a jury in their trial for the murder of their 16-year-old daughter.

But with their hands shackled, faces stone cold and heads down avoiding eye , the couple learned their trial would have a new date.

“Your honor issued a ruling regarding the early Jackson-Denno that led to the state filing their notice to appeal and that is what has paused any possibility of a jury trial going forward today,” said Leon Tripp’s attorney, Nathanial Studelska.

The district attorney’s office filed an appeal over a decision to reject certain evidence in the trial in regard to Leon Tripp.

Until the Georgia Supreme Court makes a decision on the ruling, there is no expiration date on the Tripps stay behind bars.

It prompted both defense attorneys to question the bond.

“We are asking for a very low bond for Mr. Tripp to be out pending however long this appeal is going to take,” said Studelska.

Tanya Tripp’s attorney, Arnold Ragas, said: “We want a signature bond and allow her to live her life outside of the cage, something she hasn’t been able to do in 82 months.”

The prosecution stood strong, asking the court to protect Janell’s 14-year-old sister, by not allowing her parents out of jail.

Assistant District Attorney Deshala Dixon read a statement from the victim’s family.

“They were supposed to have been Janell’s parents. Leon failed her and Tanya completely failed her on all levels as a parent. Janell’s life was taken and then she was discarded like trash,” read Dixon.

Dixion said for the DA’s office: “Our main concern with Mrs. Tripp is the likeliness to flee and intimidation of witnesses like Mrs. Carwell and the child who at the time was 7 years old and was the sister of the victim and is now 14 years old.”

Judge Craig denied bond for Leon and Tanya saying they are still a threat to the community, both are a flight risk, and that Leon could commit additional crimes.

COURT FILINGS:

The body of 16-year-old Carwell was prosecutors believed the Tripps tried to hire a hitman to kill the teenager.

In April 2017, the 16-year-old was celebrating what should have been her sweet 16.

The Josey High School sophomore was said to have a quiet yet sweet demeanor.

Carwell lived with her mother and stepfather and then a little sister.

On April 17, her 16th birthday, Janell was reported missing by her mother, who told authorities in a frantic 911 call Leon and Janell left in the early morning hours to go help a man fix a car.

Janell never returned.

Roughly a week and a half went by and police found Leon Tripp’s white truck near the family home and then they spotted him in a grocery store in Atlanta.

By May, investigators said Janell had been kidnapped against her will by Leon Tripp.

Sheriff Richard Roundtree and his team went on a 10-month chase to find Janell.

In March of 2018, Janell’s body was found in the backyard of a home on Golden Camp road, buried in a shallow grave.

District Attorney Jared Williams says prosecutors determined the couple acted in concert to cause the death and disappearance of Carwell.

The full list of charges against both defendants are:

• Malice murder.
• Felony murder.
• Aggravated assault.
• Cruelty to children in the first degree.
• Concealing the death of another.

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