Jennifer Webb Murder Case Links
Preliminary hearing postponed for suspended police officer charged in pregnant woman's death
MLive
September 19, 2011
http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2011/09/preliminary_hearing_postponed_1.html
SAGINAW — The suspended Buena Vista Township police officer charged in the Aug. 30 strangulation death of the pregnant Jennifer M. Webb will have to wait until next month to hear prosecutors’ evidence against him.
Kenneth T. Bluew, 36, appeared late this morning before Saginaw County District Judge Christopher S. Boyd for his pre-hearing conference.
Bluew, who lives in Saginaw Township, hired Saginaw attorney Rod O’Farrell to defend him.
O’Farrell made his first appearance for Bluew today, however, so he has yet to receive most of the discovery material that prosecutors possess. As a result, Boyd postponed Bluew’s preliminary hearing that was scheduled for Thursday.
The preliminary hearing is intended for the judge to determine whether probable cause exists for trial in Circuit Court.
Bluew is charged with first-degree premeditated murder, assault against a pregnant individual intentionally causing miscarriage or stillbirth of a fetus or embryo, and two counts of possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Boyd scheduled a new pre-hearing conference for Oct. 3, at which point O’Farrell and county Prosecutor Michael D. Thomas and Chief Assistant Prosecutor Jeffrey D. Stroud will meet to determine whether the discovery disclosure process is complete. Boyd then would schedule a preliminary hearing.
The 32-year-old Webb’s body was found by Buena Vista Police Officer Tim Patterson before midnight at Hack and North Outer, west of the Buena Vista Police Department gun range. Investigators believe Bluew strangled Webb and that “the death of the child was predictable,” Thomas said.
The prosecutor said investigators believe Bluew “was armed, being a police officer on duty” when the incident occurred.
If convicted of first-degree murder, Bluew would face a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. If he were to be acquitted of the charge or convicted of a lesser charge, he still would face a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted of the assault charge.
Bluew remained jailed today in the Gratiot County Jail.
Suspended Buena Vista Township police officer Kenneth Bluew listens during his pre-hearing conference in front of Saginaw County District Judge Christopher S. Boyd at the Saginaw County Governmental Center, 111 S. Michigan in Saginaw. Bluew is charged in the August 30 strangulation of the pregnant Jennifer Webb.[Jeff Schrier. The Saginaw News].
SAGINAW — The suspended Buena Vista Township police officer charged in the Aug. 30 strangulation death of the pregnant Jennifer M. Webb will have to wait until next month to hear prosecutors’ evidence against him.
Kenneth T. Bluew, 36, appeared late this morning before Saginaw County District Judge Christopher S. Boyd for his pre-hearing conference.
Bluew, who lives in Saginaw Township, hired Saginaw attorney Rod O’Farrell to defend him.
O’Farrell made his first appearance for Bluew today, however, so he has yet to receive most of the discovery material that prosecutors possess. As a result, Boyd postponed Bluew’s preliminary hearing that was scheduled for Thursday.
The preliminary hearing is intended for the judge to determine whether probable cause exists for trial in Circuit Court.
Bluew is charged with first-degree premeditated murder, assault against a pregnant individual intentionally causing miscarriage or stillbirth of a fetus or embryo, and two counts of possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Boyd scheduled a new pre-hearing conference for Oct. 3, at which point O’Farrell and county Prosecutor Michael D. Thomas and Chief Assistant Prosecutor Jeffrey D. Stroud will meet to determine whether the discovery disclosure process is complete. Boyd then would schedule a preliminary hearing.
The 32-year-old Webb’s body was found by Buena Vista Police Officer Tim Patterson before midnight at Hack and North Outer, west of the Buena Vista Police Department gun range. Investigators believe Bluew strangled Webb and that “the death of the child was predictable,” Thomas said.
The prosecutor said investigators believe Bluew “was armed, being a police officer on duty” when the incident occurred.
If convicted of first-degree murder, Bluew would face a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. If he were to be acquitted of the charge or convicted of a lesser charge, he still would face a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted of the assault charge.
Bluew remained jailed today in the Gratiot County Jail.
Suspended Buena Vista Township police officer Kenneth Bluew leaves the courtroom after his pre-hearing conference in front of Saginaw County District Judge Christopher S. Boyd at the Saginaw County Governmental Center, 111 S. Michigan in Saginaw. Bluew is charged in the August 30 strangulation of the pregnant Jennifer Webb. [Jeff Schrier. The Saginaw News]
Suspended Buena Vista Township police officer Kenneth Bluew, right, and his attorney Rod O'Farrell listen during Bluew's pre-hearing conference in front of Saginaw County District Judge Christopher S. Boyd at the Saginaw County Governmental Center, 111 S. Michigan in Saginaw. Bluew is charged in the August 30 strangulation of the pregnant Jennifer Webb. [Jeff Schrier. The Saginaw News]
Preliminary hearing for suspended police officer charged in pregnant woman's death set for Oct. 20
The Saginaw News
The Saginaw News
October 03, 2011
http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2011/10/preliminary_hearing_for_suspen.html
SAGINAW — Authorities are scheduled to present their evidence against the suspended Buena Vista Township police officer accused of killing the pregnant Jennifer M. Webb on Oct. 20.
Kenneth T. Bluew, 36, appeared today for a prehearing conference before Saginaw County District Judge Christopher S. Boyd.
Prior to speaking in the courtroom, the judge met with Bluew’s attorney, Rod O’Farrell, and county Prosecutor Michael D. Thomas to discuss discovery and scheduling issues.
After meeting for at least 30 minutes, Boyd and the attorneys came back to the courtroom and said they expected any outstanding discovery materials to be delivered before an Oct. 20 preliminary hearing date they discussed in Boyd’s chambers.
The preliminary hearing is intended for the judge to determine whether probable cause exists for trial in Circuit Court.
Bluew, who lives in Saginaw Township, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder, assault against a pregnant individual intentionally causing miscarriage or stillbirth of a fetus or embryo, and two counts of possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony.
The 32-year-old Webb's body was found by Buena Vista Police Officer Tim Patterson before midnight Aug. 30 at Hack and North Outer, west of the Buena Vista police gun range.
Investigators believe Bluew strangled Webb. Webb was eight months pregnant.
County Prosecutor Michael D. Thomas has said investigators believe Bluew was on duty during the killing.
Bluew first appeared before Boyd on Sept. 19 with O’Farrell and waived his right to have a preliminary hearing within 14 days of his arraignment to allow O’Farrell more time to prepare. He appeared today in a similar orange and white Gratiot County Jail jumpsuit, speaking only quietly after the conference with O'Farrell.
If convicted of first-degree murder, Bluew would face a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. If he is acquitted of the charge or convicted of a lesser charge, he still would face a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted of the assault charge.
Bluew remained jailed today at the Gratiot County Jail.
Suspended Buena Vista Township Police Officer Kenneth Bluew listens during his Sept. 19 prehearing conference before Saginaw County District Judge Christopher S. Boyd. Bluew is charged in the Aug. 30 death of the pregnant Jennifer Webb.
SAGINAW — Authorities are scheduled to present their evidence against the suspended Buena Vista Township police officer accused of killing the pregnant Jennifer M. Webb on Oct. 20.
Kenneth T. Bluew, 36, appeared today for a prehearing conference before Saginaw County District Judge Christopher S. Boyd.
Prior to speaking in the courtroom, the judge met with Bluew’s attorney, Rod O’Farrell, and county Prosecutor Michael D. Thomas to discuss discovery and scheduling issues.
After meeting for at least 30 minutes, Boyd and the attorneys came back to the courtroom and said they expected any outstanding discovery materials to be delivered before an Oct. 20 preliminary hearing date they discussed in Boyd’s chambers.
The preliminary hearing is intended for the judge to determine whether probable cause exists for trial in Circuit Court.
Bluew, who lives in Saginaw Township, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder, assault against a pregnant individual intentionally causing miscarriage or stillbirth of a fetus or embryo, and two counts of possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony.
The 32-year-old Webb's body was found by Buena Vista Police Officer Tim Patterson before midnight Aug. 30 at Hack and North Outer, west of the Buena Vista police gun range.
Investigators believe Bluew strangled Webb. Webb was eight months pregnant.
County Prosecutor Michael D. Thomas has said investigators believe Bluew was on duty during the killing.
Bluew first appeared before Boyd on Sept. 19 with O’Farrell and waived his right to have a preliminary hearing within 14 days of his arraignment to allow O’Farrell more time to prepare. He appeared today in a similar orange and white Gratiot County Jail jumpsuit, speaking only quietly after the conference with O'Farrell.
If convicted of first-degree murder, Bluew would face a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. If he is acquitted of the charge or convicted of a lesser charge, he still would face a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted of the assault charge.
Bluew remained jailed today at the Gratiot County Jail.
Saginaw News reporter to cover suspended police officer's hearing on murder charge live on Twitter
The Saginaw News
The Saginaw News
October 19, 2011
http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2011/10/saginaw_news_reporter_to_cover.html
SAGINAW — Saginaw News reporter Andy Hoag will be live on Twitter covering Thursday’s preliminary hearing for the suspended Buena Vista Township police officer accused of killing the pregnant Jennifer M. Webb.
Kenneth T. Bluew, 36, is scheduled to appear before Saginaw County District Judge Christopher S. Boyd at 9:30 a.m. for the hearing, where Boyd will hear prosecutors’ evidence against Bluew and determine whether probable cause exists for trial in Circuit Court.
Hoag will be providing coverage of the hearing via Twitter. Click here to follow Hoag’s courtroom coverage.
Bluew, who lives in Saginaw Township, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder, assault against a pregnant individual intentionally causing miscarriage or stillbirth of a fetus or embryo, and two counts of possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony.
The 32-year-old Webb's body was found by Buena Vista Police Officer Tim Patterson before midnight Aug. 30 at Hack and North Outer, west of the Buena Vista police gun range.
Investigators believe Bluew strangled Webb. Webb was eight months pregnant. County Prosecutor Michael D. Thomas has said investigators believe Bluew was on duty during the killing.
Boyd also will determine whether he will grant Bluew’s request for pre-trial release, which his attorney, Rod O’Farrell, asked for Monday.
If convicted of first-degree murder, Bluew would face a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. If he is acquitted of the charge or convicted of a lesser charge, he still would face a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted of the assault charge.
Bluew remained jailed today at the Gratiot County Jail.
SAGINAW COUNTY, MI (WNEM) - Bluew is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Jennifer Webb and her unborn child.
Webb was eight months pregnant when her body was discovered in late August near a police shooting range.
According to court documents acquired by TV5, Bluew's attorney has requested Pre-Trial release of his client. Furthermore, his wife has filed for divorce. If Bluew is released, he would be staying with his cousin Sonya Lass.
Bluew has a long law enforcement history in the Mid-Michigan area. He was employed with the Saginaw County Sheriff's Department from 1997 until being hired by Buena Vista in 1999. He served as the Chief of Police for Tittabawassee Township from 2006 until February 2008, when he returned to the Buena Vista Police Department.
WNEM TV5's Liz Gelardi was in the courtroom all morning and tweeted new information in the case. Several witnesses were expected to testify against Bluew, including the Buena Vista Township Police Chief.
Here are her tweets verbatim:
-- Jenny Webb's best friend is on the stand testifying. She was the last person to see Webb alive. Prosecutor Mike Thomas held up evidence - Jenny Webb's favorite necklace. Her friend said she wore it the night she died.
-- Employee from trucking co on Outer Dr taking stand. It is located near site where Webb's body was found. Trucking employee says he saw a Buena Vista Police car in the area that night, heading North.
-- Buena Vista Police Officer is testifying. He was working that evening of Aug 30th. Officer on the stand is describing a period of time when central dispatch could not reach Officer Bluew.
-- BV Officer Patterson says when he drove to Outer Dr he saw Officer Bluew. Says Bluew was "sweating bullets."
-- Shocking: Officer Ken Bluew, the one who is charged with murder, took pics of the crime scene. At the time police thought it was a suicide.
-- Prosecutor Thomas is showing pics of a deceased Jenny Webb with an extension cord around the neck. Pics taken by Officer Bluew.
-- It took 15-20 mins after Jenny Webb's body was discovered before anyone realized Bluew knew her. He didn't say so until asked.
SAGINAW — Follow live coverage of this morning’s preliminary hearing for the suspended Buena Vista Township police officer accused of killing the pregnant Jennifer M. Webb by following Saginaw News Reporter Andy Hoag.
Kenneth T. Bluew, 36, is scheduled to appear before Saginaw County District Judge Christopher S. Boyd at 9:30 a.m. for the hearing, where Boyd will hear prosecutors’ evidence against Bluew and determine whether probable cause exists for trial in Circuit Court.
Hoag will be providing coverage of the hearing via Twitter. Click here to follow Hoag’s courtroom coverage.
Bluew, who lives in Saginaw Township, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder, assault against a pregnant individual intentionally causing miscarriage or stillbirth of a fetus or embryo, and two counts of possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony.
The 32-year-old Webb's body was found by Buena Vista Police Officer Tim Patterson before midnight Aug. 30 at Hack and North Outer, west of the Buena Vista police gun range.
ANDY HOAG, SAGINAW NEWS COURT REPORTER TWITTER ACCOUNT
http://twitter.com/#!/SNAndyHoag
Andy Hoag
@SNAndyHoag
Courts Reporter for @saginawnews
http://connect.mlive.com/user/ahoag/index.html
SAGINAW — Saginaw County prosecutors will lay out their evidence today against suspended Buena Vista Police Officer Kenneth T. Bluew, accused of strangulation and killing of Jennifer M. Webb and her unborn son while on duty.
Bluew's preliminary hearing, during which Saginaw County District Judge Christopher S. Boyd will consider if enough evidence exists to take Bluew to trial, begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Saginaw County Governmental Center.
Bluew, 36, of Saginaw Township has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Webb, 32, whose body was found Aug. 30 near a Buena Vista gun range, as well as assault against a pregnant individual intentionally causing miscarriage or stillbirth of a fetus or embryo and two counts of possessing a firearm while committing a felony. Webb was eight months pregnant.
• Packed courtroom for Kenneth Bluew's preliminary hearing. Mostly family members, possibly some of them Bluew's.
• They've brought Bluew into the courtroom. He's seated in a brighter version of the Gratiot County Jail orange and white jumpsuit.
• Saginaw County Prosecutor Michael Thomas is handling the prosecution, first time I've seen him handle a case in the courtroom in 2.5 years.
• First witness is Andrea King, Jenny Webb's friend. They have been friends for 12 years, saw each other on "daily basis"
• King: "She was so excited about that baby." Chose the name Braxton for her son.
• Webb got to King's house about 5:30 pm on Aug. 30, the day that Bluew is accused of killing Webb.
• Webb and King "just hung out," had dinner. Webb started to leave about 8:15 pm. Webb said she had to go meet "Ken."
• Boyd doesn't allow the statement, though, so Thomas now is asking her about her knowledge about Webb's pregnancy to establish background.
• King says she heard name "Ken Bluew" from Webb, but Boyd won't allow anything further than that because it's hearsay.
• King begins to tear up when Thomas shows her picture of Webb on day that King gave birth to twins.
• Thomas shows King a necklace, part of their evidence, and King says it's Webb's favorite necklace, the one she was wearing that night.
• I imagine Thomas will have another witness say where the necklace was found.
• Thomas shows King a picture of Webb's silver Aztek vehicle. He doesn't mention where the pic is taken. Another witness should tie that up.
• King: Webb said she was going to "Outer Drive." Webb's body was found on North Outer in Buena Vista Township near the BV police gun range.
• Bluew's attorney, Rod O'Farrell, performs a short cross-examination. King tells Thomas that was the last time she saw Webb alive.
• Next witness, David Sian, who works for Old Dominion Freight Line. On Aug. 30, company located on North Outer in Buena Vista.
• Sian worked that night. Was getting his truck ready at about 8:50, when Buena Vista police car came through lot patrolling.
• Common practice for BVPD cars to come through. After going through lot, car turned right onto Outer Drive.
• Sian says police car traveled north after patrolling lot.
• Sian left to make his run to Indiana at 9 pm.
• O'Farrell now doing his cross, essentially asking the same questions as Thomas, just a little more specific. Sian's story stays the same.
• Sian: State police called him next day to speak with him.
• Next witness is Buena Vista Officer Tim Patterson, who discovered Webb's body.
• Patterson has worked for BVPD for just over 6 years, also has worked for Vassar PD and SVSU PD and the County Juvenile Center.
• Bluew was a detention youth care specialist when Patterson was a supervisor at the Juvenile Center.
• Patterson "at times" was Bluew's supervisor. Patterson worked at Juvenile Center 5.5 years.
• Patterson began at BVPD in 2005. Bluew was a detective there at the time.
• Patterson now a patrol officer, Bluew was a patrol officer after coming back from serving as Chief of Tittabawassee Twp. PD.
• Their shifts overlapped. Bluew learned how to control people with pressure point control. A way to control suspects w/o injury.
• Patterson began working Aug. 30 about 10 pm.
• Bluew one of two other officers working that night. Patterson saw the other officer at the department, saw Bluew's vehicle at department
• Patterson: Central Dispatch was "radio checking" officers, which they do if they haven't heard from an officer in an hour.
• Patterson: Bluew didn't respond.
• Patterson typed message to Bluew, to tell him Central Dispatch was trying to contact him. Patterson added audible alarm in message.
• Patterson: radio check and his message to Bluew were between 10:20-10:30 pm
• Patterson: Bluew didn't respond to his message. "It happens from time to time."
• Patterson went looking for Bluew. While looking, heard other officer try to contact Bluew on inter-department radio channel.
• Patterson: Bluew didn't respond to officer's attempt.
• Patterson eventually heard Bluew contact other officer, they told him Dispatch was trying to get ahold of him.
• Patterson: there was "somewhat of an ongoing issue" with Bluew not answering calls, wanted to talk to him about it.
• Patterson went looking for Bluew at dead end of North Outer, where somebody could "disappear without disappearing."
• Patterson had caught Bluew sleeping on the job in that area before.
• Patterson: On Outer, saw reflection of vehicle lights. Vehicle facing east.
• Outer dead ends at Hack, also where gates to police gun range, BV Wastewater Treatment Plant, General Motors property.
• Car that Patterson saw was east on Hack, facing gate to gun range.
• The vehicle that Patterson saw was Webb's Pontiac Aztek.
• When Patterson arrived and saw Aztek, saw Bluew's patrol vehicle. Bluew pulled up beside Aztek
• Patterson walked toward Aztek, Bluew did same, said "how do you want to do this?" Patterson thought he meant how to approach Aztek.
• Patterson: Bluew's vehicle was behind tree lines, not visible from North Outer, before pulling up to Aztek after Patterson did.
• Patterson: Bluew was "sweating, heavily" ... "sweating bullets"
• Patterson: Bluew said "there's a body."
• Patterson: body partly in ditch, looked like something sticking out of her neck. Bluew stood behind him.
• Patterson: a cord was hanging from Aztek's roof rack and was wrapped around body's neck. Realized nothing sticking out of neck.
• Patterson called in death as a suicide.
• Patterson: Bluew's body language was unusual. "He was not acting right."
• Patterson taped off scene, told Bluew to start taking pictures of scene.
• Patterson: Aztek registered to Donald Webb of Bridgeport.
• Asked Bluew and other officer who arrived if they had grabbed body's identification, but that was only thing Patterson asked of Bluew.
• Patterson: Cord around Webb's neck was an extension cord.
• Thomas showing Patterson pictures from the scene, taken by Bluew.
• Patterson: Bluew located apparent suicide note in Webb's purse. Webb's ID also found in her purse.
• Patterson: "suicide note" was type written, only said "Jenny" at end, wasn't signed.
• Patterson: Webb's "lips were turning blue, she was foaming at the mouth. There were no signs of life at all."
• Lots of run of the mill questions right now from Thomas, not much of note.
• As soon as I say that, Patterson says he learned from other officer that Bluew knew Webb but Bluew didn't elaborate how.
• Patterson: Didn't find out Bluew knew Webb until 15-20 minutes after finding body. Bluew didn't tell Patterson while they investigated.
• Patterson: BVPD Sgt. Sean Waterman asked Bluew how he knew Webb, Bluew said he'd known her for years, met her at a bar in BV.
• Patterson: Bluew "evasive" in his answers about Webb
• Patterson helped Waterman operate Webb's touchscreen phone, looked at recent calls. One was "Ken Cop Boo."
• Patterson: Two calls, one about 2 hours before body found, another 3 hours before. Seeing contact in phone was "rather shocking."
• "boo," of course, is a pet name some use for their love interests.
• Patterson heard Bluew tell Waterman that he tried contacting Webb.
• Patterson says he became "uneasy" when hearing Bluew said he tried calling her, "with the way things were adding up"
• Patterson told Waterman something didn't seem right.
• Patterson: Bluew eventually left scene to assist another officer with a breaking and entering incident.
• Patterson: Webb's body removed from scene by a funeral home director.
• Patterson had to cut cord to remove her from scene. Cut cord about halfway up, he says.
• Patterson: bruises observed on Webb's body underneath her arms near her biceps.
• Patterson: bruises on inside of biceps.
• Boyd calls for a recess, likely just to take a break. Been about 2 hours of testimony so far. Will be back soon.
• Boyd now meeting with attorneys in his chambers. With the lunch hour approaching, maybe they're figuring out the rest of today's schedule.
• And we're back in session, Patterson still on stand.
• Patterson: back at dept, he and Bluew typing up reports. Bluew had some darkening and swelling under his right eye, didn't have it before.
• Patterson: After Waterman spoke with Webb's next of kin, state police called in to investigate.
• Patterson: at end of shift, Bluew took his uniform in a laundry bag to his truck. Never saw Bluew do that before.
• Thomas done with questioning, now it's O'Farrell's turn.
• Bluew responded to calls from Dispatch, other officer seven minutes after first check went out.
• Patterson: when Bluew responded, sounded like he had just woke up. Officers can nap, but must first receive permission from a supervisor.
• Patterson: Bluew told him he had arrived just before Patterson, had to turn around. Bluew didn't have headlights on, just spotlight.
• O'Farrell going over Patterson's testimony, which stays the same.
• O'Farrell asks if they treated scene as suicide entire night. Patterson: "I had my suspicions."
• O'Farrell done, now Thomas with a few brief follow-up questions.
• Boyd recesses hearing for lunch. We will return at 1:45.
• Back in the courtroom, next witness is BVPD Officer Sarah Sylvester, who was other officer calling for Bluew and was on scene.
• Sylvester and Bluew ate take out for dinner. At the time, Bluew did not have black eye or swelling under eye that Patterson noticed later.
• Sylvester doesn't believe Bluew had band aid on his right index finger. Bluew did have it after Webb's body was found.
• Sylvester confirms radio checking of Bluew, alert tones. Sylvester called Bluew on his cell, didn't get an answer.
• Sylvester: Bluew responded "sometime later”.
• Sylvester: "It's habit for some employees not to answer their radio checks."
• Sylvester, who has medical background, went to scene to assist in possible suicide.
• Sylvester: on scene, Bluew was "sweating profusely," had red marks in white part of right eye.
• His right eye was the same eye that he ended up having swelling under.
• When Sylvester saw body, could tell she was deceased.
• Sylvester: Bluew grabbed Webb's purse from her vehicle, said there was a note on top of it.
• Sylvester: note was suicide note, she can't remember if Webb signed it.
• Sylvester: when Bluew saw Webb's ID, he turned around, put his hands on his knees and looked like he was going to vomit.
• Sylvester: Bluew said, "I know this girl." Bluew didn't explain how, then Sgt. Waterman arrived shortly after.
• Sylvester left scene shortly after to respond to calls but came back when Patterson called and said they saw Bluew's number in Webb's phone.
• Sylvester: Patterson said he was "nervous," and had "unsnapped his gun" and wanted Sylvester to return.
• Sylvester called for backup at a B&E scene, wanted Bluew to leave scene to let Patterson and Waterman to investigate.
• Sylvester: felt the Webb scene was "a hot scene." She said she told Bluew she thought someone was in house at B&E scene.
• That wasn't true. Sylvester said Bluew was rubbing one of his hands as if he was in pain.
• Sylvester: officers were under a "gag order" almost immediately after incident.
• Sylvester is done now. Next up is BVPD Sgt. Sean Waterman.
• Patterson called Waterman in, said it was a suicide.
• Waterman describes scene, same description as other officers.
• Patterson told Waterman that Bluew knew Webb. Bluew told Waterman he knew her for about 10 years, "that they would talk from time to time."
• Bluew didn't tell Waterman the last time he saw or talked with Webb.
• Waterman looked at Webb's recent calls to try to approximate cause of death.
• As soon as Waterman saw "Ken Cop Boo's" number, he knew it was Bluew.
• Waterman: Webb called Bluew at about 8:30 and 8:45, then Bluew called her about 8:50. All calls lasted less than a minute.
• Bluew admitted to talking to her, said he talked to her all the time, and this time was checking on her.
• Bluew shakes his head in disagreement as Waterman says he admitted to talking to her.
• One of the first, if not the first, time he has had any kind of reaction to testimony.
• Contacted Medical Examiner's office, because he felt it was a suicide. ME office contacted funeral home.
• Waterman: the electrical cord was intertwined with Webb's necklace, mentioned earlier by King. Webb also had blood coming from her nose.
• Waterman went to Webb's parents' home in Bridgeport to tell them of Webb's death. Waterman becomes emotional as he recalls conversation.
• He told parents how she was found, that it looked like suicide. The parents said there was no way it could be suicide.
• Parents told Waterman that Bluew was father of unborn child. Waterman said he "became sick to my stomach."
• Waterman no longer felt death was a suicide. Parents told him that Webb was going to see Bluew that night.
• Waterman looked in Webb's bedroom at the house, and it looked like the room of an expecting mother.
• Parents said they thought Bluew knew child was his, that Webb was going to seek help of the county Friend of the Court when time was right.
• Waterman called BVPD Chief Brian Booker to tell him of developments, that they would need state police to investigate.
• Waterman saw Bluew at department after speaking with Webb's parents, but didn't say anything to him.
• O'Farrell now questioning Waterman.
• Waterman: bruises on inside of Webb's arms "didn't look fresh." Blood in her nose likely result of strangulation.
• Again, not anything new from Waterman on cross-examination.
• O'Farrell done, now Thomas with some follow-up.
• Waterman: neither he, nor Patterson or the funeral director caused bruises.
• Back in recess. Back shortly.
• Back in court. County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Jeffrey Stroud appears to be handling the state police crime lab experts.
• Boyd just admitted two lab reports. Not sure what the nature of the reports are, but hope to find out.
• Next witness, Valerie Bowman, a forensic scientist for the state police. Part of a crime scene response team.
• Bowman assembled a team to investigate scene. Team arrived at 9 am.
• Re: Stroud, this is the first time I've seen him handle a case in court since, if I recall correctly, the Roger Kelly murder trial in 2009.
• And when I say "handle in court" re: Thomas and Stroud, I mean actually taking testimony.
• Thomas handled the prosecution of Marcie Rousseau, the Freeland teacher, and the Bronner's vandals.
• Bowman using blown-up images of the location to orient herself before beginning to describe her activity.
• Bowman located a blood stain and a charm from a necklace to the west of the crime scene, across Outer Drive on along Hack Road.
• Also found a cigarette butt in the same location.
• These items were found in the driveway to the BV Wastewater Treatment plant, which is off Hack to the west of Outer.
• Bowman: Test results showed the blood stain was human blood. She packaged it for further testing.
• Bowman sent the jewelry charm for testing, as well as the cigarette butt.
• Bowman attended autopsy. Collected blood sample, fingernail swabs from Webb for DNA testing.
• She's not at liberty to testify to the results because she didn't conduct the tests. That's where the admitted reports come in.
• Collected a blood sample from the fetus for testing.
• Bowman also seized cord from Webb's neck, her necklace, and her clothes.
• Bowman: Blood was found on Webb's bra. She also found some weeds, debris, and the tip of a latex glove in her clothes.
• Saw blood stain on glove tip.
• Tip of glove was about an inch long. Not latex, but another material. Bowman refers to it as an "exam glove."
• Bowman: human blood on inside of glove, human saliva on the outside of the glove tip.
• This testimony might explain Thomas' focus on Bluew having a band aid on his right index finger.
• Bowman: Edges of glove tip not cut by some sort of incision tool. More ragged edges.
• Bowman also examined Webb's Aztek. Saw "blueish or purplish" stain on exterior of passenger side. There was a "possible presence" of blood.
• One of the admitted reports is one regarding the stain on the vehicle. Still nothing said on record as to results of tests.
• Bowman: fingerprints lifted from exterior if vehicle where the stain was.
• Bowman examined cord in vehicle, found possible blood on cord.
• Bowman: possible blood found on socket end of cord.
• Bowman: it was human blood on cord, forwarded for testing.
• Bowman: human blood also on "gear selector" near vehicle's dashboard.
• Bowman: also a blood stain on the inside of the front driver's side door.
• Bowman: blood stain also on rear seat.
• Bowman also examined BVPD patrol car that Bluew was driving that night. A box of exam gloves was in the trunk. Similar color to glove tip.
• Bowman: blood stain on steering wheel of Bluew's patrol car.
• Bowman: Three items taken from a yellow bag in vehicle: t-shirt, police pants, socks. T-shirt and pants were "clean."
• Bowman: pants appeared to have been laundered. Scent of detergent or fabric softner from shirt.
• Bowman: Yellow bag has a tag attached with Bluew's name.
• On a later date, another shirt and pants given to her. Appeared to be same size.
• Bowman: 2 human blood stains on pants.
• Body armor also submitted to Bowman. Blood stain on vest, too.
• Bowman also obtained "buckle swab" of Bluew's inner mouth, sent for testing.
• O'Farrell on cross, now.
• Bowman: blood stain found in treatment plant driveway was not spattered or dropped from a high level. But that's all she can say about it.
• Bowman: two spatter-type stains: one in vehicle, one on t-shirt. Other stains were "transfer" stains, like coming in contact w/ blood.
• Bowman says it is possible to spread blood by touching it, then inadvertently or intentionally touching other items.
• Another lull here, as Bowman isn't saying anything new or different than on direct examination.
• Bowman is done. Boyd concludes the hearing for the day. Attorneys headed to chambers to discuss when to continue.
• The hearing will continue tomorrow, Friday, at 10 a.m. Check MLive either later today or tomorrow morning on details of how to follow live
SAGINAW (WJRT) - (10/20/11) - The preliminary hearing for a police officer accused of killing a pregnant woman began Thursday morning in a Saginaw County courtroom.
It was the first time we've heard the details as to how Jennifer Webb's body was found, and what role the defendant, Ken Bluew, had in the investigation.
The death of Webb was first looked at as a suicide, but that changed several minutes after her body was found.
"Can you identify the person in that picture?" asked Saginaw County Prosecutor Michael Thomas.
"That's Jenny," said Andrea King.
Jennifer Webb was 32 years old and eight months pregnant on Aug. 30. King says they were best friends.
"Do you know who took that picture?" asked Thomas.
"My father took it, it was the day my girls were born. It was in the waiting room," King testified.
King also said Webb was visiting the night of Aug. 30, but had to leave to meet someone. She testified Webb said she was going to see Ken, but Bluew's attorney objected, and Judge Christopher Boyd sustained the objection.
Buena Vista Police officer Tim Patterson testified that after 10 that night, a number of attempts were made to reach Bluew, who was on duty. Patterson said he went looking for Bluew on Outer Drive, near the gun range, because that's where's he found him before.
"I've actually rolled past him once or twice, sleeping," Patterson said.
Patterson first saw an Aztec parked near the gun range, and a short time later, saw Bluew's patrol car.
"Officer Bluew stepped out of his vehicle, started walking towards the Aztec and said, 'How do you want to do this,'" Patterson testified.
Patterson assumed it was a suspicious vehicle investigation, but then Bluew told him this:
"He was going up to the vehicle, and he said, 'there is a body,'" Patterson said.
Patterson said a cord was around Webb's neck, the cord attached to the SUV's roof rack, and Webb's body was lying in steep ditch. He called Central Dispatch.
"I appeared to have a code 49, which is a suicide," Patterson said.
He testified that Bluew found a note in the SUV.
"Located a suicide note, an apparent suicide note in the purse of the vehicle," Patterson said.
Patterson says he was then shocked when Webb's cell phone was examined.
"There was a name that came up that said "Ken Cop Boo" on there and for whatever reason, it went into my mind, Ken's a cop, she had been talking to him recently," Patterson said.
By then, Bluew had already taken crime scene photos during the investigation. At the point, the investigation took a different direction.
A detective testified that when they went to tell Jennifer Webb's family about her death, he asked who they believed the father of Webb's unborn child was and their answer was Ken Bluew.
The preliminary hearing will continue Friday.
Court spectator assures suspended Buena Vista Officer Kenneth Bluew, accused of murdering Jennifer Webb, that 'It'll be OK.'
SAGINAW — With only the center aisle of a Saginaw County courtroom separating them, supporters of suspended Buena Vista Township Police Department Officer Kenneth T. Bluew and of Jennifer M. Webb — the woman Bluew is accused of murdering — wiped away tears during Bluew’s preliminary exam Thursday morning.
Bluew himself was anything but stoic, too, during the hearing before a standing-room-only audience of about 45 people in front of District Judge Christopher S. Boyd, frequently whispering in the ear of his defense attorney, Saginaw lawyer Rod O’Farrell, during testimony.
During a court recess Bluew, 36, of Saginaw Township wheeled his chair around to scan the audience with his eyes, mouthing words to supporters he spotted behind him.
“It’ll be OK,” one woman said to Bluew, a former Tittabawassee Township police chief, accused of first-degree murder in the strangulation death of Webb, 32, of Bridgeport Township, who was eight months pregnant.
During the same recess in Boyd’s courtroom, several supporters gave prolonged hugs to Dawn Webb — the late Jennifer Webb’s mother — as she stood up during the break.
Boyd heard testimony this morning from three witnesses as he tries to determine whether there’s probable cause to order Bluew to trial on charges of first-degree murder, assault against a pregnant individual intentionally causing miscarriage or stillbirth of a fetus or embryo, and two counts of possessing a firearm while committing a felony.
Testimony was set to resume at 1:45 p.m. before Boyd, who presided this morning before a packed courtroom, with as many as seven spectators standing against the back wall at times because court benches were filled up.
The late Webb’s parents, Donald and Dawn Webb, along with others including her sister, Angela, sat in the front row behind Saginaw County Prosecutor Michael D. Thomas and Chief Assistant Prosecutor Jeffrey Stroud.
The front row on the other side of the courtroom — behind Bluew — was reserved for police officers. Several officers identifying themselves as Michigan State Police employees occupied the front row, but declined comment when asked if they were there to support Bluew, who has worked for the Saginaw County Sheriff’s Department in addition to working for the Tittabawassee Township and Buena Vista Township departments.
Thomas said he expects to call Buena Vista Township Police Department Sgt. Sean Waterman and Officer Sara Sylvester this afternoon. Thomas said he doesn’t believe the exam will finish today.
At today's hearing, friends and relatives of the late Jennifer Webb, including Webb’s onetime baby sitter, Jan Wiles of Spaulding Township, wore badges — pinned to their shirts or sweaters — bearing Webb’s photo.
Wiles wiped tears from her eyes in a hallway outside court during a recess in testimony, but declined comment.
Other supporters wore bracelets in Webb’s memory, and one spectator wore a T-shirt bearing words and a photo commemorating Webb.
Suspended Buena Vista Township Police Officer Kenneth Bluew listens during his Sept. 19 prehearing conference before Saginaw County District Judge Christopher S. Boyd. Bluew is charged in the Aug. 30 death of the pregnant Jennifer Webb. [File. The Saginaw News]
SAGINAW — Saginaw News reporter Andy Hoag will be live on Twitter covering Thursday’s preliminary hearing for the suspended Buena Vista Township police officer accused of killing the pregnant Jennifer M. Webb.
Kenneth T. Bluew, 36, is scheduled to appear before Saginaw County District Judge Christopher S. Boyd at 9:30 a.m. for the hearing, where Boyd will hear prosecutors’ evidence against Bluew and determine whether probable cause exists for trial in Circuit Court.
Hoag will be providing coverage of the hearing via Twitter. Click here to follow Hoag’s courtroom coverage.
Bluew, who lives in Saginaw Township, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder, assault against a pregnant individual intentionally causing miscarriage or stillbirth of a fetus or embryo, and two counts of possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony.
The 32-year-old Webb's body was found by Buena Vista Police Officer Tim Patterson before midnight Aug. 30 at Hack and North Outer, west of the Buena Vista police gun range.
Investigators believe Bluew strangled Webb. Webb was eight months pregnant. County Prosecutor Michael D. Thomas has said investigators believe Bluew was on duty during the killing.
Boyd also will determine whether he will grant Bluew’s request for pre-trial release, which his attorney, Rod O’Farrell, asked for Monday.
If convicted of first-degree murder, Bluew would face a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. If he is acquitted of the charge or convicted of a lesser charge, he still would face a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted of the assault charge.
Bluew remained jailed today at the Gratiot County Jail.
New details revealed in case against officer accused of murder
WNEM News TV5
Oct 20, 2011
Suspended Buena Vista Township Police officer Ken Bluew was in court Thursday morning for a preliminary exam.
SAGINAW COUNTY, MI (WNEM) - Bluew is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Jennifer Webb and her unborn child.
Webb was eight months pregnant when her body was discovered in late August near a police shooting range.
According to court documents acquired by TV5, Bluew's attorney has requested Pre-Trial release of his client. Furthermore, his wife has filed for divorce. If Bluew is released, he would be staying with his cousin Sonya Lass.
Bluew has a long law enforcement history in the Mid-Michigan area. He was employed with the Saginaw County Sheriff's Department from 1997 until being hired by Buena Vista in 1999. He served as the Chief of Police for Tittabawassee Township from 2006 until February 2008, when he returned to the Buena Vista Police Department.
WNEM TV5's Liz Gelardi was in the courtroom all morning and tweeted new information in the case. Several witnesses were expected to testify against Bluew, including the Buena Vista Township Police Chief.
Here are her tweets verbatim:
-- Jenny Webb's best friend is on the stand testifying. She was the last person to see Webb alive. Prosecutor Mike Thomas held up evidence - Jenny Webb's favorite necklace. Her friend said she wore it the night she died.
-- Employee from trucking co on Outer Dr taking stand. It is located near site where Webb's body was found. Trucking employee says he saw a Buena Vista Police car in the area that night, heading North.
-- Buena Vista Police Officer is testifying. He was working that evening of Aug 30th. Officer on the stand is describing a period of time when central dispatch could not reach Officer Bluew.
-- BV Officer Patterson says when he drove to Outer Dr he saw Officer Bluew. Says Bluew was "sweating bullets."
-- Shocking: Officer Ken Bluew, the one who is charged with murder, took pics of the crime scene. At the time police thought it was a suicide.
-- Prosecutor Thomas is showing pics of a deceased Jenny Webb with an extension cord around the neck. Pics taken by Officer Bluew.
-- It took 15-20 mins after Jenny Webb's body was discovered before anyone realized Bluew knew her. He didn't say so until asked.
Live Twitter coverage of suspended police officer's hearing on murder charge to begin at 9:30 a.m.
The Saginaw News
The Saginaw News
Andy Hoag
October 20, 2011
Suspended Buena Vista Township Police Officer Kenneth Bluew listens during his Sept. 19 prehearing conference before Saginaw County District Judge Christopher S. Boyd. Bluew is charged in the Aug. 30 death of the pregnant Jennifer Webb. [File. The Saginaw News]
SAGINAW — Follow live coverage of this morning’s preliminary hearing for the suspended Buena Vista Township police officer accused of killing the pregnant Jennifer M. Webb by following Saginaw News Reporter Andy Hoag.
Kenneth T. Bluew, 36, is scheduled to appear before Saginaw County District Judge Christopher S. Boyd at 9:30 a.m. for the hearing, where Boyd will hear prosecutors’ evidence against Bluew and determine whether probable cause exists for trial in Circuit Court.
Hoag will be providing coverage of the hearing via Twitter. Click here to follow Hoag’s courtroom coverage.
Bluew, who lives in Saginaw Township, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder, assault against a pregnant individual intentionally causing miscarriage or stillbirth of a fetus or embryo, and two counts of possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony.
The 32-year-old Webb's body was found by Buena Vista Police Officer Tim Patterson before midnight Aug. 30 at Hack and North Outer, west of the Buena Vista police gun range.
ANDY HOAG, SAGINAW NEWS COURT REPORTER TWITTER ACCOUNT
http://twitter.com/#!/SNAndyHoag
Andy Hoag
@SNAndyHoag
Courts Reporter for @saginawnews
http://connect.mlive.com/user/ahoag/index.html
Tweets from the courtroom:
Preliminary hearing for BV Police Officer Kenneth Bluew, accused in pregnant woman's death
The Saginaw News
The Saginaw News
Andy Hoag
October 20, 2011
SAGINAW — Saginaw County prosecutors will lay out their evidence today against suspended Buena Vista Police Officer Kenneth T. Bluew, accused of strangulation and killing of Jennifer M. Webb and her unborn son while on duty.
Bluew's preliminary hearing, during which Saginaw County District Judge Christopher S. Boyd will consider if enough evidence exists to take Bluew to trial, begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Saginaw County Governmental Center.
Bluew, 36, of Saginaw Township has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Webb, 32, whose body was found Aug. 30 near a Buena Vista gun range, as well as assault against a pregnant individual intentionally causing miscarriage or stillbirth of a fetus or embryo and two counts of possessing a firearm while committing a felony. Webb was eight months pregnant.
Kenneth T. Bluew looks over at his attorney, Rod O'Farrell, during Bluew's preliminary hearing today. [Jeff Schrier. The Saginaw News]
• Packed courtroom for Kenneth Bluew's preliminary hearing. Mostly family members, possibly some of them Bluew's.
• They've brought Bluew into the courtroom. He's seated in a brighter version of the Gratiot County Jail orange and white jumpsuit.
• Saginaw County Prosecutor Michael Thomas is handling the prosecution, first time I've seen him handle a case in the courtroom in 2.5 years.
• First witness is Andrea King, Jenny Webb's friend. They have been friends for 12 years, saw each other on "daily basis"
• King: "She was so excited about that baby." Chose the name Braxton for her son.
• Webb got to King's house about 5:30 pm on Aug. 30, the day that Bluew is accused of killing Webb.
• Webb and King "just hung out," had dinner. Webb started to leave about 8:15 pm. Webb said she had to go meet "Ken."
• Boyd doesn't allow the statement, though, so Thomas now is asking her about her knowledge about Webb's pregnancy to establish background.
• King says she heard name "Ken Bluew" from Webb, but Boyd won't allow anything further than that because it's hearsay.
• King begins to tear up when Thomas shows her picture of Webb on day that King gave birth to twins.
• Thomas shows King a necklace, part of their evidence, and King says it's Webb's favorite necklace, the one she was wearing that night.
• I imagine Thomas will have another witness say where the necklace was found.
• Thomas shows King a picture of Webb's silver Aztek vehicle. He doesn't mention where the pic is taken. Another witness should tie that up.
• King: Webb said she was going to "Outer Drive." Webb's body was found on North Outer in Buena Vista Township near the BV police gun range.
• Bluew's attorney, Rod O'Farrell, performs a short cross-examination. King tells Thomas that was the last time she saw Webb alive.
• Next witness, David Sian, who works for Old Dominion Freight Line. On Aug. 30, company located on North Outer in Buena Vista.
• Sian worked that night. Was getting his truck ready at about 8:50, when Buena Vista police car came through lot patrolling.
• Common practice for BVPD cars to come through. After going through lot, car turned right onto Outer Drive.
• Sian says police car traveled north after patrolling lot.
• Sian left to make his run to Indiana at 9 pm.
• O'Farrell now doing his cross, essentially asking the same questions as Thomas, just a little more specific. Sian's story stays the same.
• Sian: State police called him next day to speak with him.
• Next witness is Buena Vista Officer Tim Patterson, who discovered Webb's body.
• Patterson has worked for BVPD for just over 6 years, also has worked for Vassar PD and SVSU PD and the County Juvenile Center.
• Bluew was a detention youth care specialist when Patterson was a supervisor at the Juvenile Center.
• Patterson "at times" was Bluew's supervisor. Patterson worked at Juvenile Center 5.5 years.
• Patterson began at BVPD in 2005. Bluew was a detective there at the time.
• Patterson now a patrol officer, Bluew was a patrol officer after coming back from serving as Chief of Tittabawassee Twp. PD.
• Their shifts overlapped. Bluew learned how to control people with pressure point control. A way to control suspects w/o injury.
• Patterson began working Aug. 30 about 10 pm.
• Bluew one of two other officers working that night. Patterson saw the other officer at the department, saw Bluew's vehicle at department
• Patterson: Central Dispatch was "radio checking" officers, which they do if they haven't heard from an officer in an hour.
• Patterson: Bluew didn't respond.
• Patterson typed message to Bluew, to tell him Central Dispatch was trying to contact him. Patterson added audible alarm in message.
• Patterson: radio check and his message to Bluew were between 10:20-10:30 pm
• Patterson: Bluew didn't respond to his message. "It happens from time to time."
• Patterson went looking for Bluew. While looking, heard other officer try to contact Bluew on inter-department radio channel.
• Patterson: Bluew didn't respond to officer's attempt.
• Patterson eventually heard Bluew contact other officer, they told him Dispatch was trying to get ahold of him.
• Patterson: there was "somewhat of an ongoing issue" with Bluew not answering calls, wanted to talk to him about it.
• Patterson went looking for Bluew at dead end of North Outer, where somebody could "disappear without disappearing."
• Patterson had caught Bluew sleeping on the job in that area before.
• Patterson: On Outer, saw reflection of vehicle lights. Vehicle facing east.
• Outer dead ends at Hack, also where gates to police gun range, BV Wastewater Treatment Plant, General Motors property.
• Car that Patterson saw was east on Hack, facing gate to gun range.
• The vehicle that Patterson saw was Webb's Pontiac Aztek.
• When Patterson arrived and saw Aztek, saw Bluew's patrol vehicle. Bluew pulled up beside Aztek
• Patterson walked toward Aztek, Bluew did same, said "how do you want to do this?" Patterson thought he meant how to approach Aztek.
• Patterson: Bluew's vehicle was behind tree lines, not visible from North Outer, before pulling up to Aztek after Patterson did.
• Patterson: Bluew was "sweating, heavily" ... "sweating bullets"
• Patterson: Bluew said "there's a body."
• Patterson: body partly in ditch, looked like something sticking out of her neck. Bluew stood behind him.
• Patterson: a cord was hanging from Aztek's roof rack and was wrapped around body's neck. Realized nothing sticking out of neck.
• Patterson called in death as a suicide.
• Patterson: Bluew's body language was unusual. "He was not acting right."
• Patterson taped off scene, told Bluew to start taking pictures of scene.
• Patterson: Aztek registered to Donald Webb of Bridgeport.
• Asked Bluew and other officer who arrived if they had grabbed body's identification, but that was only thing Patterson asked of Bluew.
• Patterson: Cord around Webb's neck was an extension cord.
• Thomas showing Patterson pictures from the scene, taken by Bluew.
• Patterson: Bluew located apparent suicide note in Webb's purse. Webb's ID also found in her purse.
• Patterson: "suicide note" was type written, only said "Jenny" at end, wasn't signed.
• Patterson: Webb's "lips were turning blue, she was foaming at the mouth. There were no signs of life at all."
• Lots of run of the mill questions right now from Thomas, not much of note.
• As soon as I say that, Patterson says he learned from other officer that Bluew knew Webb but Bluew didn't elaborate how.
• Patterson: Didn't find out Bluew knew Webb until 15-20 minutes after finding body. Bluew didn't tell Patterson while they investigated.
• Patterson: BVPD Sgt. Sean Waterman asked Bluew how he knew Webb, Bluew said he'd known her for years, met her at a bar in BV.
• Patterson: Bluew "evasive" in his answers about Webb
• Patterson helped Waterman operate Webb's touchscreen phone, looked at recent calls. One was "Ken Cop Boo."
• Patterson: Two calls, one about 2 hours before body found, another 3 hours before. Seeing contact in phone was "rather shocking."
• "boo," of course, is a pet name some use for their love interests.
• Patterson heard Bluew tell Waterman that he tried contacting Webb.
• Patterson says he became "uneasy" when hearing Bluew said he tried calling her, "with the way things were adding up"
• Patterson told Waterman something didn't seem right.
• Patterson: Bluew eventually left scene to assist another officer with a breaking and entering incident.
• Patterson: Webb's body removed from scene by a funeral home director.
• Patterson had to cut cord to remove her from scene. Cut cord about halfway up, he says.
• Patterson: bruises observed on Webb's body underneath her arms near her biceps.
• Patterson: bruises on inside of biceps.
• Boyd calls for a recess, likely just to take a break. Been about 2 hours of testimony so far. Will be back soon.
• Boyd now meeting with attorneys in his chambers. With the lunch hour approaching, maybe they're figuring out the rest of today's schedule.
• And we're back in session, Patterson still on stand.
• Patterson: back at dept, he and Bluew typing up reports. Bluew had some darkening and swelling under his right eye, didn't have it before.
• Patterson: After Waterman spoke with Webb's next of kin, state police called in to investigate.
• Patterson: at end of shift, Bluew took his uniform in a laundry bag to his truck. Never saw Bluew do that before.
• Thomas done with questioning, now it's O'Farrell's turn.
• Bluew responded to calls from Dispatch, other officer seven minutes after first check went out.
• Patterson: when Bluew responded, sounded like he had just woke up. Officers can nap, but must first receive permission from a supervisor.
• Patterson: Bluew told him he had arrived just before Patterson, had to turn around. Bluew didn't have headlights on, just spotlight.
• O'Farrell going over Patterson's testimony, which stays the same.
• O'Farrell asks if they treated scene as suicide entire night. Patterson: "I had my suspicions."
• O'Farrell done, now Thomas with a few brief follow-up questions.
• Boyd recesses hearing for lunch. We will return at 1:45.
• Back in the courtroom, next witness is BVPD Officer Sarah Sylvester, who was other officer calling for Bluew and was on scene.
• Sylvester and Bluew ate take out for dinner. At the time, Bluew did not have black eye or swelling under eye that Patterson noticed later.
• Sylvester doesn't believe Bluew had band aid on his right index finger. Bluew did have it after Webb's body was found.
• Sylvester confirms radio checking of Bluew, alert tones. Sylvester called Bluew on his cell, didn't get an answer.
• Sylvester: Bluew responded "sometime later”.
• Sylvester: "It's habit for some employees not to answer their radio checks."
• Sylvester, who has medical background, went to scene to assist in possible suicide.
• Sylvester: on scene, Bluew was "sweating profusely," had red marks in white part of right eye.
• His right eye was the same eye that he ended up having swelling under.
• When Sylvester saw body, could tell she was deceased.
• Sylvester: Bluew grabbed Webb's purse from her vehicle, said there was a note on top of it.
• Sylvester: note was suicide note, she can't remember if Webb signed it.
• Sylvester: when Bluew saw Webb's ID, he turned around, put his hands on his knees and looked like he was going to vomit.
• Sylvester: Bluew said, "I know this girl." Bluew didn't explain how, then Sgt. Waterman arrived shortly after.
• Sylvester left scene shortly after to respond to calls but came back when Patterson called and said they saw Bluew's number in Webb's phone.
• Sylvester: Patterson said he was "nervous," and had "unsnapped his gun" and wanted Sylvester to return.
• Sylvester called for backup at a B&E scene, wanted Bluew to leave scene to let Patterson and Waterman to investigate.
• Sylvester: felt the Webb scene was "a hot scene." She said she told Bluew she thought someone was in house at B&E scene.
• That wasn't true. Sylvester said Bluew was rubbing one of his hands as if he was in pain.
• Sylvester: officers were under a "gag order" almost immediately after incident.
• Sylvester is done now. Next up is BVPD Sgt. Sean Waterman.
• Patterson called Waterman in, said it was a suicide.
• Waterman describes scene, same description as other officers.
• Patterson told Waterman that Bluew knew Webb. Bluew told Waterman he knew her for about 10 years, "that they would talk from time to time."
• Bluew didn't tell Waterman the last time he saw or talked with Webb.
• Waterman looked at Webb's recent calls to try to approximate cause of death.
• As soon as Waterman saw "Ken Cop Boo's" number, he knew it was Bluew.
• Waterman: Webb called Bluew at about 8:30 and 8:45, then Bluew called her about 8:50. All calls lasted less than a minute.
• Bluew admitted to talking to her, said he talked to her all the time, and this time was checking on her.
• Bluew shakes his head in disagreement as Waterman says he admitted to talking to her.
• One of the first, if not the first, time he has had any kind of reaction to testimony.
• Contacted Medical Examiner's office, because he felt it was a suicide. ME office contacted funeral home.
• Waterman: the electrical cord was intertwined with Webb's necklace, mentioned earlier by King. Webb also had blood coming from her nose.
• Waterman went to Webb's parents' home in Bridgeport to tell them of Webb's death. Waterman becomes emotional as he recalls conversation.
• He told parents how she was found, that it looked like suicide. The parents said there was no way it could be suicide.
• Parents told Waterman that Bluew was father of unborn child. Waterman said he "became sick to my stomach."
• Waterman no longer felt death was a suicide. Parents told him that Webb was going to see Bluew that night.
• Waterman looked in Webb's bedroom at the house, and it looked like the room of an expecting mother.
• Parents said they thought Bluew knew child was his, that Webb was going to seek help of the county Friend of the Court when time was right.
• Waterman called BVPD Chief Brian Booker to tell him of developments, that they would need state police to investigate.
• Waterman saw Bluew at department after speaking with Webb's parents, but didn't say anything to him.
• O'Farrell now questioning Waterman.
• Waterman: bruises on inside of Webb's arms "didn't look fresh." Blood in her nose likely result of strangulation.
• Again, not anything new from Waterman on cross-examination.
• O'Farrell done, now Thomas with some follow-up.
• Waterman: neither he, nor Patterson or the funeral director caused bruises.
• Back in recess. Back shortly.
• Back in court. County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Jeffrey Stroud appears to be handling the state police crime lab experts.
• Boyd just admitted two lab reports. Not sure what the nature of the reports are, but hope to find out.
• Next witness, Valerie Bowman, a forensic scientist for the state police. Part of a crime scene response team.
• Bowman assembled a team to investigate scene. Team arrived at 9 am.
• Re: Stroud, this is the first time I've seen him handle a case in court since, if I recall correctly, the Roger Kelly murder trial in 2009.
• And when I say "handle in court" re: Thomas and Stroud, I mean actually taking testimony.
• Thomas handled the prosecution of Marcie Rousseau, the Freeland teacher, and the Bronner's vandals.
• Bowman using blown-up images of the location to orient herself before beginning to describe her activity.
• Bowman located a blood stain and a charm from a necklace to the west of the crime scene, across Outer Drive on along Hack Road.
• Also found a cigarette butt in the same location.
• These items were found in the driveway to the BV Wastewater Treatment plant, which is off Hack to the west of Outer.
• Bowman: Test results showed the blood stain was human blood. She packaged it for further testing.
• Bowman sent the jewelry charm for testing, as well as the cigarette butt.
• Bowman attended autopsy. Collected blood sample, fingernail swabs from Webb for DNA testing.
• She's not at liberty to testify to the results because she didn't conduct the tests. That's where the admitted reports come in.
• Collected a blood sample from the fetus for testing.
• Bowman also seized cord from Webb's neck, her necklace, and her clothes.
• Bowman: Blood was found on Webb's bra. She also found some weeds, debris, and the tip of a latex glove in her clothes.
• Saw blood stain on glove tip.
• Tip of glove was about an inch long. Not latex, but another material. Bowman refers to it as an "exam glove."
• Bowman: human blood on inside of glove, human saliva on the outside of the glove tip.
• This testimony might explain Thomas' focus on Bluew having a band aid on his right index finger.
• Bowman: Edges of glove tip not cut by some sort of incision tool. More ragged edges.
• Bowman also examined Webb's Aztek. Saw "blueish or purplish" stain on exterior of passenger side. There was a "possible presence" of blood.
• One of the admitted reports is one regarding the stain on the vehicle. Still nothing said on record as to results of tests.
• Bowman: fingerprints lifted from exterior if vehicle where the stain was.
• Bowman examined cord in vehicle, found possible blood on cord.
• Bowman: possible blood found on socket end of cord.
• Bowman: it was human blood on cord, forwarded for testing.
• Bowman: human blood also on "gear selector" near vehicle's dashboard.
• Bowman: also a blood stain on the inside of the front driver's side door.
• Bowman: blood stain also on rear seat.
• Bowman also examined BVPD patrol car that Bluew was driving that night. A box of exam gloves was in the trunk. Similar color to glove tip.
• Bowman: blood stain on steering wheel of Bluew's patrol car.
• Bowman: Three items taken from a yellow bag in vehicle: t-shirt, police pants, socks. T-shirt and pants were "clean."
• Bowman: pants appeared to have been laundered. Scent of detergent or fabric softner from shirt.
• Bowman: Yellow bag has a tag attached with Bluew's name.
• On a later date, another shirt and pants given to her. Appeared to be same size.
• Bowman: 2 human blood stains on pants.
• Body armor also submitted to Bowman. Blood stain on vest, too.
• Bowman also obtained "buckle swab" of Bluew's inner mouth, sent for testing.
• O'Farrell on cross, now.
• Bowman: blood stain found in treatment plant driveway was not spattered or dropped from a high level. But that's all she can say about it.
• Bowman: two spatter-type stains: one in vehicle, one on t-shirt. Other stains were "transfer" stains, like coming in contact w/ blood.
• Bowman says it is possible to spread blood by touching it, then inadvertently or intentionally touching other items.
• Another lull here, as Bowman isn't saying anything new or different than on direct examination.
• Bowman is done. Boyd concludes the hearing for the day. Attorneys headed to chambers to discuss when to continue.
• The hearing will continue tomorrow, Friday, at 10 a.m. Check MLive either later today or tomorrow morning on details of how to follow live
Revelation that BV Officer Kenneth Bluew fathered Jennifer Webb's unborn child sickened colleague who told her parents she killed herself
The Saginaw News
The Saginaw News
October 20, 2011
http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2011/10/revelation_that_bv_officer_ken.html
SAGINAW — After Buena Vista Police Department Sgt. Sean Waterman came to the Bridgeport Township home of Donald and Dawn Webb the night of Aug. 30 to tell them their pregnant daughter, Jennifer, had died of an apparent suicide earlier that evening, they had a revelation for him.
Waterman testified Thursday in Saginaw County District Court the Webbs told him “there was no way possible” that Jennifer Webb, 32, killed herself and that Kenneth Bluew — Waterman’s fellow Buena Vista officer, whose phone number was listed as “Ken Cop Boo” on Webb’s cell phone — was the father of her unborn son.
“I actually got pretty sick to my stomach, actually,” Waterman testified when Saginaw County Prosecutor Michael D. Thomas asked his response to the Webbs’ statements about Bluew, a 36-year-old married man from Saginaw Township who once served as the Tittabawassee Township police chief.
“I was thinking this was no longer a possible suicide,” said Waterman, who said the Webbs also told him they believed Bluew knew he was the father because Jennifer Webb “had made a decision to go to the Friend of the Court to get some assistance when the time was right.”
Saginaw County District Judge Christopher S. Boyd is trying to decide whether there’s probable cause to send Bluew to trial on a charge of first-degree murder in the strangulation death of Webb. Bluew also is charged with assault against a pregnant individual intentionally causing miscarriage or stillbirth of a fetus or embryo, and with two counts of possessing a firearm while committing a felony.
The preliminary exam, which drew a standing-room-only audience of up to about 45 people, will continue Friday at 10 a.m. in front of Boyd.
Buena Vista Officer Tim Patterson testified he went looking for Bluew, who was on duty and not responding to radio calls. He saw a Pontiac Aztek, Webb’s car, where North Outer meets Hack in Buena Vista Township. Moments later, he saw Bluew pull up from behind some trees in his patrol car behind Webb’s car before 11 p.m. that night.
Patterson testified he, accompanied by Bluew, found Webb’s lifeless body resting in “an indentation” near the top of a nearby drainage ditch, with an extension cord wrapped around her neck and attached to the roof rack of her vehicle.
Patterson testified he called Saginaw County Central Dispatch to report an apparent suicide. He said he noticed Bluew was sweating.
“To me, it looked like he was sweating bullets, like he had just (exited) a shower,” Patterson said.
Waterman testified he learned at the scene that Bluew knew Webb, and when he questioned Bluew about it, the officer said the pair were friends and Bluew told him he’d known her for about 10 years. But Waterman also testified he examined Webb’s cell phone at the scene and noticed two calls from Webb’s phone to Bluew’s cell phone, at 8:28 p.m. and 8:43 p.m., with a third call from Bluew’s phone to Webb’s phone at 8:48 p.m.
Donald Webb, the late Jennifer Webb’s father, took off his glasses and wiped away tears in the front row of the gallery as Waterman testified about visiting Jennifer Webb’s room at the Webbs’ home on the night Waterman told them their daughter was dead. Waterman’s voice caught in his throat and he paused as he related how he told the parents about their daughter’s death.
“There was baby stuff everywhere in there,” said Waterman, while Dawn Webb softly patted her husband on the back and Jan Wiles of Spaulding Township, who once babysat Jennifer Webb, also dabbed at tears.
During a break in testimony Thursday afternoon, courtroom spectator Becky Torrez, 35, of Carrollton Township, who said she grew up across the road from Jennifer Webb, said Webb eagerly awaited the birth of her son and planned to name him Braxton.
“She would have made a great mom, especially for a boy,” Torrez said. “She was very into sports.”
Torrez said Webb was an avid fan of the University of Michigan Wolverines, including the football team. She said Jennifer Webb told her less than two weeks before her death that Bluew was the father of the child.
Torrez, like some other spectators in court Thursday, wore a badge featuring a photo of Jennifer Webb. Other supporters wore blue rubber bracelets with the yellow words in “memory of Jenny and Braxton,” and at least one spectator wore a T-shirt bearing words and a photo commemorating Webb.
Andrea King, describing herself as a close friend of Webb for about 12 years, testified Webb had nicknamed her soon-to-be-born son “Little Man.”
“She was ecstatic, ecstatic” about the pending birth, King said. “Anybody just looking at her could tell.”
Valerie Bowman, a forensic scientist at the State Police Crime Laboratory in Bridgeport Township, testified she found a ragged tip of an exam glove among Webb’s clothes, and detected saliva on the outside of the glove tip and human blood on the inside.
Bowman also testified she found human blood on the steering wheel of Bluew’s police car and detected human blood in Webb’s Pontiac Aztek on the gear selector, driver’s side door, rear seat and possibly the vehicle exterior.
Bluew, clad in a two-piece orange-and-white inmate outfit with “Gratiot County Jail” printed on the back, frequently whispered in the ear of his defense attorney, Saginaw lawyer Rod O’Farrell, during testimony Thursday.
During a court recess, Bluew turned his chair around to scan the audience with his eyes, mouthing words to supporters he spotted behind him.
“It’ll be OK,” one woman told him.
Police officer accused of murder hears testimony
ABC 12 News
Suspended Buena Vista Township Police Officer Kenneth Bluew waits during a recess in his preliminary hearing in front of Saginaw County District Judge Christopher S. Boyd. Bluew is charged in the Aug. 30 strangulation of the pregnant Jennifer Webb. Jeff Schrier. The Saginaw News.
SAGINAW — After Buena Vista Police Department Sgt. Sean Waterman came to the Bridgeport Township home of Donald and Dawn Webb the night of Aug. 30 to tell them their pregnant daughter, Jennifer, had died of an apparent suicide earlier that evening, they had a revelation for him.
Waterman testified Thursday in Saginaw County District Court the Webbs told him “there was no way possible” that Jennifer Webb, 32, killed herself and that Kenneth Bluew — Waterman’s fellow Buena Vista officer, whose phone number was listed as “Ken Cop Boo” on Webb’s cell phone — was the father of her unborn son.
“I actually got pretty sick to my stomach, actually,” Waterman testified when Saginaw County Prosecutor Michael D. Thomas asked his response to the Webbs’ statements about Bluew, a 36-year-old married man from Saginaw Township who once served as the Tittabawassee Township police chief.
“I was thinking this was no longer a possible suicide,” said Waterman, who said the Webbs also told him they believed Bluew knew he was the father because Jennifer Webb “had made a decision to go to the Friend of the Court to get some assistance when the time was right.”
Saginaw County District Judge Christopher S. Boyd is trying to decide whether there’s probable cause to send Bluew to trial on a charge of first-degree murder in the strangulation death of Webb. Bluew also is charged with assault against a pregnant individual intentionally causing miscarriage or stillbirth of a fetus or embryo, and with two counts of possessing a firearm while committing a felony.
The preliminary exam, which drew a standing-room-only audience of up to about 45 people, will continue Friday at 10 a.m. in front of Boyd.
Buena Vista Officer Tim Patterson testified he went looking for Bluew, who was on duty and not responding to radio calls. He saw a Pontiac Aztek, Webb’s car, where North Outer meets Hack in Buena Vista Township. Moments later, he saw Bluew pull up from behind some trees in his patrol car behind Webb’s car before 11 p.m. that night.
Patterson testified he, accompanied by Bluew, found Webb’s lifeless body resting in “an indentation” near the top of a nearby drainage ditch, with an extension cord wrapped around her neck and attached to the roof rack of her vehicle.
Patterson testified he called Saginaw County Central Dispatch to report an apparent suicide. He said he noticed Bluew was sweating.
“To me, it looked like he was sweating bullets, like he had just (exited) a shower,” Patterson said.
Waterman testified he learned at the scene that Bluew knew Webb, and when he questioned Bluew about it, the officer said the pair were friends and Bluew told him he’d known her for about 10 years. But Waterman also testified he examined Webb’s cell phone at the scene and noticed two calls from Webb’s phone to Bluew’s cell phone, at 8:28 p.m. and 8:43 p.m., with a third call from Bluew’s phone to Webb’s phone at 8:48 p.m.
Donald Webb, the late Jennifer Webb’s father, took off his glasses and wiped away tears in the front row of the gallery as Waterman testified about visiting Jennifer Webb’s room at the Webbs’ home on the night Waterman told them their daughter was dead. Waterman’s voice caught in his throat and he paused as he related how he told the parents about their daughter’s death.
“There was baby stuff everywhere in there,” said Waterman, while Dawn Webb softly patted her husband on the back and Jan Wiles of Spaulding Township, who once babysat Jennifer Webb, also dabbed at tears.
During a break in testimony Thursday afternoon, courtroom spectator Becky Torrez, 35, of Carrollton Township, who said she grew up across the road from Jennifer Webb, said Webb eagerly awaited the birth of her son and planned to name him Braxton.
“She would have made a great mom, especially for a boy,” Torrez said. “She was very into sports.”
Torrez said Webb was an avid fan of the University of Michigan Wolverines, including the football team. She said Jennifer Webb told her less than two weeks before her death that Bluew was the father of the child.
Torrez, like some other spectators in court Thursday, wore a badge featuring a photo of Jennifer Webb. Other supporters wore blue rubber bracelets with the yellow words in “memory of Jenny and Braxton,” and at least one spectator wore a T-shirt bearing words and a photo commemorating Webb.
Andrea King, describing herself as a close friend of Webb for about 12 years, testified Webb had nicknamed her soon-to-be-born son “Little Man.”
“She was ecstatic, ecstatic” about the pending birth, King said. “Anybody just looking at her could tell.”
Valerie Bowman, a forensic scientist at the State Police Crime Laboratory in Bridgeport Township, testified she found a ragged tip of an exam glove among Webb’s clothes, and detected saliva on the outside of the glove tip and human blood on the inside.
Bowman also testified she found human blood on the steering wheel of Bluew’s police car and detected human blood in Webb’s Pontiac Aztek on the gear selector, driver’s side door, rear seat and possibly the vehicle exterior.
Bluew, clad in a two-piece orange-and-white inmate outfit with “Gratiot County Jail” printed on the back, frequently whispered in the ear of his defense attorney, Saginaw lawyer Rod O’Farrell, during testimony Thursday.
During a court recess, Bluew turned his chair around to scan the audience with his eyes, mouthing words to supporters he spotted behind him.
“It’ll be OK,” one woman told him.
Police officer accused of murder hears testimony
ABC 12 News
October 20, 2011
SAGINAW (WJRT) - (10/20/11) - The preliminary hearing for a police officer accused of killing a pregnant woman began Thursday morning in a Saginaw County courtroom.
It was the first time we've heard the details as to how Jennifer Webb's body was found, and what role the defendant, Ken Bluew, had in the investigation.
The death of Webb was first looked at as a suicide, but that changed several minutes after her body was found.
"Can you identify the person in that picture?" asked Saginaw County Prosecutor Michael Thomas.
"That's Jenny," said Andrea King.
Jennifer Webb was 32 years old and eight months pregnant on Aug. 30. King says they were best friends.
"Do you know who took that picture?" asked Thomas.
"My father took it, it was the day my girls were born. It was in the waiting room," King testified.
King also said Webb was visiting the night of Aug. 30, but had to leave to meet someone. She testified Webb said she was going to see Ken, but Bluew's attorney objected, and Judge Christopher Boyd sustained the objection.
Buena Vista Police officer Tim Patterson testified that after 10 that night, a number of attempts were made to reach Bluew, who was on duty. Patterson said he went looking for Bluew on Outer Drive, near the gun range, because that's where's he found him before.
"I've actually rolled past him once or twice, sleeping," Patterson said.
Patterson first saw an Aztec parked near the gun range, and a short time later, saw Bluew's patrol car.
"Officer Bluew stepped out of his vehicle, started walking towards the Aztec and said, 'How do you want to do this,'" Patterson testified.
Patterson assumed it was a suspicious vehicle investigation, but then Bluew told him this:
"He was going up to the vehicle, and he said, 'there is a body,'" Patterson said.
Patterson said a cord was around Webb's neck, the cord attached to the SUV's roof rack, and Webb's body was lying in steep ditch. He called Central Dispatch.
"I appeared to have a code 49, which is a suicide," Patterson said.
He testified that Bluew found a note in the SUV.
"Located a suicide note, an apparent suicide note in the purse of the vehicle," Patterson said.
Patterson says he was then shocked when Webb's cell phone was examined.
"There was a name that came up that said "Ken Cop Boo" on there and for whatever reason, it went into my mind, Ken's a cop, she had been talking to him recently," Patterson said.
By then, Bluew had already taken crime scene photos during the investigation. At the point, the investigation took a different direction.
A detective testified that when they went to tell Jennifer Webb's family about her death, he asked who they believed the father of Webb's unborn child was and their answer was Ken Bluew.
The preliminary hearing will continue Friday.
Court spectator assures suspended Buena Vista Officer Kenneth Bluew, accused of murdering Jennifer Webb, that 'It'll be OK.'
The Saginaw News
October 20, 2011
Suspended Buena Vista Township Police Officer Kenneth Bluew waits during a recess in his preliminary hearing in front of Saginaw County District Judge Christopher S. Boyd. Bluew is charged in the Aug. 30 strangulation of the pregnant Jennifer Webb. [Jeff Schrier. The Saginaw News]
SAGINAW — With only the center aisle of a Saginaw County courtroom separating them, supporters of suspended Buena Vista Township Police Department Officer Kenneth T. Bluew and of Jennifer M. Webb — the woman Bluew is accused of murdering — wiped away tears during Bluew’s preliminary exam Thursday morning.
Bluew himself was anything but stoic, too, during the hearing before a standing-room-only audience of about 45 people in front of District Judge Christopher S. Boyd, frequently whispering in the ear of his defense attorney, Saginaw lawyer Rod O’Farrell, during testimony.
During a court recess Bluew, 36, of Saginaw Township wheeled his chair around to scan the audience with his eyes, mouthing words to supporters he spotted behind him.
“It’ll be OK,” one woman said to Bluew, a former Tittabawassee Township police chief, accused of first-degree murder in the strangulation death of Webb, 32, of Bridgeport Township, who was eight months pregnant.
During the same recess in Boyd’s courtroom, several supporters gave prolonged hugs to Dawn Webb — the late Jennifer Webb’s mother — as she stood up during the break.
Boyd heard testimony this morning from three witnesses as he tries to determine whether there’s probable cause to order Bluew to trial on charges of first-degree murder, assault against a pregnant individual intentionally causing miscarriage or stillbirth of a fetus or embryo, and two counts of possessing a firearm while committing a felony.
Testimony was set to resume at 1:45 p.m. before Boyd, who presided this morning before a packed courtroom, with as many as seven spectators standing against the back wall at times because court benches were filled up.
The late Webb’s parents, Donald and Dawn Webb, along with others including her sister, Angela, sat in the front row behind Saginaw County Prosecutor Michael D. Thomas and Chief Assistant Prosecutor Jeffrey Stroud.
The front row on the other side of the courtroom — behind Bluew — was reserved for police officers. Several officers identifying themselves as Michigan State Police employees occupied the front row, but declined comment when asked if they were there to support Bluew, who has worked for the Saginaw County Sheriff’s Department in addition to working for the Tittabawassee Township and Buena Vista Township departments.
Thomas said he expects to call Buena Vista Township Police Department Sgt. Sean Waterman and Officer Sara Sylvester this afternoon. Thomas said he doesn’t believe the exam will finish today.
At today's hearing, friends and relatives of the late Jennifer Webb, including Webb’s onetime baby sitter, Jan Wiles of Spaulding Township, wore badges — pinned to their shirts or sweaters — bearing Webb’s photo.
Wiles wiped tears from her eyes in a hallway outside court during a recess in testimony, but declined comment.
Other supporters wore bracelets in Webb’s memory, and one spectator wore a T-shirt bearing words and a photo commemorating Webb.
Day 2: Prelim for officer charged with murder
WNEM News
WNEM News
Oct 21, 2011
http://www.wnem.com/story/15765571/prelim-for-officer-charged-with-murder-continues
SAGINAW COUNTY, MI (WNEM) - The preliminary exam for a police officer accused of killing a pregnant woman continues Friday.
Ken Bluew is facing first-degree murder charges in the death of Jenny Webb and her unborn baby. Webb's body was found in late August near a police shooting rage in Buena Vista Township.
Several witnesses took the stand Thursday, including several officers who were working with Bluew the night Webb's body was found. Bluew was also on duty.
Officer Tim Patterson and Ken Bluew discovered her body in a ditch at the end of Outer Driver. When police arrived on the scene they initially though Webb's death was a suicide. Earlier that night there was a period of time when central dispatch could not reach Bluew's patrol car via radio.
Several photographs of the crime scene were admitted for evidence. Bluew took most of the pictures.
Police moved Webb's body and car before realizing the pregnant woman did not kill herself. When officers notified Webb's parents of her death they told police Ken Bluew was the father of the unborn baby. At that time police reestablished "what was left of the scene."
Detectives also found Webb's cell phone. One testified the call log showed three calls between Webb and Bluew the night of her death.
Bluew is currently suspended from the Buena Vista Police Department without pay.
Here are Liz's tweets from the court hearing today:
-- In court. Prelim resumes at 10am. Jenny's family & friends are wearing [commemorative] shirts.
-- First witness called: Lisa Ramos. She is with the Michigan State Police Lab & processes DNA.
-- DNA expert is explaining the process MSP uses for this type of evidence.
-- Expert tested for paternity. Explaining DNA profiles. She has not said results yet.
-- MSP DNA expert testifies that Ken Bluew is the father of the unborn baby. She used some technical terms but basically he is a match.
-- Lab tested blood on Bluew's police body armor, uniform pants & a steering wheel. Results show blood belongs to Bluew.
-- Lab also tested blood in the street. Blood belongs to Jenny Webb.
-- DNA from Webb's fingernails show samples from her own DNA & Bluew's.
-- Expert testifies blood on Jenny Webb's bra belongs to Bluew.
-- This DNA stuff can get pretty technical, trying to break it down. Expert says DNA from Bluew was found in Webb's car.
-- Defense is cross examining MSP DNA Expert.
-- Defense asked very few questions in cross exam. Next person on the stand is a Michigan State Police Detective.
-- MSP detective interviewed Bluew early Wednesday morning after Webb's body was found.
-- Detective says blood & necklace were about 100 yards from the area where car was found.
-- Bluew told the detective he did not go near the body. Also explained that he entered Webb's car through front passenger door to get her ID.
-- Prosecution: Did Bluew ever tell you why his blood would be on victim or her car? Detective: No.
-- During interview Bluew told detective he did not have sex with Webb. He "adamantly denied it."
-- Central dispatch could not reach Bluew for a period of time the night of Webb's death. Bluew told investigators it was on a diff channel.
-- MSP detective says he noticed marks on Blue's face during their interview.
-- During the interview with Det Teddy, Bluew denied having sex with Webb but before they took his DNA he paused & said I slept with her.
-- When Bluew arrived back at the police dept he took his uniform off, put it in a laundry bag & put in his truck. MSP asked for uniform.
-- MSP went to his truck to get the uniform. There was one in the laundry bag & another uniform stuffed under a seat.
-- Taking the stand now - Dr. Kanu Virani. He is a forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy.
-- Dr. Virani testifies Webb had bruises below the cheek & on her arms. He says her right wrist was dislocated.
-- Dr. Virani says when he examined the baby it was full term. He says baby was viable if it had been delivered.
-- Tears from Jenny Webb's family & friends as the autopsy is described. I can't imagine what it's like for them to hear this.
-- Dr. Virani says this is not a suicide. It is a homicide.
-- When Webb's body was found there was an electrical cord tied around her neck. Dr. Virani can tell it was put around her neck after she died.
-- Dr. Virani says Webb's cause of death is neck compression & consistent with someone likely using a "choke hold" to kill her.
-- Dr. Virani says bruises on Webb's body were fresh. He thinks it happened at or around time of death.
-- During cross exam defense is trying to argue physical findings match those of a hanging. Webb family members are shaking their heads.
-- Bluew is shaking his head. I'm pretty sure he mouthed 'what are you doing.'
-- What is going on in this courtroom? The defense attorney just asked Dr. Virani to demonstrate a choke hold on him. Didn't see that coming.
-- Prosecutor Thomas redirects with a question about baby. He asked how long would fetus survive after mom's death. Virani says 2-3 mins.
-- Dr. Virani leaves stand. I think they're wrapping.
-- Judge: Probable cause, case will be bound over for trial.
-- Defense attorney is trying to get Bluew released while he awaits trial. Judge will not allow it.
Suspended Buena Vista [MI] Police Officer Kenneth Bluew, who is charged with the August 30, 2011 murder of Jennifer Webb.
Jennifer Webb was eight months pregnant at the time she was murderded. DNA tests have confirmed that Officer Kenneth Bluew [charged in her murder] was the father of her unborn son.
SAGINAW COUNTY, MI (WNEM) - The preliminary exam for a police officer accused of killing a pregnant woman continues Friday.
Ken Bluew is facing first-degree murder charges in the death of Jenny Webb and her unborn baby. Webb's body was found in late August near a police shooting rage in Buena Vista Township.
Several witnesses took the stand Thursday, including several officers who were working with Bluew the night Webb's body was found. Bluew was also on duty.
Officer Tim Patterson and Ken Bluew discovered her body in a ditch at the end of Outer Driver. When police arrived on the scene they initially though Webb's death was a suicide. Earlier that night there was a period of time when central dispatch could not reach Bluew's patrol car via radio.
Several photographs of the crime scene were admitted for evidence. Bluew took most of the pictures.
Police moved Webb's body and car before realizing the pregnant woman did not kill herself. When officers notified Webb's parents of her death they told police Ken Bluew was the father of the unborn baby. At that time police reestablished "what was left of the scene."
Detectives also found Webb's cell phone. One testified the call log showed three calls between Webb and Bluew the night of her death.
Bluew is currently suspended from the Buena Vista Police Department without pay.
Here are Liz's tweets from the court hearing today:
-- In court. Prelim resumes at 10am. Jenny's family & friends are wearing [commemorative] shirts.
-- First witness called: Lisa Ramos. She is with the Michigan State Police Lab & processes DNA.
-- DNA expert is explaining the process MSP uses for this type of evidence.
-- Expert tested for paternity. Explaining DNA profiles. She has not said results yet.
-- MSP DNA expert testifies that Ken Bluew is the father of the unborn baby. She used some technical terms but basically he is a match.
-- Lab tested blood on Bluew's police body armor, uniform pants & a steering wheel. Results show blood belongs to Bluew.
-- Lab also tested blood in the street. Blood belongs to Jenny Webb.
-- DNA from Webb's fingernails show samples from her own DNA & Bluew's.
-- Expert testifies blood on Jenny Webb's bra belongs to Bluew.
-- This DNA stuff can get pretty technical, trying to break it down. Expert says DNA from Bluew was found in Webb's car.
-- Defense is cross examining MSP DNA Expert.
-- Defense asked very few questions in cross exam. Next person on the stand is a Michigan State Police Detective.
-- MSP detective interviewed Bluew early Wednesday morning after Webb's body was found.
-- Detective says blood & necklace were about 100 yards from the area where car was found.
-- Bluew told the detective he did not go near the body. Also explained that he entered Webb's car through front passenger door to get her ID.
-- Prosecution: Did Bluew ever tell you why his blood would be on victim or her car? Detective: No.
-- During interview Bluew told detective he did not have sex with Webb. He "adamantly denied it."
-- Central dispatch could not reach Bluew for a period of time the night of Webb's death. Bluew told investigators it was on a diff channel.
-- MSP detective says he noticed marks on Blue's face during their interview.
-- During the interview with Det Teddy, Bluew denied having sex with Webb but before they took his DNA he paused & said I slept with her.
-- When Bluew arrived back at the police dept he took his uniform off, put it in a laundry bag & put in his truck. MSP asked for uniform.
-- MSP went to his truck to get the uniform. There was one in the laundry bag & another uniform stuffed under a seat.
-- Taking the stand now - Dr. Kanu Virani. He is a forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy.
-- Dr. Virani testifies Webb had bruises below the cheek & on her arms. He says her right wrist was dislocated.
-- Dr. Virani says when he examined the baby it was full term. He says baby was viable if it had been delivered.
-- Tears from Jenny Webb's family & friends as the autopsy is described. I can't imagine what it's like for them to hear this.
-- Dr. Virani says this is not a suicide. It is a homicide.
-- When Webb's body was found there was an electrical cord tied around her neck. Dr. Virani can tell it was put around her neck after she died.
-- Dr. Virani says Webb's cause of death is neck compression & consistent with someone likely using a "choke hold" to kill her.
-- Dr. Virani says bruises on Webb's body were fresh. He thinks it happened at or around time of death.
-- During cross exam defense is trying to argue physical findings match those of a hanging. Webb family members are shaking their heads.
-- Bluew is shaking his head. I'm pretty sure he mouthed 'what are you doing.'
-- What is going on in this courtroom? The defense attorney just asked Dr. Virani to demonstrate a choke hold on him. Didn't see that coming.
-- Prosecutor Thomas redirects with a question about baby. He asked how long would fetus survive after mom's death. Virani says 2-3 mins.
-- Dr. Virani leaves stand. I think they're wrapping.
-- Judge: Probable cause, case will be bound over for trial.
-- Defense attorney is trying to get Bluew released while he awaits trial. Judge will not allow it.
ABC 12 News
Oct 21, 2011
http://www.abc12.com/story/15770070/officer-accused-of-killing-pregnant-woman-will-stand-trial
BUENA VISTA TOWNSHIP (WJRT) - (10/21/11) - A suspended police officer accused of killing the woman who was carrying his child will stand trial.
Ken Bluew was bound over to circuit court after the preliminary hearing ended Friday.
Jennifer Webb was killed on Aug. 30, and when she died, so did her unborn baby, who was already named Braxton.
It was a difficult day of testimony for the Webb family and friends.
"It's been hard because there has been a lot of stuff presented, but it's all new to me, what I'm hearing," said Jennifer Webb's father Donald Webb.
Jennifer Webb's body was found near a Buena Vista Township gun range on the night of Aug. 30. An extension cord was wrapped around her neck, and the cord was attached to her Pontiac Aztec.
Bluew, a 36-year-old Buena Vista Township Police Officer, was near the vehicle the night of her death when another police officer arrived. That other officer reported a possible suicide, but a Michigan State Police DNA Specialist testified that Bluew's blood and DNA were found in Webb's Aztec and on her body, and tests showed the married police officer was the father of Webb's unborn baby.
Michigan State Police detective Jason Teddy testified that when Bluew was interviewed, he said he never had sex with Webb, but a short time later, changed his story, and also said, according to Teddy, "He had been told by Ms. Webb that she was going to submit a list of five names for paternity and he was one of those five names."
Dr. Kanu Virani performed the autopsy and testified that Webb died from strangulation, not by suicide using the extension cord, but that her death was a homicide. Virnai and defense attorney Rod O'Farrell demonstrated how Virani believed a choke hold was put on 32-year-old Jennifer Webb.
Virnai also testified the unborn baby named Braxton was between 32 and 36 weeks old. "We call it a 'viable baby.' It means that if the baby was delivered, it would have been alive on its own," she said.
Judge Christopher Boyd bound Bluew over for trial for premeditated first degree murder and three other charges, including assault against a pregnant individual, intentionally causing miscarriage or stillbirth of a fetus or embryo.
Donald Webb believes investigators have done a good job in building the complicated case against Bluew, but it was a difficult day of testimony. "It's bad enough to lose a daughter, but to lose a grandchild without ever seeing him," he said.
A defense motion to allow Bluew to be released from jail until the beginning of his trial was denied by the judge.
Friend of late Jennifer Webb on Officer Kenneth Bluew being ordered to stand trial on murder charge: It's 'what we were praying for'
MLive
Jennifer Webb was murdered on August 30, 2011. Officer Kenneth Bluew [Buena Vista PD] was arrested and charged with her murder on September 12, 2011. Bluew's preliminary hearing was held in October.
BUENA VISTA TOWNSHIP (WJRT) - (10/21/11) - A suspended police officer accused of killing the woman who was carrying his child will stand trial.
Ken Bluew was bound over to circuit court after the preliminary hearing ended Friday.
Jennifer Webb was killed on Aug. 30, and when she died, so did her unborn baby, who was already named Braxton.
It was a difficult day of testimony for the Webb family and friends.
"It's been hard because there has been a lot of stuff presented, but it's all new to me, what I'm hearing," said Jennifer Webb's father Donald Webb.
Jennifer Webb's body was found near a Buena Vista Township gun range on the night of Aug. 30. An extension cord was wrapped around her neck, and the cord was attached to her Pontiac Aztec.
Bluew, a 36-year-old Buena Vista Township Police Officer, was near the vehicle the night of her death when another police officer arrived. That other officer reported a possible suicide, but a Michigan State Police DNA Specialist testified that Bluew's blood and DNA were found in Webb's Aztec and on her body, and tests showed the married police officer was the father of Webb's unborn baby.
Michigan State Police detective Jason Teddy testified that when Bluew was interviewed, he said he never had sex with Webb, but a short time later, changed his story, and also said, according to Teddy, "He had been told by Ms. Webb that she was going to submit a list of five names for paternity and he was one of those five names."
Dr. Kanu Virani performed the autopsy and testified that Webb died from strangulation, not by suicide using the extension cord, but that her death was a homicide. Virnai and defense attorney Rod O'Farrell demonstrated how Virani believed a choke hold was put on 32-year-old Jennifer Webb.
Virnai also testified the unborn baby named Braxton was between 32 and 36 weeks old. "We call it a 'viable baby.' It means that if the baby was delivered, it would have been alive on its own," she said.
Judge Christopher Boyd bound Bluew over for trial for premeditated first degree murder and three other charges, including assault against a pregnant individual, intentionally causing miscarriage or stillbirth of a fetus or embryo.
Donald Webb believes investigators have done a good job in building the complicated case against Bluew, but it was a difficult day of testimony. "It's bad enough to lose a daughter, but to lose a grandchild without ever seeing him," he said.
A defense motion to allow Bluew to be released from jail until the beginning of his trial was denied by the judge.
Friend of late Jennifer Webb on Officer Kenneth Bluew being ordered to stand trial on murder charge: It's 'what we were praying for'
MLive
October 21, 2011
Jan Wiles, of Spaulding Township, second from left, a friend of the late Jennifer Webb, gets a hug after Saginaw County District Judge Christopher S. Boyd bound Kenneth Bluew over for trial. Bluew, a suspended Buena Vista Township Police Officer is charged in the Aug. 30 strangulation of the pregnant Jennifer Webb. [Jeff Schrier. The Saginaw News.]
SAGINAW — The fact Buena Vista Township Police Department Officer Kenneth T. Bluew has been ordered to stand trial on a charge of murdering pregnant Jennifer M. Webb is “what we were hoping for, what we were praying for,” said Jan Wiles of Spaulding Township, who once babysat Webb, following Bluew’s preliminary hearing this afternoon.
Saginaw County District Judge Christopher S. Boyd found probable cause exists for Bluew, 36, of Saginaw Township to stand trial on the murder charge and on a charge of assault against a pregnant individual intentionally causing miscarriage or stillbirth of a fetus or embryo.
The judge also ordered Bluew — who was on duty when Webb, 32, of Bridgeport Township was slain Aug. 30 — to stand trial on two counts of possessing a firearm while committing a felony.
“They got a lot more evidence than I thought they had. It’s a pretty strong case,” Donald Webb, the late Jennifer Webb’s father, told The Saginaw News during a break in today’s testimony.
“Most of what (prosecutors) presented, I didn’t know about ahead of time,” Webb said.
After Bluew was ordered to stand trial for the slaying of Webb, and after a court officer handcuffed his wrists to lead him from the courtroom, he turned toward supporters in the gallery and nodded twice, but didn’t mouth any words or wink as he had done earlier in the hearing, which began Thursday morning.
Michigan State Police Detective Sgt. Jason Teddy testified today that Bluew eventually admitted in an interview to having sex with Webb after initially “adamantly” denying it. Teddy, who stared in Bluew’s direction a number of times while testifying against him, also said Bluew told him Webb had “hinted” that Bluew was the father of her unborn son.
Seated at the defense table in court, Bluew shook his head several times in apparent disagreement with testimony from forensic pathologist Dr. Kanu Virani, who told the court he believes someone killed Webb by approaching her from behind and applying a “chokehold” on the woman, who was eight months pregnant.
Virani testified Webb died due to “neck compression” and not because of “ligature strangulation” by hanging herself with an extension cord, though Buena Vista police initially classified her death as a suicide.
Thursday’s testimony included statements from Buena Vista Officer Tim Patterson, who said he found Bluew alone at the scene of Webb’s death on the night of Aug. 30 where North Outer dead ends at Hack.
Patterson testified he, accompanied by Bluew, found Webb’s lifeless body resting in “an indentation” near the top of a drainage ditch, with the extension cord wrapped around her neck and attached to the roof rack of her Pontiac Aztek.
But Virani, who performed the autopsy on Webb, testified Webb had a dislocated right wrist and bruises on both arms in addition to a ligature mark around her neck. The doctor also said he found bleeding underneath Webb’s skin in the area of her chest, consistent with someone applying pressure on her chest while also applying pressure to her neck.
At defense attorney Rod O’Farrell’s request, Virani demonstrated — using O’Farrell as a pretend victim — how the doctor believes someone killed Webb.
When Virani testified about finding the fetus inside Webb’s body during the autopsy, Dawn Webb, the late Jennifer Webb’s mother, placed her head on Donald Webb’s shoulder, shaking her head back and forth, and covering her mouth with her hands.
Other supporters of the late Jennifer Webb wiped away tears as Virani described a “viable baby” who had died inside Jennifer Webb.
Wiles sat with other supporters of Webb and members of the Webb family. She said it was “hard to hear” Virani’s testimony about what happened to Jennifer Webb.
“I’ve known her ever since she was born,” Wiles said after Thursday’s hearing. “She wasn’t my daughter, but she was just like my daughter.”
Tweets from the courtroom:
Day two of preliminary hearing for BV Police Officer Kenneth Bluew, accused in pregnant woman's death
The Saginaw News
Gus Burns
October 21, 2011
October 21, 2011
http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2011/10/tweets_from_the_courtroom_day.html
SAGINAW — Day two testimony in the preliminary hearing for suspended Buena Vista Police Officer Kenneth T. Bluew, accused of strangulation and killing of Jennifer M. Webb and her unborn son while on duty, resumes Friday.
Bluew's preliminary hearing, during which Saginaw County District Judge Christopher S. Boyd will consider if enough evidence exists to take Bluew to trial, begins at 10 a.m. at the Saginaw County Governmental Center, 111 S. Michigan.
Bluew, 36, of Saginaw Township has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Webb, 32, whose body was found Aug. 30 near a Buena Vista gun range, as well as assault against a pregnant individual intentionally causing miscarriage or stillbirth of a fetus or embryo and two counts of possessing a firearm while committing a felony.
Webb was eight months pregnant.
• Several people in attendance are wearing T-shirts depicting Jennifer Webb. At the bottom they say Jenny & Braxton.
• Bluew entered in shackles and an orange and white striped jail uniform. Bluew winked at someone in the crowd.
• The prosecution called Lisa Ramos, a forensic specialist in biology at the state police DNA lab in Lansing. Stroud questioning.
Lisa Ramos, a DNA processor with the state police Lansing biology unit, testifies during the second day of the preliminary hearing at the Saginaw County Governmental Center. Jeff Schrier. The Saginaw News.
• Testimony is technical, related to process of DNA collection and testing.
Judge Christopher S. Boyd listens to testimony during the second day of the preliminary hearing of suspended Buena Vista police officer Kenneth Bluew. Jeff Schrier. The Saginaw News.
• Ramos: Results of DNA testing of fetus and Bluew were "consistent that he was the father."
• Ramos: Bluew's DNA found in swab of Webb's fingernails.
• Ramos: DNA tests of blood on exterior passenger side of Bluew's patrol car and steering wheel match Bluew's DNA.
• Ramos: Sample of blood stain from driveway at scene matched Webb's DNA.
• Ramos: DNA test of blood sample taken from Webb's "purple bra" matched Bluew.
• Ramos: Result of sample from exam glove finger tip from scene could not exclude Bluew or Webb.
• Ramos: 1 in 350,000 chance or more that this is not a mix of Webb and Bluew DNA.
• O'Farrell , for Bluew, has begun cross-examination.
• Ramos: Tests she conducted did not identify body source, such as saliva, blood, sweat.
• Ramos: Testing does not identify age of DNA source.
• Defense has no further questions. Prosecution calls State Police Detective Sgt. Jason Teddy from East Tawas Post.
State police Det. Sgt. Jason Teddy of the Tawas post testifies during the second day of the preliminary hearing of suspended Buena Vista police officer Kenneth Bluew at the Saginaw County Governmental Center. Jeff Schrier. The Saginaw News
• Teddy: Dispatched to scene in Buena Vista Township from home at 3:30 a.m. and later interviewed Bluew at BV police interview room.
• Teddy: He learned that Bluew left headquarters mid-shift with a "yellow laundry bag." Interview occurred at conclusion of Bluew's shift.
• Teddy: Bluew said he was "conducting general patrol." Discovered Webb's vehicle facing east at Hack and N. Outer.
• Teddy: Fellow officer Patterson arrived. Together they approached with lights on. "We've got a body" Bluew said.
• Teddy: Bluew said he entered vehicle to obtain ID. Opened piece of paper, an "obvious suicide note," before opening purse for ID.
• Teddy: Bluew said he last spoke to Webb day prior, last saw her weeks prior and in "cop mode" didn't recognize her car.
• Teddy: Bluew, when asked about sex with Webb, said: "I never had sex with that woman."
• Teddy: Bluew said Webb's pregnancy wasn't any of his business and he did not know who the father was.
• Teddy: Bluew said facial and arm scratches he had were from playing with his bulldog prior to shift.
• Teddy: Bluew paused for "number of minutes" before signing DNA test consent form.
• Teddy: As Bluew signed, he said: "I can tell you one thing guys, I did in fact sleep with her."
• Teddy: Bluew said they had sex once, while off duty, "some time ago," possibly January.
• Teddy: Bluew said his wife knew of and was OK with Bluew and Webb's "friendship".
• Teddy: During subsequent search at Bluew's home, police seized a uniform from Bluew's truck that he said didn't fit anymore.
• Court is amidst a five-minute recess.
• Teddy: Bluew submitted fingerprints days after Webb's death and had a "divot" and "deep bruising" on right index finger.
• From a distance, bruising beneath Bluew's right index finger nail is still visible.
• O'Farrell asks if finger photographed when Teddy first saw it during fingerprints. Teddy said no.
• Teddy: He asked about finger. Bluew told him he slammed it in a door.
• O'Farrell said a photo of one of Bluew's tattoos also shows his right hand with index finger concealed by "raggedy" Band-Aid.
• Teddy: Uniform seized from Bluew's personal vehicle appeared "used".
Suspended Buena Vista Police Officer Kenneth T. Bluew arrives in the courtroom for day two of his preliminary hearing.
SAGINAW — Day two testimony in the preliminary hearing for suspended Buena Vista Police Officer Kenneth T. Bluew, accused of strangulation and killing of Jennifer M. Webb and her unborn son while on duty, resumes Friday.
Bluew's preliminary hearing, during which Saginaw County District Judge Christopher S. Boyd will consider if enough evidence exists to take Bluew to trial, begins at 10 a.m. at the Saginaw County Governmental Center, 111 S. Michigan.
Bluew, 36, of Saginaw Township has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Webb, 32, whose body was found Aug. 30 near a Buena Vista gun range, as well as assault against a pregnant individual intentionally causing miscarriage or stillbirth of a fetus or embryo and two counts of possessing a firearm while committing a felony.
Webb was eight months pregnant.
• Several people in attendance are wearing T-shirts depicting Jennifer Webb. At the bottom they say Jenny & Braxton.
• Bluew entered in shackles and an orange and white striped jail uniform. Bluew winked at someone in the crowd.
• The prosecution called Lisa Ramos, a forensic specialist in biology at the state police DNA lab in Lansing. Stroud questioning.
• Testimony is technical, related to process of DNA collection and testing.
• Ramos: Results of DNA testing of fetus and Bluew were "consistent that he was the father."
• Ramos: Bluew's DNA found in swab of Webb's fingernails.
• Ramos: DNA tests of blood on exterior passenger side of Bluew's patrol car and steering wheel match Bluew's DNA.
• Ramos: Sample of blood stain from driveway at scene matched Webb's DNA.
• Ramos: DNA test of blood sample taken from Webb's "purple bra" matched Bluew.
• Ramos: Result of sample from exam glove finger tip from scene could not exclude Bluew or Webb.
• Ramos: 1 in 350,000 chance or more that this is not a mix of Webb and Bluew DNA.
• O'Farrell , for Bluew, has begun cross-examination.
• Ramos: Tests she conducted did not identify body source, such as saliva, blood, sweat.
• Ramos: Testing does not identify age of DNA source.
• Defense has no further questions. Prosecution calls State Police Detective Sgt. Jason Teddy from East Tawas Post.
• Teddy: Dispatched to scene in Buena Vista Township from home at 3:30 a.m. and later interviewed Bluew at BV police interview room.
• Teddy: He learned that Bluew left headquarters mid-shift with a "yellow laundry bag." Interview occurred at conclusion of Bluew's shift.
• Teddy: Bluew said he was "conducting general patrol." Discovered Webb's vehicle facing east at Hack and N. Outer.
• Teddy: Fellow officer Patterson arrived. Together they approached with lights on. "We've got a body" Bluew said.
• Teddy: Bluew said he entered vehicle to obtain ID. Opened piece of paper, an "obvious suicide note," before opening purse for ID.
• Teddy: Bluew said he last spoke to Webb day prior, last saw her weeks prior and in "cop mode" didn't recognize her car.
• Teddy: Bluew, when asked about sex with Webb, said: "I never had sex with that woman."
• Teddy: Bluew said Webb's pregnancy wasn't any of his business and he did not know who the father was.
• Teddy: Bluew said facial and arm scratches he had were from playing with his bulldog prior to shift.
Chief Assistant Prosecutor Jeffrey Stroud holds a photo showing one of Bluew's injuries during testimony in the second day of the Bluew's preliminary hearing. Jeff Schrier.
Chief Assistant Prosecutor Jeffrey Stroud displays a photo of Bluew's left forearm showing a tattoo. Jeff Schrier. The Saginaw News.
• Teddy: Bluew paused for "number of minutes" before signing DNA test consent form.
• Teddy: As Bluew signed, he said: "I can tell you one thing guys, I did in fact sleep with her."
• Teddy: Bluew said they had sex once, while off duty, "some time ago," possibly January.
• Teddy: Bluew said his wife knew of and was OK with Bluew and Webb's "friendship".
• Teddy: During subsequent search at Bluew's home, police seized a uniform from Bluew's truck that he said didn't fit anymore.
• Court is amidst a five-minute recess.
• Teddy: Bluew submitted fingerprints days after Webb's death and had a "divot" and "deep bruising" on right index finger.
• From a distance, bruising beneath Bluew's right index finger nail is still visible.
• O'Farrell asks if finger photographed when Teddy first saw it during fingerprints. Teddy said no.
• Teddy: He asked about finger. Bluew told him he slammed it in a door.
• O'Farrell said a photo of one of Bluew's tattoos also shows his right hand with index finger concealed by "raggedy" Band-Aid.
Bluew's attorney, Rod O'Farrell, show photos of Bluew's injuries to State Police Det. Sgt. Jason Teddy during cross examination. Jeff Schrier. The Saginaw News.
• Teddy: Uniform seized from Bluew's personal vehicle appeared "used".
• O'Farrell ended cross-examination.
• Prosecution calls Saginaw County Medical Examiner Kanu Virani.
Saginaw County Medical Examiner Kanu Virani, left, testifies about autopsy photos while questioned by Prosecutor Michael Thomas. Jeff Schrier. The Saginaw News.
• Saginaw County Prosecutor Michael Thomas is questioning Virani.
• Virani: Webb's body had scratch on left cheek, bruise on right jaw, bruising both arms, dislocated right hand, blood from nose, marks on neck.
• Virani: Cord with slip-knot still attached to neck when Webb's body arrived.
• Virani: I removed a 32- to 36-week-old fetus. It was a "viable" male baby.
• Virani: "Her cause of death was a neck compression... Not a total strangulation." Cause was pressure to neck and chest.
Saginaw County Medical Examiner Kanu Virani explains to Saginaw County Prosecutor Michael D. Thomas how a chokehold caused the death of Jennifer M. Webb, 32, of Bridgeport Township. Jeff Schrier. The Saginaw News.
• Virani: There was no internal neck injury. Cord was applied "later on after she died." It was a homicide.
• Thomas admitted autopsy photos of Webb. Bluew glanced but looked away as O'Farrell reviewed them.
• O'Farrell did not request to see a photo of the fetus, which Thomas handed to Judge Boyd as evidence.
• O'Farrell cross-examining. Virani concluded a "choke hold" caused Webb's death.
• Virani: A person administering choke hold would likely exhibit "some, minimum to quite a bit, injury" from victim fighting back.
• Virani: Bruising was "fresh," from at or around the time of death.
• Virani: Continuous choke hold could kill a person in three to five minutes.
• Virani demonstrated the theoretical choke used by Bluew on O'Farrell.
Saginaw County Medical Examiner Kanu Virani demonstrates a choke hold on Defense Attorney Rod O'Farrell during second-day preliminary hearing testimony. Jeff Schrier. The Saginaw News.
• There were laughs when Virani joked about choking the attorney for real.
• Virani: Fetus lives two to three minutes upon mother's death.
• The prosecution has no more witnesses.
• Boyd has bound all counts over to the Circuit Court based on presence of "probable cause".
• Now to the matter of Bluew's bond. Thomas "strenuously" urges against Bluew's pretrial release. Boyd agrees. Court adjourned.
