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45 °F Forecast | Road Cams Saturday, November 13, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend November 9, 2004 Grand jury to hear murder evidence A Burbank, Calif., attorney has been retained by the suspect By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune Grand jurors today will hear evidence against accused murderer David Michael Jurich. Prosecutors are seeking an indictment charging Jurich with one count of murder in connection with the bludgeoning death of 68-year-old David Evan Rice, said Matt Chancellor, deputy district attorney for Jackson County. Rice — a convicted sex offender — was found dead in an Ashland motel room on Oct. 29. Jurich, 24, made his first appearance in Jackson County Circuit Court Monday to hear the charge against him. But defense attorney Damian Idiart asked the court to postpone Jurich’s arraignment for two weeks. Jurich has retained a Burbank, Calif., attorney who specializes in murder and violent crimes, Idiart said. Jurich stood silently in court, his hands folded in front of his green jail uniform. Arrested last week in Reno, Nev., Jurich traveled to Medford by airplane Friday in the custody of two local detectives. He was lodged in the Jackson County Jail, where he remains without bail. Investigators Monday searched for more evidence in the case around the Relax Inn and spots known to shelter homeless travelers, said detective Colin Fagan of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. Rice was a transient, although he was on supervised parole at the time of his death, police said. Advertisement After the killing, Jurich lived as a transient, fleeing to San Francisco and then boarding a bus to Reno, Fagan said. Suspecting that Jurich was in Reno, authorities circulated fliers with his photo. When Jurich turned up at a downtown liquor store, the clerk called police. Reno authorities said Jurich confessed to the crime. A paroled burglar, Jurich had been drinking the day of Rice’s death, Fagan said. Jurich’s family have disputed his characterization as a transient. His parents, who live in California, said they were in contact with him after the murder. Jurich had been panhandling around Southern Oregon for the past six months, police said. In September, Jurich was indicted for the July theft of a vehicle, an unrelated case. He failed to appear in court on that charge, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities