Hearing held for accused double murderer - News - MailTribune.com - Medford, OR

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

2015-11-16

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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation  |  Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED   » NEWS NOW   Snow settles on passes as cold front hits Southern Oregon       ...       DUIIs not all from a bottle       ...       Mail Tribune 100, Nov. 15, 1915       ...       Snow settles on passes as cold front hits Southern Oregon       ...       DUIIs not all from a bottle       ...       Mail Tribune 100, Nov. 15, 1915       ...           GRANTS PASS Hearing held for accused double murderer Brian Killian is accused of murdering a husband and wife in Colonial Valley Comment By Melissa McRobbie Grants Pass Daily Courier MailTribune.com By Melissa McRobbie Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Nov. 12, 2015 at 3:38 PM By Melissa McRobbie Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Nov. 12, 2015 at 3:38 PM »  Social News A Merlin man accused of killing a Colonial Valley couple in June had a brief status hearing in Josephine County Circuit Court Tuesday afternoon. Brian Killian, 28, appeared in court via video from the jail. He smiled, fidgeted in his seat and made faces at the camera as one of his two attorneys, Steven Krasik, updated Judge Pat Wolke on the case. "I think we're doing well, we're getting more discovery every day," Krasik told the court. Killian is charged with aggravated murder, robbery, burglary, auto theft and other crimes — 23 counts total — for the deaths of Jerry and Joann Jackson at their Space View Drive home June 15. The charges include two counts of animal abuse; one of the Jacksons' two Labradoodles was injured and the other died. The weapon used in the killings was a knife, according to court documents. Investigators believe Killian fled afterward in Joann Jackson's PT Cruiser, briefly driving the wrong way on Interstate 5 and later crashing near the Merlin landfill, where he tried to steal another car. Killian is being held without bail in Josephine County Jail. He is also charged with auto theft for an October 2014 car-stealing incident, and is facing auto theft, hit-and-run, eluding and other charges for crimes that occurred four days before the Jacksons were murdered. He'll be back in court Dec. 30, when Wolke will consider a motion to consolidate the cases against him. Wolke granted a request by the defense to allow Killian to dress in civilian clothes, rather than jail garb, for the December hearing. Friends have said Joann Jackson, 73, loved animals and was a member of a Colonial Valley women's club and other social groups. Jerry, 75, was fascinated by exotic plants and played the drums. They enjoyed eating out at the Riffle Cafe in Merlin. Oregon State Police have remained mum on a possible motive for the killings, and it remains unclear whether the couple knew the defendant. Killian's Josephine County criminal history includes a 2008 second-degree robbery conviction for pepper-spraying and robbing an Abby's Pizza delivery woman, and a 2006 conviction for eluding an officer. He also has prior convictions in Tillamook County for methamphetamine possession and theft. By Melissa McRobbie Grants Pass Daily Courier MailTribune.com By Melissa McRobbie Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Nov. 12, 2015 at 3:38 PM » Comment or view comments   Reader Reaction »  STAY INFORMED   Email NewsLetter   Sign Up Today   Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed   Email newsletter   Sign Up Today   Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.    Privacy Policy  |  Terms of Service  |  Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501