Document text
44 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, February 23, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental 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 Email Story to a Friend February 13, 2004 Timeline wavers in murder trial Analysis of recorded 9-1-1 call reveals little about what occurred just before the killing By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune A former Medford emergency dispatcher could give jurors no explanation Thursday for her failure to send aid to murder victim Kerry Repp. Testifying during the Jackson County Circuit Court trial of Repp’s husband, Gary Marvin Repp Jr., Celia Jones confirmed that she answered a 9-1-1 call from the Repp residence on Hazel Street in Central Point at 8:23 a.m. on May 4, 2002 — the day of Kerry Repp’s murder. Medford Police Department answers 9-1-1 calls from Central Point and dispatches officers in that city. Jones exhaled deeply and shut her eyes when asked if she recognized her voice on the tape. The call — disconnected after 16 seconds — did not stick out in her mind, Jones said, until detectives told her of its significance to the Kerry Repp murder. Jones told the court that she did not follow police department policy, which directs dispatchers to either phone back if the caller doesn’t respond, or send officers to the address. Previously employed as an emergency dispatcher in Phoenix, Ariz., Jones has not worked for Medford police for several months, said Medford police Deputy Chief Ron Norris. Police officials would not discuss the circumstances of her departure while the trial was pending, Norris added. Investigators have testified that Kerry Repp was calling for help at the moment she was shot in the back of the head while sitting on the edge of her bed. Blood and pieces of her teeth were found on a cordless telephone handset under the bed. When detectives hit the re-dial button at the crime scene, the phone called 9-1-1. Advertisement But further analysis of the recorded call yields little information about what happened in the Repps’ bedroom that Saturday morning. Although a scream-like sound can be heard in the background, FBI forensic scientist Hiro Nakasone testified that the harmonics did not fit those produced by a human voice. At first thought to be gunshots, three popping sounds that followed the "scream" did not match sounds that detectives produced by test-firing the murder weapon in the Repps’ bedroom, Nakasone said. A male and a female voice could be vaguely heard superimposed over the dispatcher’s, Nakasone said. But scientists pronounced the speech unintelligible. Although basing the crime around the 8:23 a.m. 9-1-1 call, Jackson County District Attorney Mark Huddleston presented some testimony Thursday that would refute any timeline placing Gary Repp in his home at the time of the call. Neighbor Julia Newell said she saw Repp’s pickup pass her house around 8:05 or 8:10 a.m. that morning. She then dropped her son off for a school field trip at 8:20 a.m., she said. Neighbors Tara and William Daniels testified to hearing motorcycle engines revving up at 8 a.m. that morning and continuing for about 30 minutes. Repp has told police that he was warming up the bikes for a camping trip. It appeared, the Danielses said, that Repp was preparing to leave the house while the children played in the driveway. Upcoming witnesses, however, will say that Repp arrived late for his stepson’s baseball team photo session — scheduled for 8:30 a.m. the morning of Kerry Repp’s murder. After making the five-minute drive from his house to the baseball fields, Repp arrived at 8:45 a.m., Huddleston said in his opening statement. Testimony in the trial continues today and is expected to continue through the month. 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 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times