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EFFINGHAM COUNTY – Little was accomplished on November 25th, 2013, in Courtroom B of Effingham County’s courthouse in the room where Judge Sherri Tungate presided over the pre-trial hearing for 22 year old Justin DeRyke of Watson, IL who faces three counts for first degree murder in the death of his niece, Willow Long, scheduled for 11 a.m.
Debra DeRyke was present by shortly after 9 a.m. seated by herself reading a magazine, her eyes kept downward. No one else was with her, until moments before court adjourned in the DeRyke case at approximately 11:30, running late, because State’s Attorney Bryan Kibler, Public Defender Scott Schmidt, and Judge Kimberly Koester were meeting in her chambers.
Judge Tungate handily processed traffic matters for the early morning hours of court, done quickly, with dispatch. She’s always been excellent at clearly, concisely, and in a careful manner explaining legal rights and requirements to those who appear before her, so it’s clear they understand what is being asked of them and give appropriate informed responses.
Several reporters were there, but the appearance was extremely brief, which is what citizens who had attended expected. The Public Defender suggested to Judge Tungate that more time be allowed to process the “hundreds” of hours of audio and videotapes which had been shared with Schmidt by the State’s Attorney, to process on behalf of DeRyke’s defense. The page count of documents, which had been 730 pages at the last hearing, has now escalated to1,100 pages, and isn’t all in even yet.
Tungate inquired of Schmidt when he’d likely be prepared to advance ahead with trial, and he suggested February of 2014. Consulting her calendar, Judge Tungate set jury selection for February 10th, 2014. She scheduled the next pre-trial update status appearance for January 9th, 2014.
The Judge clarified that, of course, that meant the 120 Speedy Trial “clock” would stop running, not due to the State’s request, but by the Public Defender’s decision, to which Schmidt readily agreed.
Then she addressed Justin DeRyke, explaining directly to the defendant the particulars of the 120 Day Speedy Trial no longer applying, freeing the State of any culpability in the matter, and asking of him if that was what he desired as his Public Defender had requested.
He did not answer.
Judge Tungate repeated her clarification. A second time, DeRyke made no response.
Very patiently and pointedly, Judge Tungate slowly, carefully, and a slightly louder tone went through the entire explanatory legal rigmarole for a third time, at which point DeRyke literally offered an unintelligible grunt, which obviously passed for assent, a very far cry from the morning’s docket where those appearing stated, “Yes Your Honor” or “No Your Honor”. Those gathered were unable to see if Public Defender Schmidt had given him a jab in the ribs for a prompt.
Earlier in the day those brought to the Effingham County Courtroom from the nearby Jail through a secure walkway were dressed in orange and dingy white striped garments. DeRyke wore dingy orange and white jail trousers, but his shirt was a bright solid orange, with material and cut very much like “scrubs” medical personnel wear. This was because he is segregated in Protective Custody in the jail. He did not appear as tall as his 6’5” height because he slumped into the courtroom, not looking around, so he made no eye contact with his mother who was seated in the very back row of the courtroom on the defense “side”.
Justin DeRyke seemed almost indifferent.
Justin DeRyke was set to stand TRIAL in December for brutally slaughtering little Willow Long. As Disclosure predicted in September, that’s simply not going to happen…