Justin Thurber wrote a jail house letter asking an acquaintance to help him manufacture an alibi that would account for Thurber’s whereabouts on certain days, according to testimony given at a preliminary hearing Tuesday.
Chris Davis told the court the letter was delivered to him by Thurber’s sister early in 2007. Thurber had been arrested for the murder of 19-year-old Jodi Sanderholm and was looking for Davis’ help.
The letter asked Davis to write and sign a statement that indicated he and Thurber were together on certain days during Sanderholm’s disappearance. Thurber offered to take care of Davis and his family if the directions were followed.
He said “my granddaughter would be taken care of,” Davis testified. With little delay, Davis rejected Thurber’s request because Davis knew the two men had not been together on those days.
Thurber is charged with capital murder in the death of Sanderholm, who went missing Jan. 5, 2007. Wednesday’s proceeding was a preliminary hearing regarding the admissibility of evidence against Thurber.
In addition to hearing testimony, Judge Jim Pringle rejected a defense motion to dismiss the capital murder charge against Thurber.
The hearing lasted much of the day and was held at the Cowley County Courthouse. Thurber’s trial is scheduled to begin in June, but his attorneys are requesting a delay to that start date.
Pringle is expected to rule on that request later this month.
Editor’s note: KSOK Radio reporter Shawn Wheat contributed information for this story.
