DENIEDhttp://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Apr-19-Wed-2006/news/6933299.htmlDistrict Judge Jackie Glass on Tuesday ordered that professional bodybuilder Craig Titus and his wife, Kelly Ryan, be held without bail in the death of their personal assistant until their murder trial is held in January 2007.
Just seconds after Glass made the ruling,
Titus started laughing out loud -- loud enough to be heard throughout the courtroom. Glass said nothing in response.
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The couple's defense attorneys made it clear in court that the lack of a cause of death for the couple's personal assistant, Melissa James, will likely be a big issue at their murder trial.
"The coroner can't even tell us a manner and means of death," said Ryan's defense attorney, Tom Pitaro, in arguing for a bail setting. "They don't know cause of death. They don't know how it happened."
The pair are charged with killing James, 28, in December, then burning the body in the back of Ryan's car off state Route 160.
Ryan is a 33-year-old past Ms. Fitness America and Ms. Olympia runner-up, and Titus is a 40-year-old past place-winner of international Mr. Olympia competitions.
An acquaintance, Anthony Gross, is accused of being an accomplice by helping them burn James' body. Gross, 23, remains under house arrest after posting $13,000 bail. He was charged with accessory to murder and third-degree arson.
A witness, Megan Pierson, has told a grand jury that Titus and Ryan talked about James' death and the use of a Taser on the victim. She also said Ryan talked about the victim being beaten and drugged, and said Titus later mimicked choking the victim.
In statements to the police, Titus and Ryan denied wrongdoing, saying they found the victim overdosed on drugs in their car, and they panicked and burned the body.
Prosecutors, however, allege murder.
Prosecutor Robert Daskas said in court Tuesday the only reason there is no cause of death in the case is because of the actions of the defendants themselves. "Any confusion about cause of death is their doing," Daskas said. "Beat. Drugged. Tasered. Duct taped ... restrained, burned. It's their doing that caused any confusion."
