A pre-trial hearing for 23-year-old Elizabeth Grace McDonald was pushed back Thursday after she was arrested Wednesday after reportedly violating bond conditions.
McDonald, 23, who is facing charges of capital murder of multiple persons, criminal conspiracy and prohibited sexual conduct, bonded out of jail Feb. 2 after nearly a year-and-a-half in jail. She and her adoptive sibling, Gabe McDonald, are accused of fatally shooting their parents, Gregg and Jana McDonald, in the early morning hours of March 2, 2016 in their Conley Avenue home.
Ector County District Judge James Rush signed an order Wednesday to issue a warrant for McDonald for violating bond conditions, court records show, but did the order not indicate what bond condition was violated. The hearing was rescheduled for 11 a.m. April 23.
Ector County Sheriff’s Office Spokesman Sgt. Gary Duesler said Thursday morning McDonald was arrested Wednesday in Midland County, but she had not yet been transferred to Ector County.
Rush lowered McDonald’s bond amount from $2 million to $200,000 after a pre-trial hearing Jan. 25 with newly assigned prosecution after Ector County District Attorney Bobby Bland recused his office in December.
Bond conditions set by the judge included McDonald could not attempt to injure herself, which she had done in the past prosecution previously told the court, and that she would only be able to reside with Amanda and Christopher Richardson. Amanda Richardson was a “longstanding friend” of McDonald’s, a motion to reduce bond stated.
Other bond conditions included that McDonald report to a pretrial supervision officer once per month, she have a curfew of 9 p.m., she could have no contact by any means with her grandparents Monty and Betty Wootten, nor with her brother Gabe McDonald, and she would submit to random drug testing.
Court records show a motion to modify special conditions of bond was filed April 5 by Grace McDonald’s defense attorney Steven Brand. The motion stated McDonald had forged a close relationship with Rebecca and Darren Browder of Midland while being supervised and it would be “more manageable for all involved” if she resided with them instead of the Richardson’s.
Rebecca Browder was identified by McDonald’s defense attorneys as the investigator hired by the firm to assist in McDonald’s case, records show.
A bond report filed Tuesday by Jimmy Ruiz, Director at Ector County Post Sentence/Pretrial Monitoring program, stated he was notified of the motion to change McDonald’s residence and that Amanda Richardson did not want McDonald back in her residence due to “personality conflicts.”
The move was later approved by Rush and defense attorney Thomas Fagerberg advised Ruiz that Amanda Richardson did not want McDonald returning to her home, “even for the purpose of getting her belongings,” the bond report stated.
Ruiz reported that Rebecca Browder would make arrangements to pick up McDonald’s belongings, at which time he advised Browder to also pick up the base unit for monitoring equipment and take it to her Midland County residence.
A jury trial for Elizabeth McDonald is scheduled for June 25. Her adoptive brother, Gabe McDonald, who is only facing one felony count of capital murder of multiple persons has a pre-trial scheduled for 2 p.m. May 8 with Rush and a trial date of June 11.
Gabe McDonald is accused of pulling the trigger during the fatal shooting. He is being represented by local attorney Justin Low.
ORIGINAL STORY:
Elizabeth Grace McDonald is back behind bars after a warrant for her arrest was issued due to violating bond conditions.
Ector County District Judge James Rush signed an order to issue a warrant for McDonald on Wednesday for violating bond conditions, court records show, but did not indicate what bond condition was violated.
McDonald, 23, who is facing charges of capital murder of multiple persons, criminal conspiracy and prohibited sexual conduct, bonded out of jail Feb. 2 after nearly a year-and-a-half in jail. She and her adoptive sibling, Gabe McDonald, are accused of fatally shooting their parents, Gregg and Jana McDonald, in the early morning hours of March 2, 2016 in their Conley Avenue home.
Ector County Sheriff’s Office Spokesman Sgt. Gary Duesler said this morning McDonald was arrested Wednesday in Midland County, but she had not been transferred to Ector County yet.
Rush lowered McDonald’s bond amount from $2 million to $200,000 after a pre-trial hearing Jan. 25 with newly assigned prosecution after Ector County District Attorney Bobby Bland recused his office in December.
Bond conditions set by the judge included McDonald could not attempt to injure herself, which she had done in the past prosecution previously told the court, and that she would only be able to reside with Amanda and Christopher Richardson. Amanda Richardson was a “longstanding friend” of McDonald’s, a motion to reduce bond stated.
Other bond conditions included that McDonald report to a pretrial supervision officer once per month, she have a curfew of 9 p.m., she could have no contact by any means with her grandparents Monty and Betty Wootten, nor with her brother Gabe McDonald, and she would submit to random drug testing.
Court records show a motion to modify special conditions of bond was filed April 5 by Grace McDonald’s defense attorney Steven Brand. The motion stated McDonald had forged a close relationship with Rebecca and Darren Browder of Midland while being supervised and it would be “more manageable for all involved.”
Rebecca Browder was identified by McDonald’s defense attorneys as the investigator hired by the firm to assist in McDonald’s case, records show.
A bond report filed Tuesday by Jimmy Ruiz, Director at Ector County Post Sentence/Pretrial Monitoring program, stated he was notified of the motion to change McDonald’s residence and that Amanda Richardson did not want McDonald back in her residence due to “personality conflicts.”
The move was later approved by Rush and defense attorney Thomas Fagerberg advised Ruiz that Amanda Richardson did not want McDonald returning to her home, “even for the purpose of getting her belongings,” the bond report stated.
Ruiz reported that Rebecca Browder would make arrangements to pick up McDonald’s belongings, at which time he advised Browder to also pick up the base unit for monitoring equipment and take it to her Midland County residence.
McDonald is set to appear for a pre-trial hearing at 2 p.m. today in Rush’s courtroom.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
