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Death penalty a possibility for man accused of
killing Isabel Celis, Maribel Gonzales
By
Tucson News Now | October 15, 2018 at 5:20 PM MST - Updated October 15 at 5:20
PM
TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) - The death penalty is
a possibility for the man accused of killing Isabel Celis and Maribel Gonzales.
Christopher Clements has been accused of kidnapping
and killing the two Tucson girls years ago.
On Monday, Tucson News Now found out the state has
requested more time in considering if it wants to pursue the death penalty in
the case.
The state has until Jan. 24 to make its decision.
The fact the state is requesting more time means it
is considering capital punish for Clements, who pleaded not guilty on Sept. 24
to 22 felony charges, including first-degree murder, kidnapping, sexual
exploitation of a minor and possession of child porn.
Clements will be represented by Eric W. Kessler, a
Scottsdale attorney who handles first-degree murder cases. Clements was
assigned new counsel on Thursday, Oct. 11.
He is being held on $2 million cash bond in the
Pima County Jail.
Celis was 6 years old when she vanished from her
parents' east-side home in April 2012. Gonzales was 13 when she disappeared
while walking to a friend’s house in 2014.
Gonzales' body was found days after her
disappearance. Celis’ remains were not located until early 2017.
[ Indictment handed down in deaths of Isabel Celis
and Maribel Gonzales ]
Both girls were kidnapped, killed and dumped in a
remote area near Trico and West Avra Valley roads in Pima County.
Both investigations were cold for years, until
someone contacted the FBI in February 2017. The source alleged Clements had
information about Celis.
In March 2017, Clements led federal agents to
Celis' body. At the time, Clements was in the Pima County Jail on burglary
charges.
He agreed to reveal the location of Celis' remains
if the burglary charges were dismissed and his vehicle was returned to him.
Authorities agreed and the charges were dropped,
but Clements was not released.
[ Clements gets into fight at Maricopa County Jail
]
Instead he was transported to Maricopa County to
face burglary and fraud charges there.
While in Maricopa County, authorities were able to
put together a case against him.
He was indicted Sept. 15 and extradited back to
Pima County Sept. 23.
TIMELINE OF CASE
1993: Christopher Clements accused of molesting a
very young child. He was never charged.
1998: Clements convicted of first-degree sexual abuse in Oregon.
2002: Clements convicted of identity theft and assault in Washington.
2006: Clements convicted of failure to register as a sex offender in Oregon and Florida.
2007: Clements convicted of false reporting in Pima County.
2008: Clements convicted of failure to register in Tucson.
APRIL 2012: Isabel Celis' family reports her disappearance from their home.
JUNE 2014: Maribel Gonzales disappears while walking to visit a friend. Her body is found days later near North Trico and West Avra Valley roads in rural Pima County.
FEBRUARY 2017: Someone contacts FBI alleging Clements has information about Celis.
MARCH 2017: Clements leads federal agents to human remains near North Trico and West Avra Valley roads in rural Pima County. DNA testing reveals the remains belong to Celis.
SEPT. 15, 2018: Authorities announce 22-count indictment against Clements in deaths of Celis and Gonzales.
SEPT. 18, 2018: Clements gets into fight with two inmates at the Maricopa County Jail.
SEPT. 23, 2018: Clements extradited to Pima County to face charges.
SEPT. 24, 2018: Clements enters plea of not guilty.
OCT. 11, 2018: Eric W. Kessler assigned as Clements' counsel.
OCT. 15, 2018: State requests more time to consider seeking death penalty for Clements.
Copyright 2018 Tucson News Now. All rights
reserved.
INTERNET
SOURCE:
Prosecutors to seek death penalty in Clements case
Posted:
12:48 PM, Feb 11, 2019
Updated:
11:08 PM, Feb 12, 2019
By:
Phil Villarreal
TUCSON, Ariz. - State prosecutors will seek the
death penalty in the Christopher Clements murder case.
Clements, who is accused of killing six-year-old
Isabel Celis and 13-year-old Maribel Gonzalez, appeared in court for a status
conference Monday.
Clements, 36, was initially arrested in Maricopa
County on charges of burglary and breaking and entering.
The convicted sex offender is now facing 22 felony
charges including the murders of Celis and Gonzales.
INTERNET
SOURCE: https://www.kgun9.com/news/local-news/prosecutors-to-seek-death-penalty-in-clements-case
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