After a jury member failed to show up on schedule, the start of the Billy Chemirmir’s trial was delayed for several hours. If convicted of capital murder, Chemirmir will be sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.
Monday’s not guilty plea was entered by Chemirmir’s lawyer. Chemirmir maintains that he is innocent.
Although Chemirmir is being tried only in Harris’ murder, Glen Fitzmartin, the prosecutor, told jurors that they will also hear evidence from Chemirmir that he attacked Mary Annis Bartel on the day that Harris was killed. Also that he had killed Mary Brooks, 87 years old about six weeks before Harris was killed.
Fitzmartin stated, “These are the most vulnerable people we have in our area — three elderly women.”
Chemirmir is facing capital murder charges for all 18 women’s deaths — 13 in Dallas County, and five in Collin County. He is currently scheduled to be tried in Harris’ death. John Creuzot is the Dallas County District Attorney. He’s not seeking the death penalty in Harris’ murder. However, he said that he would try Chemirmir for at most one more death.
The defense declined Monday’s opening statement.
Bartel reported that Chemirmir had been forced into her apartment in an independent living community for seniors and placed a pillow on her head.
Fitzmartin stated that police discovered that Bartel was attacked and that there had been an earlier report that there had been a suspicious individual at her independent living center. Officers were then able to locate Chemirmir by using a license plate number.
Detectives from the police testified that he drove into a parking lot while they went to his apartment. He was carrying cash and jewelry in his hand as he threw the items into a dumpster, according to detectives.
According to police, a large, red-colored jewelry box was found in the dumpster. It contained documents that led them directly to Harris’ house. Harris’ widow was found dead in Harris’ bedroom with lipstick on her pillow.
Fitzmartin stated that evidence will prove that Harris was at the same Walmart two hours before Chemirmir’s items were found, including Harris’ house keys.
Fitzmartin stated that evidence will prove that Chemirmir listed jewelry belonging to Brooks and Bartel on an online seller site. Brooks and Chemirmir were also present at the same Walmart before her death, he said.
Fitzmartin stated, “All of the evidence is going to overwhelm you all.”
Jurors were shown Monday a taped deposition of Bartel. He died in 2020, just like in the first trial. She claimed that she had opened her front door to hear an “insistent knocking” and then immediately focused on the green rubber gloves being worn by the attacker.
Bartel claimed that she tried pushing the door shut, but was defeated. She said, “He said, “Don’t fight with me, lie on my bed.” She claimed that her attacker had “slammed” her pillow against her face and used all his weight to stop her from breathing.
Bartel lost consciousness after the attack. She later realized she had misplaced her wedding band, diamond engagement rings, and other jewelry.
After his arrest, the number of people Chemirmir was charged with killing grew. Most of the victims’ families only learned months to years later that authorities believed their loved ones had been murdered.
Chemirmir was accused of murdering most of the victims. He was found dead in his apartments in independent living communities for seniors, where he allegedly forced entry or pretended to be a handyman. Chemirmir is also accused of murdering women in private homes, including the widower of a man he cared for as an at-home caregiver.
