March 29, 2024

Defense claims drug connection to CDR murders during Snedeker testimony

Gregory's siblings get emotional on stand

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WATERLOO — The defense's theory that a drug-related hit was the motive behind March 3, 1983 deaths of 17-year-old Melisa Gregory and 20-year-old Steven Fisher began to surface Wednesday during the cross examination of former Copper Dollar Ranch owner Hal Snedeker.

Theresa "Terri" Supino, now 54, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the brutal killings of her estranged husband, Fisher, and his girlfriend, Gregory at the CDR northwest of Newton. But attorneys for the defendant want to link the drug activity of Snedeker to the killings, hoping to make it plausible for jurors that the deaths could have been the result of a drug deal gone bad.

With reluctance, Snedeker told co-defense counsel Steve Addington he began trafficking drugs from Iowa due to the financial failings of his horse breeding and quartering operation at the CDR — although Snedeker maintains no marijuana was transported from or to the ranch.

Snedeker moved to Newton from Florida in 1981 while on probation for a drug-related offense. He testified that Fisher knew about the drug trafficking nearly one year before his death and was even involved — Fisher was sent to Florida while employed at the CDR with a $36,000 cash payment for a marijuana load. On the stand Wednesday, Snedeker said from June 1982 to March 1983 he trafficked three to four loads of marijuana weighing 300 to 350 pounds each.

Referencing statements Snedeker made to law enforcement in 1983 and in his Dec. 2014 deposition, Addington revealed the former ranch owner knew Fisher worked as an drug informant for local police by referencing a conversation with ranch employee and Fisher's friend Jeff Illingworth in which he warned Snedeker that Fisher was going to snitch. Snedeker said he thought, at the time, Fisher was only informing police about smaller traffickers moving 5 to 10 pounds of drugs.

Snedeker was granted immunity for drug violations by law enforcement in 1983 for statements regarding Gregory and Fisher's murders, and the statute of limitations on drug activity from that time has expired. But the defense claims Snedeker has refused to give up the names of his former Florida drug contact in fear of retaliation — names which the defense believes could provide a person with motive in the killings.

Snedeker argued that he wouldn't give their identities because they are "my friends," and the former CDR owner also told jurors he considered Fisher a friend and was even asked by Fisher's family to be a pallbearer at his funeral. But Addington read a statement from Snedeker's 1983 police statement to contradict the claim that the witness wasn't afraid of the Florida drug contacts.

"Immunity is one thing, signing my death warrant is another," Snedeker told investigators.

That statement was not admissible in the jury's presence but was part of a line of questioning which led the court to allow jurors to hear information about Snedeker's drug trafficking.

Cross examination of Snedeker is scheduled to continue Thursday.

Victim's siblings speak

The brother and sister of victim Melisa Gregory took the stand Wednesday recalling the relationship their sister shared with Fisher as well as the days leading to their 1983 murders. Scott and Lisa Gregory told jurors of a visit Supino made to their home late at night just months before their sister's murder. They both said Supino was looking for Fisher at their residence, and Melisa Gregory came running downstairs and attacked the defendant. Lisa Gregory indicated her sister was a "light sleeper" and thought she probably heard Supino's voice.

Scott Gregory said Melisa "launched" at Supino and "got into a fist fight in a snowbank." This was the second incident referenced by a state's witness during the trial recounting a physical fight between Supino and Gregory.

During his testimony, Scott Gregory called Melisa "a wonderful sister and his best friend." He told jurors he was staying with a friend the night of the murders.

Lisa Gregory said Melisa and Fisher had dinner at the home of her mother Ida Reynolds before leaving to spend the night at the CDR. Fisher had been living at Reynolds' house with Melisa Gregory before temporarily moving to the ranch. Lisa Gregory said the two returned briefly to get a jacket before once again departing for the ranch. That, the witness said, was the last time she saw her sister Melisa alive.

In an offer of proof, defense attorneys Addington and Jill Eimermann probed both witnesses, without jurors present, regarding their knowledge of Fisher's involvement with alleged drug trafficking at the CDR. Lisa Gregory told Eimermann she had heard Melisa say Fisher went to Florida and returned with hash oil and was considering selling the marijuana extract for profit. Gregory said she saw the oil, held in a peanut butter jar, but did not know where Fisher obtained the substance. Lisa Gregory also testified she knew Fisher and her sister occasionally used drugs.

Addington also questioned Scott Gregory about an encounter he had with two men holding black suitcases while visiting the CDR. He was sitting in the trailer, where the murders would later occur, with Melisa Gregory and Fisher. The witness said the men indicated they knew Melisa Gregory and Fisher, but told Scott Gregory he would have to leave.

Iowa 5th District Court Judge Terry Rickers stuck with his pretrial ruling in the case stating any evidence linking Fisher and Melisa Gregory's murders to a "drug hit" theory would have to come from original sources, and the defense would have to provide the identity of a person they believe to have the motive to kill the victims in this manner.

Addington told Judge Rickers he believes the defense is being "held to a higher standard" than the state in this case. Eimermann also argued that the 32-year gap between the events of March 3, 1983 and the trial were limiting their ability to mount a "drug hit" defense.

"This is an example of yet another instance where we are struggling with witnesses who no longer remember," Eimermann said. "The fact is, they no longer remembering prevents us from putting forth our defense and our theory of the case. That is a direct result of the state waiting 32 years to bring these charges."

Jasper County Attorney Mike Jacobsen rebutted, reminding the court there is no statute of limitation in the case, and the state intends to present evidence acquired as late as 2014 yet this week.

Autopsy report

The state also presented more forensic evidence Wednesday, calling Dr. Jonathan Thompson — assistant medical examiner for the state of Iowa. He had been assigned to the case in early 2014 and examined Melisa Gregory and Fisher's autopsy report and autopsy photos taken in 1983.

He told jurors Fisher sustained 14 chop wounds to the head, one piercing his eye. Melisa Gregory sustained 13 chop wounds during the murder with facial fracturing. Thompson said the wounds were consistent with a hammer-style object or something with a sharp edge. The murder weapon was never found in the case.

The forensic pathologist also testified the wounds were consistent with a left to right striking motion. Thompson was asked by Jacobsen how many left-handed people there are in the world, and Thompson replied 10 percent of the population have a dominate left hand.

But during cross examination Thompson did note several flaws in the autopsy report, including improper dating and lack of detail in the description of certain wounds. The witness also admitted he could not tell if the killer was left or right-handed from the autopsy photos or which victim was killed first.

The handedness of the killer has been a key piece of evidence for the state throughout the trial, as Thompson testified today the "chops" on Gregory appear to originated from a left-handed strike. Prior testimony from Jasper County Jail staff indicate Supino defines herself as ambidextrous.

For updates and archived stories on the Copper Dollar Ranch murders, go to newtondailynews.com, follow @NewtonDNews on Twitter and Facebook and see full recaps of trial-related events from Waterloo in the Newton Daily News print edition.

Contact Mike Mendenhall at mmendenhall@newtondailynews.com