After an extensive, four-day review of investigative reports,
District Attorney Dean Flippo announced Monday he has sufficient
evidence to prove that 23-year-old Ryann Bunnell Crow is dead and
that her husband killed her.
By Virginia Hennessey
After an extensive, four-day review of investigative reports, District Attorney Dean Flippo announced Monday he has sufficient evidence to prove that 23-year-old Ryann Bunnell Crow is dead and that her husband killed her.
Jesse John Crow, 33, of Prunedale was arraigned Monday afternoon on one count of murder. His defense attorney, Tom Worthington of Salinas, pleaded not guilty on his behalf.
Wearing an orange- and white-striped jail jumpsuit and shackled at the waist, wrists and ankles, Crow said nothing during the brief hearing except to answer “Yes” when asked if he waived his right to a preliminary hearing within 10 days.
He will return to court Wednesday afternoon before Judge Russell Scott to set the hearing. Wednesday morning, Scott will consider Worthington’s request that the media be prohibited from photographing or videotaping Crow in his jail attire and shackles.
At Monday’s arraignment, Presiding Judge Adrienne Grover ruled that images could not depict Crow’s attire. In 2007, Scott considered a similar request in the case of John Kenney, who was convicted of murdering his neighbors, Salinas attorney Mel Grimes and his wife. Scott settled the matter by allowing Kenney to wear street clothes to his court appearances.
In a case that has garnered national media attention, Worthington said, photographs of his client in a jail jumpsuit and shackles could sully a jury pool, “especially in a small community like this.”
Ryann Bunnell Crow was last seen driving in Prunedale on Jan. 30, the day her husband is alleged to have killed her. Her family reported her missing Feb. 2 after she missed two days of work and her father’s birthday party.
Though her car was located in a Foster City neighborhood Feb. 9, Monterey County Sheriff’s search and rescue teams have not found her body. Sheriff’s spokesman Cmdr. Mike Richards said a team was actively searching an undisclosed area within Monterey County on Monday afternoon.
Salinas police, who are handling the investigation because Ryann Crow was living with her sister there, have indicated they have blood and DNA evidence supporting their contention that Crow killed his wife, but they have not said where the blood was found.
Flippo said a team of his top assistants and deputies had spent night and day since Thursday reviewing “binders and binders” of investigative reports. After interviews with Salinas police detectives Sunday night, the team agreed Monday morning there was enough evidence to convince a jury Crow killed his wife, whom he married in Las Vegas in August after a brief courtship.
“There is a substantial, tremendous amount of circumstantial evidence,” Flippo said, adding that Ryann Crow’s family was notified before the decision was announced and was relieved charges were being filed.
Ryann Crow’s mother, father and sister attended Monday’s arraignment and left without comment.
Flippo would not discuss the evidence, including a possible motive.
“We have an idea,” he said. “There is evidence that I think is somewhat persuasive.”
At this point, there are no special circumstances that would elevate the charge to a capital case, Flippo said, though he did not rule out an amended complaint in the future.
He said his office has been busy reviewing the homicide case and has come to no conclusion regarding the connection of 300 marijuana plants growing in Jesse Crow’s home in the 7600 block of Chester Drive in Prunedale. The plants were found Feb. 2 when deputies conducted a welfare check after the Bunnell family reported Ryann’s disappearance.
Jesse Crow, who reportedly has a medicinal marijuana prescription, has not been charged with cultivation. Worthington said Monday he has not yet seen police reports in the case but knows of no connection between the marijuana and Ryann’s disappearance.
Jesse Crow’s father, Dr. Deane Crow, is the former director of the emergency room at Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital. He was at his Stockton clinic Monday and could not attend his son’s arraignment, Worthington said. Crow’s mother left the courtroom declining comment.
Crow remains in Monterey County Jail in lieu of $3 million bail, three times the county’s indicated amount on a murder charge. Flippo would not comment on the reasons for the elevated bail. Worthington declined to say if he would seek a reduction.
Monday’s arraignment was attended by an attorney from the law firm of Lawrence and Peck, which has been retained by Summer Donovan, a Pacific Grove woman who has been described by Salinas police as a “person of interest” in the case. Donovan has been romantically linked to Jesse Crow and was with him when he was arrested Feb. 16.
Flippo said Salinas police continue to investigate the case and he has “not ruled out any other suspects.”
