Judge Russell Scott said he will rule early next week on media
requests to unseal investigative records in the case of Jesse John
Crow, 33, who is charged with the murder of his missing wife, Ryann
Bunnell Crow.
Virginia Hennessey, Monterey Herald
Judge Russell Scott said he will rule early next week on media requests to unseal investigative records in the case of Jesse John Crow, 33, who is charged with the murder of his missing wife, Ryann Bunnell Crow.
The Herald and other media outlets have asked to view probable-cause affidavits and warrants related to the search of several properties in the case, including the Prunedale property of Jesse Crow’s parents.
In a hearing Friday, Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Hulsey and defense attorney Brian Worthington argued that releasing the documents could hamper the investigation and impede Crow’s right to a fair trial.
Herald Executive Editor Joe Livernois said Scott should come down on the side of the First Amendment and the public’s right to view documents that are often public record.
“When two or more constitutionally protected rights are in conflict, we believe the court should err in favor of the principle most obviously in peril,” said Livernois. “In this case, we hear that unsealing the documents may impede efforts to seat a jury and it might impede the prosecution’s investigation. Those are possibilities, but the one thing we know for certain now is that keeping those documents sealed would definitely inhibit the free flow of public information.”
Ryann Bunnell Crow, 23, was last seen driving in the vicinity of her in-laws’ Langley Canyon Road property Jan. 30. Her family reported her missing Feb. 2 after she missed two days of work and a family party.
Her white 2002 Chevy Malibu was found in Foster City on Feb. 9. A week later, police arrested Crow and charged him with his wife’s murder, based in part, said Police Chief Louis Fetherolf, on blood and DNA evidence.
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office continues to search for her remains.
