Category: Neil and Christy Edgar

Seven women and five men were picked late Wednesday afternoon to hear evidence in the murder trial of church leaders Neil and Christy Edgar and baby sitter Chasity Boyd. The 12 jurors and two alternates will hear opening statements this morning at the Johnson County Courthouse in Olathe. The Edgars and Boyd are charged with first-degree felony murder in the death of the Edgars’ son Brian. The 9-year-old suffocated at the family’s Overland Park home after he was wrapped with duct tape as punishment, according to previous testimony and courtroom statements. Wednesday was the third day of jury selection, and

Jury selection began Monday in the trial of the parents and baby sitter of a 9-year-old Overland Park boy who died in December. Neil Edgar Sr., Christy Edgar and Chasity Boyd are charged in Johnson County District Court with first-degree felony murder in the death of Brian Edgar. About 80 of the about 120 potential jurors who reported for jury duty Monday will return Wednesday for a second phase of questioning. The questioning Monday was limited to issues of pretrial publicity and whether serving as a juror would cause anyone undue hardship. Another group of prospective jurors will face that

OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A court-appointed psychologist says the former adoptive children of Christy and Neil Edgar would suffer “significant trauma” if they have to face their parents in an upcoming murder trial. Psychologist Jeffrey Montolio interviewed the children, who allegedly were abused by the Edgars and the family’s baby sitter, Chasity Boyd. Both children — a boy and a girl — are under 13 years old. Another child, 9-year-old Brian Edgar, died at the family’s Overland Park home in December after he was bound with duct tape as punishment for stealing food. A judge severed the Edgars’ parental rights

Allegations that church pastor Neil Edgar Sr. used an electric stun gun to discipline two children will not be allowed as evidence in his murder trial next month. A Johnson County judge also ruled today that prosecutors could not introduce testimony about money paid to Edgar and his wife, Christy Edgar, to care for foster and adoptive children. The Edgars and family baby sitter Chasity Boyd are charged with first-degree felony murder in the death in December of 9-year-old Brian Edgar. Neil Edgar, 48, Christy Edgar, 46, and Boyd, 20, also are charged with abusing two other Edgar children. Jury

Kansas City Star http://www.kansascity.com/ By TONY RIZZO, The Kansas City Star The trial scheduled for next month in the child-abuse death of Brian Edgar was rescheduled today for Sept. 15. The delay was sought by attorneys for the boy’s father, Neil Edgar Sr., who earlier had pushed for trial on June 23. Neil Edgar, his wife, Christy Edgar, and the family’s baby sitter Chasity Boyd are charged with first-degree felony murder in the death in December of 9-year-old Brian. He died at the family’s Overland Park house after being bound with duct tape overnight as a punishment for stealing food,

The Kansas City Star, May 5, 2003 http://www.kansascity.com/ By TONY RIZZO, The Kansas City Star They were charged together, and now the parents and baby sitter of Brian Edgar will be tried together for his death. A Johnson County judge today rejected Christy Edgar’s argument that she could not receive a fair trial if tried with her husband, Neil Edgar Sr. The Edgars, and their family’s 19-year-old baby sitter, Chasity Boyd, are charged with first-degree felony murder in Brian’s death in December. The 9-year-old suffocated after he allegedly was wrapped head-to-toe in duct tape as a punishment at the family’s

AP, Apr. 19, 2003 http://www.kctv5.com/ OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — Lawyers for two of the three people accused in the death of an adopted Kansas City, Kan., boy said they would seek separate trials. Friday’s announcement came after a Johnson County District Court judge on Thursday ordered the parents and baby sitter of 9-year-old Brian Edgar to trial on first-degree murder charges. Neil Edgar Sr., his wife, Christy Edgar, and their babysitter, Chasity Boyd, were charged with killing Brian in December. Their lawyers made it clear Friday that there would be no common defense, because at least one of the defendants