Jury selection began Tuesday in the murder trial of Chance Loftis, the Cleveland, Tenn., man charged with second-degree murder in a bizarre and brutal attack that left Donald Rogers dead in 2012.
Defense attorney Mary Sullivan Moore and Assistant District Attorney General Jason Demastus spent the better part of the day whittling a pool of potential jurors down to 14 who will hear the case this week. Opening statements are expected to begin today.
During Tuesday's jury selection, Moore asked jurors several questions that seemed to hint at her defense strategy. Were they offended by issues of animal cruelty? Did they spend much time boating on the water? How would they tell which of two children was guilty of breaking a lamp?
Police say Loftis, 27, and Travis Jenkins, 31, were boating with Rogers, 46, near the Grasshopper Creek Recreation Area on April 25, 2012. Court documents show Jenkins told investigators all three men were drinking and that when they began to fight, Rogers pulled out a knife and threatened Loftis.
Loftis apparently became enraged when Rogers could not find their campsite along the river. Jenkins said that when Rogers, who was steering, hit something submerged in the water, Loftis began beating him. Loftis also killed Rogers' dog and tossed him in the water, Jenkins said.
Loftis and Jenkins left the older man hanging partly out of the boat, where he was later found by fishermen, police said. The medical examiner determined he died from strangulation and a bludgeoning that cracked his skull.
Police say that when Loftis and Jenkins went ashore, they burglarized a home near the water. They were arrested the following day in Bradley County.
Loftis and Jenkins were both charged with murder, aggravated burglary and aggravated cruelty to animals. Prosecutors moved to sever their cases. Loftis will be tried this week on charges of second-degree murder and aggravated cruelty to animals.
In November, Moore moved to reduce Loftis' bond. She invoked his right to a speedy trial and argued prosecutors did not send DNA evidence to a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation crime lab in a timely manner.
Judge Don Poole agreed, and reduced both men's bonds from $100,000 to $75,000. Jenkins bonded out of jail and was released to a home monitoring system. Loftis remains in jail.
Contact staff writer Claire Wiseman at cwiseman@times freepress.com or 423-757-6347.