The man authorities say stabbed Ryan Keith Skipper nearly 20 times on a rural road in Polk County is facing murder charges this week. William David Brown, Jr.’s murder trial began on Monday, Oct. 26. Authorities say he allegedly plotted with Joseph Bearden to beat and kill Skipper in March 2007 because the 24-year-old student was gay.
In addition to murder, Brown is charged with robbery with a deadly weapon, arson and tampering with evidence. In an opening statement, Assistant State Attorney Cass Castillo told the jury what to expect in the upcoming week.
According to Castillo, authorities have a shoe print from Brown that places him at the scene where Skipper’s burned car was found. He said that Brown also confessed to the crime in a taped interview.
Deborah Wells, attorney for Brown, then said her client wanted to plea guilty on the charges of arson and tampering with evidence. The jury then heard from nine witnesses, including two of Skipper’s friends who offered a timeline for the night of the murder.
Also taking the stand on the first day of the trial included crime scene detectives and the woman who discovered Skipper’s body. In addition to the witnesses, Castillo showed the jury 10 fingerprints matching Brown’s that were found on items retrieved from Skipper’s vehicle.
Skipper’s family, who arrived at the trial just a day after celebrating the wedding of their other son, believes the murder was motivated by hate.
“Ryan was an openly gay man and his killers thought no one would care,” the family said in a prepared statement.“ And worse, they thought they would be praised by their peers for these violent actions. This trial is about finding justice for Ryan, our family and for our community.”
Pat and Lynn Mulder, Skipper’s parents, plan to be at the trial every day, just as they were for Bearden’s trial in the spring. Beard was found guilty in February of second degree murder. He was sentenced to life in prison.
Wells told the judge she would hold her opening statements until the prosecution rested its case later in the week. Keep checking back for updates as the trial progresses.
