Joyce Frannson – Preliminary Hearing Begins in Accessory to Murder Case

BARSTOW • A 23-year-old Barstow woman accused of helping her friend hide the murder of his 30-year-old Barstow girlfriend started her preliminary hearing Wednesday.

Joyce Fransson is charged with six felonies, including unlawful taking or driving of a vehicle and five counts of being an accessory to murder after the fact. The charges stem from the disappearance and murder of Leisa Hurst on Jan. 22.  Jeami Chiapulis, whom police claim also had a relationship with Fransson — and is married as well — accepted a deal and pleaded guilty to the second degree murder of Hurst on Nov. 6.

Det. Keith Libby was the only witness called during the preliminary hearing.

Libby said that he interviewed Chiapulis at the West Valley Detention Center on November 23 after he was sentenced. During that interview Chiapulis said that he called Fransson after he killed Hurst, and the two planned how to dispose of her body, according to Libby. Chiapulis said they first abandoned Hurst’s Honda Element with the keys in it and the windows down on Olive Street in Hesperia, where police later recovered it, in an attempt to have it stolen on Jan. 22. Libby testified that Fransson admitted to recommending that Chiapulis leave the SUV on Olive Street.

Chiapulis told Libby they returned to his house after abandoning the car and loaded a trash can, containing Hurst’s body, into his car. Libby testified that they drove to a spot in the desert near the former Lake Dolores water park in Newberry Springs, and Fransson acted as a lookout as Chiapulis buried Hurst. Chiapulis said that Fransson helped put the body into the grave, and they believed her family owned the property where they buried her.

Libby testified that Fransson later admitted to going with Chiapulis to the grave, but said that she stayed in the car and didn’t know what was in the trash can.

Libby also said that during his investigation into Hurst’s disappearance he created a fake MySpace account, posing as a female friend of Chiapulis’, and contacted Fransson. Fransson told Libby’s MySpace persona that she was creating a story to tell during Chiapulis’ court hearings and that she shouldn’t have told the police about leaving Hurst’s SUV in Hesperia.

Fransson is now being held at the West Valley Detention Center on $300,000 bail. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled to continue at 8:30 a.m. Thursday at the Barstow courthouse.

Joyce Fransson – Pleads “Not Guilty” to murder cover up

BARSTOW • A 23-year-old Barstow woman accused of helping her friend cover up the murder of his 30-year-old Barstow girlfriend pleaded not guilty Monday.

Joyce Fransson is facing six felony charges, including unlawful taking or driving of a vehicle and five counts of being an accessory to murder after the fact. The charges stem from the disappearance and murder of Leisa Hurst on Jan. 22.  Jeami Chiapulis, whom police claim also had a relationship with Fransson — and is married as well — accepted a deal and pleaded guilty to the second degree murder of Hurst on Nov. 6.

Police believe Fransson actively participated in concealing Hurst’s murder, according to a Barstow Police Department report. Fransson and Chiapulis abandoned Hurst’s Honda Element with the keys in it and the windows down on Olive Street in Hesperia, where police later recovered it, in an attempt to have it stolen on Jan. 22. The pair then went to Chiapulis’ home where it is believed they picked up Hurst’s body. Fransson is accused of acting as a lookout for Chiapulis while he buried Hurst’s body in the desert near Newberry Springs, according to the report. Chiapulis led authorities to Hurst’s body in the desert on Oct. 8.

Fransson is now being held at the West Valley Detention Center on $300,000 bail. Her next hearing is set for Dec. 8 at the Barstow courthouse.

Joyce Fransson – Second Arrest Made for Leisa’s Murder

BARSTOW • A 23-year-old Barstow woman was arrested Tuesday after being accused of helping her friend conceal the killing of his 30-year-old Barstow girlfriend.

Joyce Fransson is being charged with being an accessory to murder and grand theft auto in connection with the murder of Leisa Hurst. Jeami Chiapulis, whom police claim also had a relationship with Fransson — and is married as well — accepted a deal and pleaded guilty to the second degree murder of Hurst on Nov. 6.

Police believe Fransson knew she was helping Chiapulis cover up Hurst’s killing on Jan. 22, according to a Barstow Police Department report. The pair abandoned Hurst’s Honda Element with the keys in it and windows down in Hesperia in an attempt to have it stolen.

Det. Keith Libby testified during Chiapulis’ preliminary hearing in June that Fransson told him that Chiapulis met her at California State University of San Bernardino on Jan. 22. Libby testified that Fransson said Chiapulis asked her where a high-crime area was to dump the vehicle. According to Fransson, he claimed a friend wanted to fake a vehicle theft. Libby said that Chiapulis then followed Fransson to Olive Street in Hesperia, where they left Hurst’s rust colored Honda Element before going to Chiapulis’ house. Hurst’s SUV was later discovered on Olive Street.

Police believe that after Fransson and Chiapulis left his home they took Hurst’s body to the desert. Fransson is accused of acting as a lookout while Chiapulis buried Hurst in a desert area near Newberry Springs, according to the report.

Although police interviewed Fransson during the initial investigation, detectives waited to charge her until they had enough evidence, according to Libby.

“We felt all along that she wasn’t being completely truthful,” Libby said. “Part of the reason we didn’t rush to arrest her was that we weren’t sure what was going to happen with Chiapulis’ case. We wanted to make sure we had everything.”

A hearing should be scheduled soon.

Jeami Chiapulis Receives His Sentence, 15 Years To Life

BARSTOW • Judge Steven Mapes formally sentenced a 37-year-old Silver Lakes man to 15 years to life Friday in connection with the killing of his apparent 30-year-old Barstow girlfriend.

Jeami Chiapulis pleaded guilty to the second degree murder of Leisa Hurst during a hearing on Nov. 6. The guilty plea was part of a deal he reached with the district attorney’s office to avoid a trial and first degree murder conviction. Chiapulis revealed the location of Hurst’s body and agreed to serve 15 years to life as part of the deal.

Deputy District Attorney Sean Daugherty said that Chiapulis’ will serve a minimum of 15 years before his case can even be reviewed by a parole board and could possibly spend his entire life in prison.

“I’m pleased that (the family) can finally give her a proper burial and move on now that the sentencing is over,” Daugherty said.

Hurst’s family and friends filled the courtroom on Friday and took the opportunity to talk to the court during the victim impact statements. Chiapulis sat still watching each person as they spoke.

Hurst’s daughters, a 9-year-old and a 13-year-old, walked toward the front of the courtroom together and took turns speaking.

“It will never be the same,” The 13-year-old said between sobs. “I’m never going to get a text from mom telling me to have a good day and that she loves me. I can’t ask her for anything anymore. She always gave the best advice.”

Loren Brewster, Hurst’s uncle, spoke to the court about her recent funeral.

“As part of a plea deal Leisa’s body was recovered by the authorities and she was released to the family by the San Bernardino County Coroner,” Brewster said. “We were able to bury her at Sunset Hills (Memorial Park) and this time she was surrounded by family and members of her adopted family.”

Brewster finished his statement by saying that although the family has Hurst back, there are still a lot of unanswered questions.

“There are so many questions,” Brewster said. “How anyone could do this to another human being? How could someone just kill a person and leave them in the desert like trash?”

Mapes asked Paul Henderson, Chiapulis’ public defender, if Chiapulis would like to make a statement. Mapes also said that he believed the family would appreciate a comment from Chiapulis, but he could not order him to talk. Henderson told Mapes that he had talked to Chiapulis and that he didn’t wish to give a statement.

Hurst was reported missing January 22. Chiapulis checked himself into the psychiatric ward of an unidentified hospital on Jan. 26. Police said Chiapulis had a romantic relationship  with Hurst, and searched his home twice shortly after Hurst’s disappearance. He was arrested at a Redland’s motel on February 13 just after being released from the hospital.

Chiapulis, Jeami SENTENCING – 11/20/2009

Case No: FBA900114 Court: B4
Judge: John Vander Feer
DDA: Daugherty, Sean

Filed Charges:
Count Charge Severity Description Date Plea Status
1 PC 187(A) F MURDER 01/22/2009 ACTIVE

Jeami has already pleaded guilty to 2nd degree murder as part of a plea bargin which required him to lead authorities to Leisa’s body.  This occured on Nov. 8th, on this day Jeami will receive his sentence for what he has done.

Prior to sentencing, the family will be allowed to address the court.   Leisa’s mother, Deborah Welch, was allowed to speak at Jeami’s last hearing on 11/6/2009 because she lives out of state and would not be able to come to the sentencing.   On 11/20/2009 the rest of the family will have a chance to speak.  Afterwards, the judge will sentence Jeami anywhere from 15 years to life in prision, less time already served.

Jamie has to the right to speak as well, but doesn’t have to.  A complete explanation of how or why he killed Leisa may never be known unless Chiapulis decides to say something during his sentencing hearing or at a later time.

You can use the link below to read transcripts from all of Jeami’s court appearances. You will need to enter and search on his Case No “FBA900114″, click on Jeami’s name, then “Case Report”, then click “Format Report.”

http://170.164.31.10/openaccess/criminal/casedefendants.asp?casenumber=FBA900114&courtcode=X&filedatefrom=&filedateto=&limit=&DSN=

Many Have Been Asking…

The location where Leisa’s body was recovered was 23 miles northwest of Barstow, 2 miles north of Lake Delores on dirt roads, N 34.98108 W 116.68328.

Our searches were being conducted approx 40 miles to the southwest based on the cell phone records that were available… apparently Jeami had his phone turned off when he did this.

I have not heard anything from the autopsy report, other than the positive ID.  It is likely that no details will be release until after Jeami’s sentencing.

Funeral Service for Leisa Ann Hurst

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

                                                                                          Ecc 3:1-9

*****************************************************************

Date: Friday, October 30, 2009

Time: 2:00pm

Location: Sunset Hills Memorial Park

Street: 24000 Waalew Road

City/Town: Apple Valley, CA

New directions: From the I 15 Highway get off at D Street go east and it turns into Happy Trails / 18 Highway look for a Target Store on the left side of the road after that turn left onto Dale Evens Parkway and go north and turn right on Waalew Road and go to the end of the road and turn left into the Memorial Park. This is a better way to get to the Memorial Park. Again could you pass this on to others that need directions.

 **********************************************************

Our search is over, our time to gather and embrace has come…

Please join us as we lay Leisa to rest with all the love, dignity and respect that we can offer, and that she so much deserves. 

If you are not able, please know that we are grateful for all the love, concern, and support that we have received from you.  And please, continue to pray for her daughters, their fathers, and for the family.

Jeami Chiapulis Leads Authorities to Leisa’s Body Buried in the Desert

On Oct. 8, Jeami Chiapulis entered into an agreement with the district attorney’s office during a pretrial hearing to receive 15 years to life in prison for second degree murder in exchange for revealing the location of Leisa Hurst’s body

Chiapulis was released into the custody of Barstow Police Department detectives following the hearing and led authorities to an area near Newberry Springs, where human remains were found.

The remains were turned over to the San Bernardino County Coroner, who positively identified the body as that of Hurst on Friday afternoon.

The investigation into the murder of Leisa Hurst is continuing and anyone with information regarding this case is urged to contact Det. Keith Libby at (760) 255-5134 or, if callers wish to remain anonymous, call the We-Tip hotline at 1(800) 78-CRIME.

Leisa’s Body Has Been Found!!

Today, Jeami agreed to take Barstow PD out Leisa’s body as part of a plea bargain exchange for a lesser charge of Murder in the 2nd Degree.

At 1:30 pm he was escorted by Barstow PD to an undisclosed location in the desert area outside Barstow.   At approximately 4:00 pm, the family was notified that they had located what they presume to be Leisa’s remains.

 The coroner will arrive first thing in the morning to process the grave area as a crime scene as well as make a positive identification. We don’t know much more than this tonight. We should know more in the next day or two.

Tyler’s Memorial to her Mother

At Leisa’s services one of her daughters what to say something about her mother and didn’t get a chance because of the time I was told so she didn’t get to say anything about her. she had worked on it all night and was hurt that she didn’t get to say any thing. I told Tyler that I would post it on her mother’s site for her if she would like me too. She said that would be nice if I would do that for her and I said OK.

ABOUT MY MOTHER: Thank you all for coming to my mom’s memorial services. My mom has taught me to clean, to cook, and to respect others. She has also taught me about fashion, about manners and about responsibility. She was a good mom and she taught me a lot. I will always love her and I will always miss her but I know she’s watching me from the heaven doors.

I love you mom ,Tyler!!!!

May God bless them, Ashlyn and Tyler and watch over them and give them the love that they need at this time in they lives. That the family will be there for them also.