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| 4. Jerry Trump |
Jerry Trump (night janitor at the Tribune) testified during Ryan’s trial and said he recognized Ryan as one of the two suspects he had seen in the parking lot the night of the murder. Yet police never considered him a credible witness during their entire investigation. |
| So how did Trump suddenly become a credible witness for the prosecutor during the trial? |
During the 911 call the night of the murder Trump was heard saying he could not provide a description of either suspect. But during the trial he testified his wife had sent him a copy of the newspaper with Ryan and Chuck’s arrest photograph. Trump was serving time in prison for Child Endangerment with sexual contact when he alleges his wife sent him the newspaper article.
Barbara Trump, his wife, has since denied sending the article to him while he was in prison.
The following quote was taken from an article in a Columbia newspaper: |
“Investigative commander Capt. Mike Martin said the department had produced a video for distribution in Missouri’s prisons. He said the video began airing in state prisons about the first of the year.”
This video showed information about Heitholt's murder and offered a reward of $2,500 for anyone with knowledge that might lead police to the perpetrators.
Jerry Trump testified in court he saw this police video in 2003 and later saw the newspaper story with Ryan and Chuck’s photo from their arrest March 2004 but never said anything to anyone about this. |
In fact Jerry Trump testified he never told anyone about recognizing Ryan or Chuck until a week after he was released from prison 8 months later. Even then he didn't tell anyone until he was summonsed to Prosecutor Crane’s office on December, 21, 2004.
During that meeting he suddenly 'remembered' seeing Ryan and Chuck in the parking lot. What a lucky day for Prosecutor Crane! |
| Christine Varner (next) testified in Ryan’s Hearing in July 2008 that Jerry Trump had told her he could not see the suspects face in the parking lot. |
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