1,700 signatures on petitions for Geurts grand jury

Organizers of an effort asking for a grand jury to be convened to look into the death of two year old Juliette Geurts of Gering today submitted petitions with more than 1,700 signatures to Clerk of the District Court Ann Rosenberry. The petitions were presented on the fourth anniversary of the toddler's murder in 2008, which remains unsolved. A total of 975 valid signatures are needed for a grand jury to be called.

Juliette's Aunt Monica Hall says she can't say enough about the support the petition drive has had from organizers and the community.


Hall said she is hopeful a Grand Jury would not only bring justice in her niece's case, but would also help to bring about a change in the system. Hall emphasized that point by noting the Gering Police did not list any homicides in their official statistics in the year Juliette was killed.

Rosenberry will send certified copies of the petitions to County Clerk Vera Dulaney, who will have 30 days to determine if enough valid signatures are on the petitions. If that is the case, District Judge Randy Lippstreu will have another 15 days to review the petition on whether it is legally sound before calling a grand jury.

Hall says she wants a special prosecutor named from outside western Nebraska to preside over the grand jury.

© 2013 Rural Radio Network. All rights reserved. Republishing, rebroadcasting, rewriting, redistributing prohibited. Copyright Information