Maddox Murder Trial Starts Tuesday
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Shawn Hogendorf-
During a pre-trial hearing Thursday, the boundaries of the jury trial were discussed as Judge Jerome Abrams addressed a plethora of motions that have been filed by both prosecutors and defense attorneys. The remainder of the pre-trial hearing will take place Tuesday.
The trial is expected to last between two and three weeks. Opening arguments could begin as soon as Thursday.
Charles Maddox is charged with second-degree murder in the death of his 45-year-old wife, Southwest Newspapers reporter Ruth Anne Maddox, who worked for the Savage Pacer and Shakopee Valley News.
A former Warsaw resident, Ruth Anne, 45, worked for the Times-Union from April 1, 1987, to July 8, 2003. During her tenure at the Times-Union, she covered general assignments, as well as police and courts under the bylines of Ruth Anne Lipka and Ruth Anne Long.
The body of Ruth Anne Maddox, 45, was found by police in the garage of her Prior Lake townhome at 16492 Timber Crest Drive during the early morning hours of Nov. 12, 2008. Authorities executed a search warrant after co-workers reported her missing on Nov. 11. The regional coroner ruled the death a homicide and reported that Ruth Anne Maddox died of blunt-force injuries to her neck and head.
If convicted, Charles Maddox faces a maximum of 40 years in prison.[[In-content Ad]]Ruth Anne Maddox was last seen covering a Shakopee School Board meeting the evening of Nov. 10, 2008. Authorities believe she was killed late that night or early the next morning.
Ruth Anne Maddox's supervisor at work received a text message from her phone at about 9 a.m. Nov. 11 stating that she had a doctor's appointment and would be late for work, according to the complaint. When she didn't show up to work, answer her phone or return messages, her co-workers requested that police check her well-being at her home at about 3:35 p.m.
While checking on the well-being of Ruth Anne Maddox, police made three visits to the townhome and subsequently had two conversations with her husband, who wouldn't allow police into the house, declined to give officers any financial information that may have assisted them in locating her and refused to sign a missing person report, the complaint states.
Authorities then contacted several of Ruth Anne Maddox's friends and family members who told police they were unable to contact her on Nov. 11, as their phone calls went straight to voicemail and were never returned.
Police obtained a search warrant and entered the Maddox's home at 3:17 a.m. Nov. 12, when Charles Maddox stated without being questioned: "I might as well save you the trouble; you will find Ruth Anne's body in the garage," the complaint states. Charles Maddox went on to tell police that his wife came at him with a screwdriver and a knife during a fight at the home the previous evening when he put his knee on her arm that held the knife and choked her.
Police found Ruth Anne Maddox's body in the garage of the town house wrapped in a tent and covered with a blanket.
According to the search warrant, police believe Charles Maddox purchased a piece of pilot luggage, spackle and a spackle knife from Sears at about noon on Nov. 11. He then went to Walgreens in Bloomington before driving his wife's car to the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport dressed as a female, where he parked it and left a note stating "she" was "leaving," according to a search warrant that details video surveillance obtained by police in the case. Authorities allege Charles Maddox then got on the light-rail train back to the Mall of America, where he caught a bus to the park-and-ride in Savage.
Maddox posted $1 million bail on May 8 and was released from jail.
During a pre-trial hearing Thursday, the boundaries of the jury trial were discussed as Judge Jerome Abrams addressed a plethora of motions that have been filed by both prosecutors and defense attorneys. The remainder of the pre-trial hearing will take place Tuesday.
The trial is expected to last between two and three weeks. Opening arguments could begin as soon as Thursday.
Charles Maddox is charged with second-degree murder in the death of his 45-year-old wife, Southwest Newspapers reporter Ruth Anne Maddox, who worked for the Savage Pacer and Shakopee Valley News.
A former Warsaw resident, Ruth Anne, 45, worked for the Times-Union from April 1, 1987, to July 8, 2003. During her tenure at the Times-Union, she covered general assignments, as well as police and courts under the bylines of Ruth Anne Lipka and Ruth Anne Long.
The body of Ruth Anne Maddox, 45, was found by police in the garage of her Prior Lake townhome at 16492 Timber Crest Drive during the early morning hours of Nov. 12, 2008. Authorities executed a search warrant after co-workers reported her missing on Nov. 11. The regional coroner ruled the death a homicide and reported that Ruth Anne Maddox died of blunt-force injuries to her neck and head.
If convicted, Charles Maddox faces a maximum of 40 years in prison.[[In-content Ad]]Ruth Anne Maddox was last seen covering a Shakopee School Board meeting the evening of Nov. 10, 2008. Authorities believe she was killed late that night or early the next morning.
Ruth Anne Maddox's supervisor at work received a text message from her phone at about 9 a.m. Nov. 11 stating that she had a doctor's appointment and would be late for work, according to the complaint. When she didn't show up to work, answer her phone or return messages, her co-workers requested that police check her well-being at her home at about 3:35 p.m.
While checking on the well-being of Ruth Anne Maddox, police made three visits to the townhome and subsequently had two conversations with her husband, who wouldn't allow police into the house, declined to give officers any financial information that may have assisted them in locating her and refused to sign a missing person report, the complaint states.
Authorities then contacted several of Ruth Anne Maddox's friends and family members who told police they were unable to contact her on Nov. 11, as their phone calls went straight to voicemail and were never returned.
Police obtained a search warrant and entered the Maddox's home at 3:17 a.m. Nov. 12, when Charles Maddox stated without being questioned: "I might as well save you the trouble; you will find Ruth Anne's body in the garage," the complaint states. Charles Maddox went on to tell police that his wife came at him with a screwdriver and a knife during a fight at the home the previous evening when he put his knee on her arm that held the knife and choked her.
Police found Ruth Anne Maddox's body in the garage of the town house wrapped in a tent and covered with a blanket.
According to the search warrant, police believe Charles Maddox purchased a piece of pilot luggage, spackle and a spackle knife from Sears at about noon on Nov. 11. He then went to Walgreens in Bloomington before driving his wife's car to the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport dressed as a female, where he parked it and left a note stating "she" was "leaving," according to a search warrant that details video surveillance obtained by police in the case. Authorities allege Charles Maddox then got on the light-rail train back to the Mall of America, where he caught a bus to the park-and-ride in Savage.
Maddox posted $1 million bail on May 8 and was released from jail.
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