Merced DA to retry defendant in '86 killings

Attorneys in court today to select date

By VICTOR A. PATTON
MERCED SUN-STAR

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MERCED -- The Merced County district attorney's office will retry homicide suspect Robert Thompson in the 1986 killings of 12-year-old Jodi Ragsdale and 15-year-old Sheila Carter.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Dave Moranda confirmed his office's plans for the case, saying attorneys are scheduled to set a date for the new trial in court today.

Moranda said he could not comment about additional facts in the case or if the district attorney's office would approach the case with a different strategy. "We believe we have a good case and the right person," Moranda said.

Defense attorney Randy Thomas said he believes it again will be hard for prosecutors to prove Thompson's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, adding that he hopes a second trial results in acquittal.

"It's unfortunate that we have to spend that time and money, but I understand why," Thomas said. "I believe he's innocent."

A mistrial was declared earlier this month in Thompson's trial, with at least four members of the 12-member jury unconvinced of his guilt.

Thompson was tried on charges of bludgeoning the girls to death with a car jack. The victims' bodies were discovered along the shoulder of Campodonica Road near Cressey on Dec. 13, 1986.

Although the case was 21 years old, the 42-year-old reputed member of the Hells Angels was arrested Aug. 18, 2006, after DNA from one of the victims linked him to the crime. A car jack found in the trunk of a white Mercury Comet, which allegedly belonged to Thompson in 1986, was found to contain 15-year-old Sheila's DNA.

At the time of the killings, DNA testing was in its early stages.

During the trial, prosecutors painted Thompson as a frequent meth user who killed the girls in a rage. Thompson's defense attorney, on the other hand, pointed out that there was no DNA evidence from Thompson on the murder weapon.

Thompson remains in the Merced County Main Jail without bail.