Jury thrown out in trial for man who was once "Most Wanted"
RACINE COUNTY (WITI) -- An entire jury is thrown out of a murder trial -- and that wasn't the only surprise for the victim's family, who had been looking forward to this day for a long time. The Racine County District Attorney says something like this has never happened in his 22 years.
On Tuesday, October 9th, an entire jury was deemed "tainted," and a man once described as one of Wisconsin's Most Wanted now has more time before his day in court.
It has been nearly seven years since Michael Griffith has been gone. In April of 2006 he was beaten in a parking lot near the Winner's Circle bar on Superior Street. He was on life support for over a year before he passed away.
"I was pregnant. My baby never got to meet him," Griffith's daughter, Talia Bean said.
Just a week after he was named one of Wisconsin's Most Wanted in 2008, the suspect, Dale Patterson, turned himself in to Racine police.
This week, Patterson's trial will finally begin.
"It's something my family has really been waiting on for a long time," Griffith's niece, Ebony Johnson said.
But on Day Two of his trial, the entire jury was thrown out.
"Really? It was just like another smack in the face," Johnson said.
According to Racine D.A. Rich Chiapete a juror leaving court on Monday ran into the defendant and his family outside in the parking lot. The juror told the court he feared the defendant may have seen his license plate, and knows where he works.
That person shared his fears with other jurors -- and both the prosecution and the defense agreed it is best to find a new group.
For Griffith's family, that means the wait for a trial continues. However, they say they are confident that however long it takes, the family will get a chance at justice.
Meanwhile, the man who was once considered one of Wisconsin's Most Wanted is free on $1,000 signature bond.
A new trial date hasn't been set.