Thompson Appears In Court Regarding Aarone's Disappearance
Dad Indicted On 60 Counts; Not All Involve Aarone
POSTED: 9:45 am MDT May 29, 2007
UPDATED: 12:54 pm MDT May 29, 2007
CENTENNIAL, Colo. -- A man who reported his daughter missing and is now facing charges of child abuse resulting in death appeared in court Tuesday as lawyers discussed whether details of the evidence against him will be made public. Judge J. Mark Hannen said he may rule on whether to release the documents at Thompson's next hearing on June 22. Thompson, who has been in jail since May 16, showed no emotion as he watched the proceedings from a seat in the jury box. He wore an orange jail jumpsuit and his hands were shackled to a chain around his waist.
In November 2005, Thompson said his 6-year-old daughter Aarone ran away after a fight about a cookie but, three days later, police halted the search, saying they believed the girl had been dead for as long as 18 months. A grand jury issued a 60-count indictment against Thompson this month, but in the version made public, names of the alleged victims and the facts backing up those allegations were redacted at the request of prosecutors. District Attorney Carol Chambers has said she wants avoid publicity that could prompt a judge to move the trial, and that she wants to protect Thompson's other children. Thompson's public defenders also want the entire court file to be sealed. Thompson and his late girlfriend Shely Lowe lived together with a blended family of seven other children and Lowe's brother. The indictment said Lowe acted with Thompson on many of the alleged crimes. The Denver Post has filed a motion to release the full indictment, and the newspaper's lawyer also objected to sealing the entire court file. Hannen agreed to allow lawyers to file two motions under seal before the next hearing. One relates to four possible prosecution witnesses who have been represented by the public defender's office. The other would allow Thompson's lawyers to ask for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence of probable cause to continue the case against him. Hannen also said he would read the transcript of the grand jury proceedings on Thompson.
Previous Stories:
- May 17, 2007: Suspect Could Spend Rest of Life in Prison
- May 17, 2007: Father Indicted In Aarone Thompson Case: 60 Counts
- May 16, 2007: Police Arrest Aaron Thompson For Alleged Cruelty To Child
- March 2, 2007: Ruling That Father Responsible For Daughter's Death Upheld
- February 28, 2007: Taped Conversation: Shely Lowe Says Aarone Is Dead, Buried
- January 31, 2007: Exclusive: Is Bishop Benefitting From Lowe's Life Insurance?
- January 31, 2007: Video Archive Of Aarone Thompson Case
- January 9, 2007: Aarone Thompson Grand Jury Extends Service
- November 15, 2006: Still No Arrest 1 Year After Aarone Thompson Disappeared
- May 16, 2006: Mother Of Shely Lowe Says Daughter Claimed Innocence
- May 12, 2006: Shely Lowe Dies From Apparent Heart Attack
- May 12, 2006: Timeline In Aarone Thompson Case
- May 5, 2006: Police Chief Certain Arrest Will Result From Aarone Grand Jury
- May 5, 2006: Aarone Thompson Case Goes To Grand Jury
- May 4, 2006: Video Archive Of Aarone Thompson Case
- April 20, 2006: Jury: Children Should Not Be Returned To Lowe, Thompson
- April 10, 2006: Custody Hearing Held In Aarone Thompson Case
- March 29, 2006: Teens From Missing Girl's Family Say She Wasn't Killed
- March 14, 2006: Police Ask That Couple Not Get Custody Of Kids
- December 15, 2005: Denver Activist Cutting Ties With Missing Girl's Family
- December 13, 2005: Police, Prosecutors Meet On Missing Girl Investigation
- December 8, 2005: Father Of Missing Girl Still Wants Investigator's Notes
- December 6, 2005: Report: Girl Buried In Field
- December 5, 2005: Police Wrap Up Investigation At Missing Girl's Home
- December 2, 2005: Exclusive: Aaron Thompson, Shely Lowe Talk To 7NEWS
- December 2, 2005: Transcript From Exclusive Interview With Aaron Thompson, Shely Lowe
- December 1, 2005: Report: Missing Aurora Girl's Name Not On Christmas List
- November 29, 2005: Aarone's Dad Won't Get To See Police Notes, For Now
- November 29, 2005: Items In Aarone's Home Linked To Alleged Criminal Activity
- November 25, 2005: Volunteers Go Door-To-Door In Search Of Missing Girl
- November 23, 2005: Home Owner: Nothing Out Of The Ordinary In Girl's Home
- November 22, 2005: Police To Girl's Dad: Talk To Us, Take Polygraph
- November 21, 2005: Thompson Yard Searched For Hidden Grave
- November 20, 2005: Cadaver Dogs Search Aarone's Home
- November 17, 2005: Police: Aarone Was Killed In Her Home Some Time Ago
- November 17, 2005: FBI Hauls Away Trash In Missing Girl Case
- November 15, 2005: Aurora Girl Missing After Fight With Mom
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