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Judge declares mistrial in Pawnee City case

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By JOE DUGGAN / Lincoln Journal Star

Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 - 06:57:33 pm CDT

PAWNEE CITY — Jurors who heard evidence about the killing of 75-year-old farmer Kenneth Albers took their seats for the final time Wednesday in Pawnee County District Court.

District Judge Daniel Bryan asked the nine women and three men, “If you were to continue deliberations, do you feel there is a reasonable probability you might arrive at a verdict?”

Each juror said, “No.”

Story Photo
Schroeder

Deadlocked.

The judge declared a mistrial and ordered the defendant held without bond. Patrick W. Schroeder, 29, of DuBois, who confessed to the April 14 bludgeoning of Albers, will be tried again starting June 11 in a neighboring county.

After meeting privately with the judge and trial attorneys for about 30 minutes, the jurors filed out of the courtroom. Jason Albers of Lincoln, the youngest son of the victim, was the first person they saw.

Some shook his hand and apologized, saying it was 11-1 in favor of a conviction. One juror said, “We tried.” Another cried as she gave him a hug.

Then the last juror stepped up to Albers and offered his hand.

“Jason, I’m sorry, I was the one.”

Edward Conradt said he had reasonable doubt.

Albers took Conradt’s hand and held it for what seemed like a long time. In a terse but controlled voice, he started asking questions.

“How did my dad’s blood get in Schroeder’s basement?”

“I don’t know,” Conradt responded.

Did he read the judge’s written instructions, specifically the part where it says finding guilt beyond a reasonable doubt does not mean beyond all possible doubt? Did he really think the defendant didn’t commit the crime?

“If I’m wrong, I’m confident he’ll be convicted,” Conradt said as he finally walked away.

Later, outside the courthouse,  Conradt said the prosecution couldn’t overcome his doubt. The trail of Albers’ blood, from the farmer’s house to the edge of the well where his body was found to the nightstick discovered in Schroeder’s yard, couldn’t convince him. Nor could the videotaped confession.

“I had reasonable doubt that it was given freely and voluntarily,” said the 55-year-old auditor who works in Lincoln. “I thought it was more of an interrogation than a confession. I heard a lot of questions from the state on that video.”

Sticking to his belief the prosecution didn’t prove Schroeder guilty was the hardest thing he’s ever done, Conradt added.

The family of Kenneth Albers found nothing admirable about Conradt’s stand.

Albers’ wife, Margaret, who lived separately from her husband during the last years of his life, cried after the judge declared the mistrial.

His adult children, one from Lincoln, one from California and two from Texas, said their lives will remain on hold as they await justice.

“I want everybody to know my dad was a great guy and he didn’t deserve this,” said Angie Biesterfeld, one of Albers’ two daughters.

Across the street, as Conradt spoke to reporters, Jason Albers accused him of wanting 15 minutes of fame. He emotionally accused the reporters of giving it to him.

The victim’s son said people in Pawnee City are upset. He said he would pray for Conradt.

The jury deliberated for about 24 hours over three days. They were allowed to go home over the weekend and at night.

Juror Karen Harlow said that about two hours into deliberations, the jurors took a vote: 10-2 to convict. But the law requires juries to reach unanimous verdicts in criminal cases.

Later, the vote became 11-1. It never changed.

Harlow said she felt the prosecution’s case was strong. The videotaped confession provided the linchpin.

“I still have faith in (the legal system),” she said. “I’m fairly certain justice will be done.”

Schroeder, an unemployed laborer at the time of the killing, is married and has a daughter and three stepchildren. His wife, Phyllis, called the case a tragedy and she said having to go into court every day and face the Albers family was one of the hardest things she’s had to do.

“I pray to God for them every day,” she said. “I feel for their loss, but I also feel for my loss.”

As for her husband, she said, “I don’t believe in my heart he did it. I believe he was there and I believe he knows what happened.”

Schroeder was granted a change in venue for the second trial, which will be held at the Richardson County Courthouse in Falls City.

Because prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted.

By the time the second trial begins, more than a year will have passed since Albers’ death.

In recorded interviews with authorities, Schroeder said that on April 10, 2006, he stole Albers’ checkbook and forged a check for $1,357 on the account. Assuming the farmer would report the forgery to authorities, Schroeder said he decided to rob Albers a few days later, and he added, “I had it in my head I was going to kill him.”

He told Nebraska State Patrol investigators he carried a nightstick to the home of Albers on the morning of April 14. It was widely known that Albers kept large amounts of cash at his residence, where he lived alone.

Schroeder, who once worked for the farmer, told authorities he repeatedly struck Albers with the nightstick and dumped his body in an abandoned well southwest of Pawnee City. Testimony revealed close to $7,000 was taken.

In his statements, Schroeder told investigators where to find the money, the nightstick and the bloodstained shoes and jeans he wore during the killing.

Assistant Attorneys General Michael Guinan and Doug Warner, who prosecuted the case, showed the jury Miranda rights forms Schroeder signed on the days of the recorded interviews. At the end of the taped interview, an investigator asked Schroeder if he answered questions freely and voluntarily and Schroeder replied that he had.

The murder charge against Schroeder was not his first legal trouble.

He was first sentenced to prison for escape in March 1993 as a 15-year-old, but a judge vacated the sentence a month later. By October 1993, he was back in prison on the same charges and served 4½ years. In 2000, he received another prison sentence for theft and was released three years later.

Rob Kortus, an attorney with the Commission on Public Advocacy who represented Schroeder, wasn’t claiming victory over the mistrial.

But he thanked the jury for their service.

“It took courage to stick by their convictions in light of all the publicity and discussions that took place before the trial,” he said.

Holley Hatt, spokeswoman for the attorney general’s office, said her thoughts were with the family of the victim.

“We have given them our assurance we will retry the case and do everything we can to ensure that justice is served,” she said.

The case was the first murder trial in Pawnee County in 26 years. The last trial, in 1981, also ended in a hung jury.

Reach Joe Duggan at 473-7239 or jduggan@journalstar.com.


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tom b wrote on March 28, 2007 12:28 pm:
" are people in pawnee county deprived of oxygen...this was a no-brainer...worse than the juice verdict...way to make california jurors look good "

 unbelievable wrote on March 28, 2007 12:57 pm:
" I hope the jurors that couldn't vote for conviction can sleep at night, can look at themselves in the mirror with out seeing a man that was ruthlessly beaten to death and then dumped in a well with out haunting their thoughts, looking for justice, asking why. "

 Dave wrote on March 28, 2007 1:32 pm:
" I know nothing about this case but Im pretty sure has to be beyond a reasonable doubt, and obviously they wernt. "

 RU Kidding? wrote on March 28, 2007 1:40 pm:
" Holy cow! What are they hung up on? He confessed! They have a tape recording of it. My thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Albers' family since they are now forced to relive this experience a second time! "

 dumbfounded wrote on March 28, 2007 2:00 pm:
" I can not believe this.They had all the evidence they needed! I agree with tom are they deprived of oxygen?They had all the evidence infront of them.Something is fishy about this one!! Do they think someone else was with him?Dont understand.Just feel sorry for the Alber's family!! No family should be put through this. "

 LF wrote on March 28, 2007 2:06 pm:
" Did the two of you sit in on this trial? Have you ever been on a jury? I have sat on a jury and it gives you a whole lot of perspective. A lot depends on judge instructions, total unreasonable doubt, attorneys, etc. Before you blame the jury, you should know all the facts. "

 Nina wrote on March 28, 2007 2:08 pm:
" As I've said before, sometimes the technicalities of the law superceded the intent. It's frustrating how many times a trial can be hung up because something wasn't done correctly per a technical outlook. Not only is a confessed murderer unconvicted, but Pawnee county or its district, being one of the lower end economically in Nebraska, can ill afford another trial of this magnitude - to carry it off, citizens may suffer because money for public services is just not there. "

 shocked wrote on March 28, 2007 2:33 pm:
" I can't believe they did not reach a verdict. What is this world coming to? How can they not find a person guilty who robs and kills? "

 Former Resident wrote on March 28, 2007 2:33 pm:
" Unfortunately, I'm not suprised by this verdict. Having many friends and family still living in the area, I heard that most of the locals expected this outcome. It's sad to know that the family of Mr. Albers will have to go through this all again. Let's hope that the next trial will yield a better jury pool so that a decision may be reached and the family can find closure. "

 pj wrote on March 28, 2007 2:48 pm:
" this is absolutely outrageous!!! what would these 9 women and 3 men think if this was their father or grandfather? i sure hope the next twelve can see the light! "

 Concerned wrote on March 28, 2007 2:58 pm:
" If they were having such a hard time reaching a decision one would have to assume that they had a problem with the confession or how it was obtained. Unless you were on this jury you should not be so quick to judge them. In an earlier article in this paper the Pawnee County Attn. said that the most solid peice of evidence was the confession. We all know how some law inforcement agencies aquire these. The other issue was first or second degree murder, was that proven? I personally think he is guilty but it is the job of the county or the state to prove the case so the jury has do dought! As for tom b's O.J. comment, completely out of line, in that case they had a lot more evidence, blood, DNA , motive. O.J. just had a better lawyer than the state did. My concern now would be, guilty or not can he get a fair trial now that this has been plastered all over the press? "

 Past Jury member wrote on March 28, 2007 3:01 pm:
" Remember jury members cannot hear what the aqverage person does about the trial. They have to base their tough decision of the facts DURING the trial not from TV or the paper. I agree that this is shameful on (1) person only and that is the prosecutor! Where did you get your law degree? "

 Grew Up there wrote on March 28, 2007 3:07 pm:
" I grew up in Pawnee County and it is likely the jurors don't completely understand everything involved. At least they can admit that and declare a mistrial without looking for revenge or just giving a verdict to satisfy the mob. He will be tried again and likely convicted. Too bad they wasted all that money though. I wasn't there but I bet the lawyers and evidence handling had more to do with this mistrial than the jury. Speculation, of course. "

 everybody wrote on March 28, 2007 3:18 pm:
" I can not belive this. If he tells how he did it and when and wehre and the location of the evidence then what can the problem be. I hope that the guy that had trouble with his decision can sleep at night. I know he must be a friend of Schroeder, how else could you see the evidence presented and not want this guy sent to the chair. "

 pc resident wrote on March 28, 2007 3:19 pm:
" although we may not agree with the juror/jurors who held out, it took guts! Too often, we make choices based on what others think we should do. I believe it will all work in the end, just going to take a little longer than we thought. "

 Soylent Green wrote on March 28, 2007 3:27 pm:
" I suspect that the reason that the jury could not come to a decision is not so much about whether or not Schroeder murdered Albers but rather were proper procedures were followed during the investigation. If you recall, they same type of things came up during the OJ trial previously mentioned. Our legal system has to work both ways here folks! "

 shooting from the hip wrote on March 28, 2007 3:36 pm:
" unless you were present for the entire trial and have had sufficient time to personally examine all evidence introduced I suggest you discontinue shooting from the hip with your uneducated conclusions. "

 from pawne county wrote on March 28, 2007 4:05 pm:
" You have got to be kidding! Deadlocked? Mistrial? They weren't asking for the death penalty, come on, it was a no brainer! "

 I'veseeneverything wrote on March 28, 2007 4:15 pm:
" I can't wait until the jurors give their excuses. They must think that he is not telling the truth in his confession. Pawnee City can be proud of this one. "

 Money wrote on March 28, 2007 4:33 pm:
" This will cost Pawnee County a boat load of money to retry this case. I hope the new jury can get it together. When everyone is looking at the same evidence and hearing the same testimony then they should all end up with the same results. "

 In Nebraska wrote on March 28, 2007 4:42 pm:
" Wow! I'm shocked, stunned, and saddened! I never imagined that in Nebraska a jury would drink the koolaide before the trial. Pawnee county residents should be ashamed of themselves and each other. What has to happen for someone to be locked up forever? Unbelievable! "

 CS wrote on March 28, 2007 7:50 pm:
" I would be just as scared of some of you as you purportedly are of the jury members. They didn't say he was innocent. The weren't able to come to a verdict beyond reasonable doubt. I would stop blaming the jury and start shopping for a new DA because he or she failed to do their job and sew up any loose ends. I would rather have a mistrial and eventual guilt then a jury that screamed Guilty Guilty just to satisfy people that don't have all the facts. Remember, two men in murdock almost went to jail for life or worse because "everyone" was convinced that they were guilty. Are small towns so deprived of entertainment that they can't wait for an execution? If he is guilty then it will come out. If the police coerced a confession out of him through improper means and you accept that then we are closer to the boot heel of the mob than I care to contemplate. "

 Pawnee County resident wrote on March 28, 2007 8:44 pm:
" Don't judge all the people in Pawnee County by the one lone juror that caused the mistrail. Pawnee County people are mostly good people and care about their neighbors and try to do what is right. Again, don't judge everyone because of one person. "

 A juror's husband wrote.... wrote on March 28, 2007 9:14 pm:
" Well, I seem to be the only one here who's not afraid to use their real name, my name is Corey Hain. My wife was one of the 11 jurors who gave up over a week of her life for this case, a week that she couldn't talk to me, a week that she was preoccupied with the proceedings, and a week that will scar her for life, i'm sure . I am deeply saddened to see so many people condemning the jury, 11 of the jury members gave over one week of their life for this cause, all for naught because of 1 member of the jury whom chose to go against the grain so that he could have a moment of fame. I wish that some of you who are condemning the jury would tell my 3 young children how oxygen deprived my wife is, they would sure appreciate that very much, tell them how oxygen deprived the woman is who has spent over one week of her life disassociated from her family....my wife is a wonderful woman, you should write an apology to her, and the other 10 jury members who made the correct decision in this case. If you knew the sacrifice's that 11 of the jury members made, in order to participate in this trial you would be ashamed of yourselves for the comments you have made. Maybe you should try not being able to talk to someone you have spent 17 years of your life with, sharing every little thing that had happened in their life good or bad for those 17 years, then at once that stops, you know your wife if going through a difficult time, but you cannot do anything to help her, you can't help her with a difficult decision, you can't do anything at all to help her with what she's going through....try that for over a week and see how you feel. I feel 11 of the jurors in this trial did their job, 1 juror saw it as a chance to grab his moment of glory, he saw it as a chance to put his thumb on 11 other people, he saw it as his chance to finally be "the boss" to be "the guy in charge". The people that are condemning the jury should apologize to the 11 members that felt like they made the right decision in this case, they should apologize to my wife, and they should condemn the 1 person that made everything 1,000 times harder than it had to be. Eleven of the jury members tried everything that they could to convince the one extrovert that he was making the wrong decision, but to no avail. I am not afraid to stand up for my wife, nor am I afraid to stand up for the ten other jury members that gave up over a week of their live's, a week with their families, and a week of duress. If you would like to talk about this further, email me at cdub19702@yahoo.com I would be glad to meet you halfway if your convictions over this verdict are that strong. I really doubt that anyone on here making the derogatory comments towards the jury will have heartfelt convictions enough to email me, but if you do my offer stands. You should be ashamed of yourselves, for making the roughest week of 11 good people's lives seem like it is for nothing. Spend the last week in 11 of the jury's member's shoes, and then judge them....that's all I ask of you. In all reality, I know that the people posting the derogitory comments towards the jury, are not worth a pinch of what come's out of my dogs butt, but I still felt the obligation to stick up for the 11 jury members who took the oath, took over a week out of their live's, and who made the correct decision. Corey Hain Humboldt, Ne "

 NL wrote on March 28, 2007 9:34 pm:
" So, after reading some of your comments, you think it's more justified to follow proper procedure, even if he is guilty? What if he wasn't going to be re-tried and killed again. This has happened when people are not convicted because an i wasn't dotted..then they went on and killed again. What a shame, he confessed, now he could be set free (on a technicality?). "

 just a thought wrote on March 28, 2007 11:15 pm:
" the attorney general was brought it to try this case, so they sent their expert down to do so. Because the defendant was charged with first degree murder each side, the prosecutor and defense got to strike 12 jurors each out of 36 possible jurors to reach the 12. You can kick a juror off for any reason basicly. Each side kicks off the jurors radical to their side. i.e. anti-establishment for the prosecutor. Sounds to me like the esteemed attorney general should be getting a finger pointed at him for not recognizing an extreme believer. and before you condemn all of the jurors, would you rather the other 11 said "fine, not guilty" so they could go home to their families. just a thought. and i'll await jon brunings thoughts on the job of his hired gun since he comments so quickly on other politically beneficial situations "

 somebody else was involved wrote on March 29, 2007 12:17 am:
" I still think that there was more than just him involved, i feel he is covering for somebody else. "

 pawnee raised wrote on March 29, 2007 2:16 am:
" we all have to step back and look at the whole picture here. Could you imagine going throught this trial being a juror? Imagine the after effects on each and everyone of them! I myself would not of been able to sit thru the trial due to the fact that the albers family was like my second family in my younger days. I can remember looking out over the field yelling and laughing at the albers kids because of the echo's we heard. I just want to take this time to thank each and everyone of the jurors that gave up so much of there own life for this your efforts will not be forgotten! Pawnee is like a tit nit community everyone knows everyone here and if they dont know you i guarentee they will know you by tomorrow morning during there morning coffee at the coffee shop! I was born in pawnee in 1971 graduate in 1990 moved away for 2 yrs and came back and i will say this much "THIS IS HOME" moving this to richardson county probably a good idea maybe justice will be served so everyone including family, friends, and everyone that took part of the trial can be at ease. As for the no brainer i agree! But it took all jurors to agree to make it happen. As far as the comment someone else posted about how the jurors would feel if it was there father or grandfather, dont you think that crossed their mind? imagine what they are going through now! IMAGINE GIVING UP 8 days of your own life to bring justice for someone else's family! stop and think about it as for everyone else i cant speak for them but as for myself i will say THANK YOU JURORS for trying your efforts will not be forgotten Sincerely Sheri "

 Let Freedom ring wrote on March 29, 2007 8:08 am:
" Don't you just love those folks who already have their mind made up even before this happens. I think that yes indeed people are entitled to their opinion and this wonderful person should have this fine upstanding feller live next door to him and wait until one night until he gets TICKED off again. Wow I love the America of today. "

 JW wrote on March 29, 2007 8:10 am:
" What a tough job to be on a jury. It is the job of the Attn. General to provide enough evidence that the jury has NO DOUGHT. I commend all the jury members including the one that was singled out by the jurors husband in his blog. Why would you tell everyone that it was a man,who you alledge has his own personal agenda. Thats just wrong! I can understand your frustration but to deflect all comments from just the jury to one individual! I am glad that it was your wife and not you who had this tough task of serving. Maybe if the DA would have gone for 2nd degree along with the robbery and use of a weapon it would have added up to life in prison this would be over. From all that has been written about this case I felt that going for first degree murder in this case was going to be hard to prove. I live in Jefferson County and we had a similar case here. They agreed to a plea bargin for 2nd degree with the use of a weapon. End result 70 years in prison. Saved the tax payers alot of money sent a bad person to prison. "

 Heresyoursign wrote on March 29, 2007 9:00 am:
" When a suspect tells the authorities where to find the money, bloodied clothes and murder weapon, that would tell me something about being guilty. Here's your sign Juror Edward Conradt. "

 Juror's Husband wrote on March 29, 2007 9:19 am:
" ""What a tough job to be on a jury. It is the job of the Attn. General to provide enough evidence that the jury has NO DOUGHT. I commend all the jury members including the one that was singled out by the jurors husband in his blog. Why would you tell everyone that it was a man,who you alledge has his own personal agenda. Thats just wrong! I can understand your frustration but to deflect all comments from just the jury to one individual! I am glad that it was your wife and not you who had this tough task of serving" JW...I would just like to point out a couple of things to you. Yes I did alledge that one jury member had his own personal agenda...I made that determination after talking to my wife about the deliberations, after talking to people that knew the one jury member, and after reading some comments made in another news article....here are some quotes from the other article pretaining to that particular jury member. "We tried every way conceivable" to convince the holdout juror, Harlow said. "But you can't convince someone who doesn't think they need to follow the law." "Juror Kim Flesner of Lewiston said Conradt did not follow the judge's instructions to the jury. "He interpreted it differently," Flesner said." "Body language spoke volumes as the jurors entered the courtroom Wednesday morning. "Conradt sat immediately, smiling slightly, while the 11 others remained standing, grim-faced." "We've lost faith in one person," said Lori Coates of Dallas, one of Kenneth Albers' two daughters." So I will stand by my statement that it was one jury member who thought this was his chance at glory, his moment in the sun....and it must have worked, he got his picture on the front page of the OWH. I am extremely glad that the people that are important in this case know the truth behind what happened, I don't know why it matters so much to me what a few people have posted on this blog, but it does. "Thats just wrong! I can understand your frustration but to deflect all comments from just the jury to one individual! I am glad that it was your wife and not you who had this tough task of serving." I will ignore the above personal attack on my integrity....you have no idea what kind of person I am. Corey Hain "

 JW wrote on March 29, 2007 10:41 am:
" Mr. Hain, My intention was not to question your integrity at all. You apparently have a lot more information than the rest of us due to the fact that your wife was on the jury. If you are correct that Mr. Conradt was some type of a rouge juror then that would be a terrible injustice. My comments started out to defend the jury because they had become targets in this blog. Which I beleive is totally unfair. I would like to say that I am sorry for any attack you feel I made on you personally. Your right I do not know you and after reading both of your post again I understand what you are saying. "

 Proud of Pawnee County wrote on March 29, 2007 11:16 am:
" This stiuation is unfortuanate, and I am so saddened for the Albers family, but it is ridiculous to blame the entire jury and an entire county for the actions of one juror.....a juror, who I might add, primarily lives and works in Lincoln. This case is not a reflection on a whole group of good and honest people. It is a reflection on one person who chose to stand in the way of justice. "

 Corey Hain wrote on March 29, 2007 12:49 pm:
" JW....Please accept my appology for being so defensive in my post to you. I hope that you can understand that this subject is very dear to my heart, and I probably let my emotions get the best of me. When I started reading some of the comments last night I could not believe what some people were saying...it was very troubling for me to read some of those comments....I felt it was my obligation to stand up for what my wife did in this trial...if any of you knew my wife you would know that she gives 100% to everything she does, and she gave that to this trial...I hated to see it end the way it did. Sometime's it seems to me that Southeast Nebraska as a whole gets a bad wrap for what 5 or 6 terrible people have done over the last 15 years. You can be assured that Pawnee and Richardson counties are both filled with caring, thoughtful, generous people for the most part. I hate to see the acts of a few terrible people ruin the perception of this part of the state. I would also like to thank everyone that sent emails of support to my wife since I first posted yesterday. I have recieved emails from all across Nebraska, and from as far away as Florida in support of the 11 jurors in this trial, each one of them also wanted me to thank my wife for what she did....thank you for taking the time to type and send these emails, they will mean the world to my wife i'm sure. Corey Hain "

 TM of Pawnee City wrote on March 29, 2007 1:01 pm:
" I have been so frustrated in the past couple of weeks about this whole thing. I have never understood why he deserved a trial in the first place...he confessed!!! Why does our county have to put out soooo much money for this man? We are going to feel the affects of this all around. I sympothize with the jurors. Having to spend so much time away from their families,listening and witnessing the horrific crime that Mr. Albers endured. No one should ever have to die the way he did. There are still questions unanswered. Someday they will come out though. As far as people in Pawnee that are lack of oxygen...I think it is the people from Lincoln with the lack of oxygen and the police that did not aquire all the evidence to prove this without a resonable doubt. Why can't these people do THEIR job. The juror from Lincoln should rethink where he liscence his vehicles, what he does is against the law, why doesn't anyone do anything about that? Will he still be allowed to liscence his vehicles in this county? I hope he feels confidant in what he has put all these families and the county through. Of course he doesn't care how much money and turmoil he has cost us...HE LIVES IN LINCOLN!! I want to see justice served here. Pat needs to be put away for the rest of HIS liFE...even though they deserve the death penalty...I really don't want my tax money going to him for the next fifty years while he sits up there having free health care, three meals a day, cable t.v., internet, college, a cot and a pillow, and what ever other luxuries people in prison get while we pay for it and we struggle to meet the needs of our own families. I can not express my anger in a professional manner...I just hope to see justice...SOON! "

 Come on! wrote on March 29, 2007 1:05 pm:
" It sounds like most of you didn't read the article at all. It was one juror who caused the mistrial. Obviously, the other 11 thinks he's guilty. I would like to know how this one juror believes the accused was forced into a confession when the guy told authorities where to find the weapon, bloodied clothes and money? What is he possibly thinking, reasonable doubt? Come on! "

 confused wrote on March 29, 2007 2:01 pm:
" If you were not at the trial and did not see all the evidence you do not know all the fact. Maybe the point where 3 or 4 times before he confessed on tape a prosecutor came in and said if he did not say what they wanted to hear they were going to have his wife arrested and his kids taken away. maybe he confessed for his families sake. if you have a family maybe you can se what i mean. maybe you need to think about that before you send a man to prison for life. "

 dave wrote on March 29, 2007 2:09 pm:
" Livers also confessed to the murder or his uncle and aunt.....if confessions so reliable then why are two teens sitting in prison for that murder and not Livers? Oh maybe because police have a tendancy to "scare" a confession out of you. "

 Calm down... wrote on March 29, 2007 2:58 pm:
" Hy lord people. I think he's probably guilty as well but you guys sound like your all ready to bring back lynching. I wish more people would think for themselves. We're becoming a society of conformists. I think if mistakes are made during the legal process, they should be able to be corrected and proven. That's a definite improvement that could be made to our system. But as far as everyone on here digging for the rope in their garage to go get this guy, I'm hope you're not on my jury when I'm WRONGLY charged with a crime. You'd probably be trying to give the judge a verdict during the opening statements. "

 airedale wrote on March 29, 2007 5:16 pm:
" It seems to me that this case was handled in a pretty sloppy manner. It certainly should not be held up as a model way to try a case. It is interesting to note that Bruning has not commented on it. I guess losses and ties are not good for his image. "

 Lone Juror Bashers wrote on March 29, 2007 10:15 pm:
" I find it deeply disturbing that so many of you are convicting the one juror who did not happen to think like the other 11 jurors. To make statements and accusations that he did it for the fame and to have his picture in the paper, is just sad. I can only assume it is emotion that is driving the blame game. When in reality, he was probably doing what he felt was the right decision based upon his own ife experience of what a "reasonable doubt" may be. No two people are going to have the same experiences that allow them to think exactly alike. Additionally, you all may have forgotten that we may be faced with difficult moral and ethical dilemas in our lifetime, and that hopefully, we have the backbone to stand up for what we believe in, regardless of the popular vote. Sometimes doing what you beleive,is the hardest thing you ever have to do!@ "

 Lone Juror bashers reply wrote on March 30, 2007 2:42 am:
" You don't KNOW this ONE juror as many in Pawnee County do. So, I don't think your comments apply here. Mr. Hain, and the Albers family was correct in their statements as to this ONE juror trying to gain a few minutes of fame. If you knew Mr. Conradt, you would most certainly agree, but you don't, evidently know him. Your only agenda is for the "Lone Juror". Let me ask you this? If you lived in Lincoln (not sure where you live), how would YOU like it if someone was murdered in Lincoln, and ONE jury member who owns land in Lincoln, but didn't live there, was selected as a Jury Member in a high profile case? Suddenly, that person can become a high profile person and not have to deal with any local backlash because they don't live there anymore. Would you sit back and watch the fireworks? Because Mr. Conradt did just that. I, myself know this juror, and he sat back like it was the Fourth of July. Mr. Hain's wife and the remainder of the jury have nothing to hold their heads down about and for the rest of the people who comment on this board about the remaining jury being "oxygen-deprived". In my opinion, those people need to be more informed before stating such comments. They have no insight into what is going on in Southeast Nebraska, nor do they wish to, unless it involves a high profile case. Arm yourselves with knowledge people. Unlike Mr. Conradt (who is living in Lincoln). "

 time to move on wrote on March 30, 2007 8:52 am:
" The courtroom is empty now, its time to move on.My heart goes out to the Albers family and the 11 jurors who tried to get a verdict. "

 CS wrote on March 30, 2007 9:34 am:
" So Southeast NE is its own little fiefdom now? Don't Lincoln and Omaha residents hear all the time about how NE we think NE is Lincoln and Omaha? But its okay for you to libel a land owner in Pawnee County just because he doesn't live there? It sounds like he'd be one of the better jurors because his opinions of the case wouldn't be clouded by personal bias. Regardless of how many jurors were cut from selection based on relationships or other disqualifiers the very act of living in a town that small doesn't necessarily make a jury of peers the best judge. You all have issues, prior knowledge, bias, and opinions that this Mr. Conradt isn't subject to because he doesn't live there. I live in Lincoln now, but im well aware of the politicing in SE Nebraska towns. I grew up in Beatrice, I went to Jr. High and HS in Wymore, I have had friends and significant others from Pawnee City and spent time there, so Im not another 'Lincoln' person that has no idea. I shudder that just because someones opinion isn't the same as yours that you would accuse them of the same thing you are getting now-attention from the media. The case will be retried, another jury selected, and life will move on. "

 Response to CS wrote on April 2, 2007 4:27 am:
" Actually, it's funny you should accuse me of wanting media attention. That statement is farthest from the truth. I simply found this forum a way to express an opinion about Mr. Conradt, whom you don't know either. Did you know that this man came into the courtroom every day smiling, and that other jurors had to ask him to take this case serious? Do you know that this man sent a message to the JUDGE asking if he could talk to the media after the trial on the Tuesday prior to the Wednesday hung jury? Do you know that this man couldn't even acknowledge the pictures of Mr. Albers because he rose the argument that "how could people make sure that it was the body of Mr. Albers" belligerently during the case. I assure you that this isn't a case of Southeast Nebraska "politicing" as you refer it. Mr. Albers attended my church, and I was a friend of one of his youngest sons in CCD. But, it is still simply a matter of ONE juror who didn't do his job in almost everyone's eyes of the law in Pawnee County simply because he wanted attention. You may know people from this area and lived close to here, although Wymore isn't exactly close, but I am trying to tell you what the thoughts are here now about someone who ducked and ran back to Lincoln. He made a mockery of our County and even worse, a mockery of the good people who served with him on that jury. I commend every one of those jurors who had to deliberate with him day to day. I only hope and pray that the good citizens of Richardson County (whom have gone through a very nasty murder trial before, and another one of my good friends murdered) understand and realize the facts presented to them and let justice be done. "

 Paul wrote on April 2, 2007 11:12 am:
" I probably know the holdout juror better than most of you. He had experienced his 15 minutes of fame long ago, and sure didn't need this experience for further recognition. He followed the judge's instructions and, even more importantly, his own conscience. He WAS NOT the juror who asked the judge whether the jurors could speak to the media following the trial. Ask the judge. Conradt understood when the judge first gave his instructions. Like it or not, our system of justice provides for exactly this outcome. The remedy is not to condemn the juror, but to demand the prosecution do a better job of presenting their case. Before you condemn Ed Conradt, ask yourself if you would have enough courage in your convictions (pun intended) to publicly stand up to 11 people who disagreed with you? No, he wasn't able to convert any other jurors to his way of thinking, but he had the guts to tell the family that he was the lone juror. Whatever the outcome of the June trial, the justice system worked as it was designed. "

 Alicia wrote on April 8, 2007 4:29 pm:
" It's a sad day when a family must suffer a tradgy such as this. Then, they had to deal with the outcome of a mistrial! WHERE IS THE JUSTICE IN THAT? And for what? Some person whom thinks blood is not sufficant enough? HELLO, McFly! Yes, I have a opinion that some would say is personal. However, you can't dismiss blood, and a confession! All I can say is that if this every happened to him family may he never encounter someone such as himself! To Kevin, Stephanie, and the boys, I love you all. I know how hard this has been on you personaly and your family too. I pray JUSTICE is severed as is should have already been done. Your all very strong people and you will get through this, although you shouldn't have too! You know we are all here for you, and love you very much. Your sister, Alicia "

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