This morning, the jurors in voluntary manslaughter suspect Destinee Rhamy's case started deliberations at 9:30 a.m.
At 9:56 a.m. attorneys were notified there was a note from.the jury. 9:58 I heard there is a verdict in the Destinee Rhamy case. I will update here first or Facebook whichever is more convenient; I don't know yet. They are getting people together so it could take a while.
11: 05 Sgt. Comer just said 2 p.m. for the verdict. A juror has an appointment.
Rhamy is charged in Count 1 with PC 192 (a) voluntary manslaughter. Count 1 special allegation is PC 12022 (b) (1) use of a deadly weapon; a knife. Count 2 is PC 245 (a) (1) assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm. Count 2 special allegation PC 12022.7 (a) infliction of great bodily injury. The alleged victim in both counts is Holland Renee Elbik , Rhamy's former roomate.
Humboldt Superior Court Judge Lawrence Killoran presided over the trial. Deputy District Attorney Roger Rees is the prosecutor. Ms. Andrea Sullivan is Rhamy's attorney.
Courtroom 5 has been packed with family members and supporters of both Elbik and Rhamy. There is even more limited seating due to rows cordoned off with yellow tape for weeks.
If you have not been following my regular coverage which includes daily updates on jury deliberations, check previous coverage.
2:17 p.m. : 7 not guilty, 5 guilty. After 5 ballots, jury in Destinee Rhamy's case hopelesly deadlocked. Hung jury. Every single juror was polled. Mistrial declared. Defense motion to dismiss denied by Judge Killoran. March 27 for trial setting.
Jurors all left without talking to either attorney.
Elbik's mother who spoke with me before and I wrote about her switched after my truthful and balanced coverage. Today, she spoke with Redheaded Blackbelt's Ryan Hutson who has never covered this case while I have been at every hearing since the arrest
I don't skew my coverage for anyone and I don't like conditional readers. I have been critical of Rhamy and yet she, her family, Zach Hood who is her significant other have been respectful and decent to me.
Unlike Ryan Hutson, I don't use conference rooms at the Courthouse for attorneys and litigants as office space and close the door so others can't use it. Interviewing a biased party when the DA has indicated they plan to retry a homicide case is irresponsible and can affect a case.
I had to correct Ryan Hutson coverage on Richard Toledo and what she left out about Kati Moulton recently. I have had to correct her before. Readers should google Curt Davis on my blog regarding Ryan Hutson's coverage. These are just few examples.
Rhamy's family was quiet in court. Despite Judge Killoran's previous warning, the younger woman seated with Elbik's mother burst out sobbing while jurors were still in court.
I was given a tip about Elbik's mother that she worked from some DA's office in SoCal. The DA tip was not verified but there is a Kay Elbik who worked for the San Diego Superior Court.
In her remarks to Ryan Hutson, Elbik's mother mentioned she is from So Cal and dissed the jury.
(Screenshot from RHBB)
(Screenshot from RHBB)
Unlike Ryan Hutson and Kym Kemp who showed up just for this hearing and then summarized information that is not their original reporting from court, I covered the trial. I wrote about Rhamy's testimony which is about what led to Elbik's stabbing. That day, I was willing to give Kay Elbik some benefit of the doubt but she had already turned on me after thanking me for my coverage. Now she disses the jury. Tacky. There were issues with her daughter and if Kay is going to badmouth others, including jurors who did their job as explained by Judge Killoran himself, then it does make me believe what Rhamy said that day on the stand. EPD are not social workers; neither is the DA. They look at a case clinically from evidence.
Kym Kemp is the only one in local media who continues to use someone who is not a reporter. For new readers, I have written previously about working as a reporter in traditional media on the East Coast and have been published in West Coast national media years ago.
I have been told by people at Eureka City Hall and defense attorneys (not Ms. Sullivan) what they think of Ryan Hutson. I recently pointed out her leaving relevant facts in her protest reporting.
The same people probably diss me to other media. That is how Humboldt is; people have tried it with me and LOCO.
For RHBB, to pass off as "breaking news" a verdict I reported this morning and then updated live again "is a joke." RHBB was MIA since the arrest until showing up today. All other media check my page. In fact, Kym Kemp acvidentally liked one of my fb posts; then unliked it. Happens when you scroll on fb. I texted someone saying lol.
When I was checking Rhamy's case today, there was this yellow disqualified tag today. It is probably an internal label accidentally displaying to the public. Out of curiosity, I will check tomorrow but everyone at the Courthouse and I am busy so this isn't on the top of my priority list. I am just going to let court admin and tech know.
On April 8, 2025, I wrote that Rhamy lucked out having Ms. Sullivan court appointed. From day 1, when Ms. Sullivan started taking cases in Humboldt County, I believed in her and my praise of her has proved right many times in cases other attorneys won't take. If you are going to pay an attorney, chose wisely. My current advertisers and former advertisers like Ms. Sullivan are on my blog for a reason. I watch them in court and I don't take ads or money from anyone I would not recommend. Every single advertiser of mine is fine with my truthful coverage; even if it is critical of them. I don't pay to appear in feeds or search results. I don't make money off Google or Meta monetization even though I have been invited and my readers are spared random, unwanted ads.
3/13: Detailed court minutes are not up yet, I checked this morning and after lunch.
