Covering a trial where I was on the crime scene moments later; coverage from a perspective you will not get anywhere else

Two years and almost two months later, jury selection is expected to start this Monday in the jury trial for Gary Lee Bullock charged with the brutal murder and torture of St. Bernards former pastor Fr. Eric Freed. Bullock also faces charges  of attempted arson of the rectory.

I will be there every day starting this Monday when the courtroom is open to the public. The trial will be in session full days, Monday through Thursday and until noon on Fridays.

Most of you have read My Words in the Times-Standard, my coverage on this case and personal reflections.

This was the trial that started my daily court coverage. This was the experience that has allowed me to understand jury trials and the effect on all involved: attorneys, law enforcement, defendants and loved ones.

I always do detailed coverage of court proceedings. The legal proceedings are not the whole story.

While other media may attend court proceedings, chances are no one will be there every day. While other media can report what happened at trial, they cannot give you a personal insight into Fr. Eric, how this has affected his family, his friends and all of us who knew him.  I can say with confidence, that I saw Fr. Eric every single day and was one of the fortunate ones to spend time with him one on one outside the church.

I am the one who has kept in touch with his family for the past two years on a regular basis.

This is not about Gary Lee Bullock, it is about the man whose life was taken suddenly, who touched so many in the community, especially the Catholic community, HSU and the Japanese community. I will be honoring Fr. Eric by personal posts. Some of you cannot understand the loss we feel but it will give you some idea of our loss.

This is not a case where I need to rely on testimony for certain events and evidence. I was one of three people to see Fr. Eric last on New Year's Eve. I was on the crime scene, arriving moments after
Bullock drove away in Fr. Eric's car on New Year's Day.

Although another parishioner had arrived a few minutes before me, she was in another building on church property. I was the first one to walk the pathway near the rectory, see the broken window, the odd symbol outside the bathroom and the morning paper still lying on the steps.

As I have explained before, some of these were signs of people camping on the property. Usually, I threw paper on the steps outside the rectory or put it right outside the door of the rectory, I did not that morning. I wanted to set up for New Year's mass. I was joyfully looking forward to mass.

The words that I said jokingly to Fr. Eric New Year's Eve, "You can sleep in a few extra minutes, Fr. Eric, I will have everything set up" took on a whole new meaning later that New Year's Day morning.

He smiled. He and other priests know they can depend on me.

I have been stoic for the past two years. I stopped attending church and being so involved regularly for a few months now. I have been there for everyone else. I have not had a chance to mourn Fr. Eric.

Today, I end with the strenna that Fr. Eric wrote for 2104.

"To be happy, be thankful.

To be thankful, have faith.

Faith is understanding that all is God’s.”