Katrina Earley bursts into tears as guilty verdict for first degree verdict was read shortly after 4:11 today

Less than 24 hours to reach another guilty verdict.

Just after 4 p.m. there was a verdict in the Jake Combs case, Katrina Earley burst into tears as the guilty verdict was read to first degree murder. The jurors also found true the special allegation. Combs waived his right to a court trial and bench trial on two issues of bifurcation. Of course, outside the presence of the jurors, he mouthed off on the criminal justice system, "I want to waive the whole fucking thing."

Preliminary hearing in the new case he picked up is May 27. Sentencing is on July 31.

When I watched Deputy District Attorney Whitney Timm give her closing and then I looked at the jury, I knew. I did not say anything until the verdict out of respect for the family.

If you read my coverage on this retrial, I already said from the beginning that Combs would regret not taking the plea offer and that his public defenders were no match for Ms. Timm.

I will be doing a separate post with more details about the verdict, his case that was trailing and sentencing. I have been here all day without a break so it will be sometime tonight. I am quite emotional myself right now.

Only Times Standard and I were in court for the verdict.

Previous posts (retrial):

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2026/05/jake-combs-jurors-request-readback-of.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2026/05/when-i-shot-him-i-snapped.html?m=1

These are links to prior coverage on the retrial.

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2026/05/testimony-about-dna-evidence-from.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2026/05/even-in-her-grief-look-how-respectful.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2026/04/due-to-judge-cockrums-error-and-jake.html?m=1

This is a 2022 case. If you want links to all the posts on this case from the beginning, for free you can access them via the search feature on the blog or you can chose paid options for convenience