FARMINGTON — A former Jay man was found guilty Friday of knowingly causing the death of his former girlfriend, Wendy Douglass, by striking her in the head with a bat at least three times on July 11, 2017. James E. “Ted” Sweeney, who is deaf, had pleaded not criminally responsible by reason of insanity in October 2018 […]
james sweeney
Murder case of former Jay man in judge's hands
FARMINGTON — Lawyers in the murder trial of James “Ted” Sweeney presented closing arguments Monday before Justice William Stokes, who said he will announce a verdict Feb. 1. Assistant Attorney General Leane Zainea said on the fifth day of the trial the 58-year-old former Jay man knew it was wrong when he struck his former, longtime […]
Defense rests in Jay murder case, closing arguments to be heard Monday
FARMINGTON — Psychologists who evaluated the mental health of a former Jay man on trial for murder in the death of his former girlfriend reached different conclusions, they told the court Friday. Dr. Robert Q. Pollard Jr., who testified for the defense, said that after reviewing all of the data and conducting tests, he deemed James “Ted” […]
Jay murder trial: Autopsy revealed numerous injuries
FARMINGTON — A former state medical examiner testified Thursday in the murder trial of James “Ted” Sweeney that Wendy Douglass suffered many serious head injuries that caused her death July 11, 2017, at her home in Jay. Sweeney, 58, formerly of Jay, is accused of striking his former, longtime girlfriend with a softball bat while she […]
Jay murder suspect jealous, state says
FARMINGTON — Testimony on day two of the murder trial of James “Ted” Sweeney on Tuesday focused on his jealous behavior in the months leading up to the death of his former longtime girlfriend at the home they shared in Jay. Sweeney, 58, is accused of killing Wendy Douglass, 51, with a softball bat while she […]
Trial begins for former Jay man accused of killing girlfriend
FARMINGTON — The murder trial of James “Ted” Sweeney opened Monday with the prosecutor focusing on Sweeney’s obsessive jealousy and the defense pointing to mental illness and deafness as factors in the beating death of Wendy Douglass at her home in Jay last year. Sweeney, 58, formerly of Jay, is accused of killing his former longtime girlfriend […]
Former Jay man enters insanity plea, waives jury trial in murder case
FARMINGTON — A former Jay man charged in the death of his girlfriend last year pleaded not criminally responsible by reason of insanity and waived a jury trial Thursday at Franklin County Superior Court. James “Ted” Sweeney, 58, is accused of murder in the July 11, 2017, killing of Wendy Douglass, 51, while she slept […]
Former Jay man expected to enter insanity plea in murder case
FARMINGTON — A former Jay man accused of killing his girlfriend in 2017 is expected to enter a plea of not criminally responsible by reason of insanity, according to a procedural court order issued Monday. James “Ted” Sweeney, 58, is charged with murder in the death of Wendy Douglass, 51, on July 11, 2017, at […]
Jay murder trial likely to take place in January
A tentative court date has been scheduled for January in the murder trial of a Jay man charged with bludgeoning his girlfriend to death in July 2017, as his lawyers await results of a forensic evaluation. James “Ted” Sweeney, 57, pleaded not guilty in September to a charge of intentional or knowing murder in the […]
Psych evaluation scheduled for Jay man accused of killing girlfriend
FARMINGTON — A Jay man accused of killing his girlfriend last summer at her home in Jay is scheduled Tuesday to undergo a forensic evaluation for competency, criminal responsibility and other mental conditions, according to a court document. Dr. Robert Riley, a consultant neuro-psychologist for State Forensic Services is scheduled to conduct the examination. James […]