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Ind. judge rejects venue change in 1979 killing

Posted April 17, 2013 7:27 am

Associated Press

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — A western Indiana judge has rejected a change of venue for a man charged in the 1979 slaying of a 20-year-old woman and the attempted killing of her young son.

Richard L. Boswell Jr.’s defense attorneys had argued that pretrial publicity and a recent mistrial in the case would make it difficult to find an impartial Vigo County jury.

The Tribune-Star reports Boswell’s first murder trial ended in a January mistrial after a witness mentioned Boswell’s criminal history while on the witness stand.

Jury selection in Lewis’ retrial is set for April 29. The convicted sex offender is charged with murder in the strangulation death of Kathy Jo Baker and attempted murder for attacking her then-2-year-old son, Ryan.

Both victims were found in woods near their Riley-area home.

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