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Read comments (8)Cook, 23, is charged with first degree murder and conspiracy to commit first degree murder in the Feb. 14, 2007, murder of Ross, a Shelbyville car salesman.
Judge Robert Crigler granted the defense motion for a mistrial after the jury in the case deliberated over a four-day period.
"Of course, we are sorely disappointed with this result, but we will not allow all the work of the Bedford County Sheriff's Department, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation or the District Attorney General's office go for naught," District Attorney General Chuck Crawford said.
"We are prepared to try this case again, as soon as the Court's busy schedule permits," Crawford said. "Our belief in the defendant's guilt remains unshaken."
"The jury spent a lot of time in deliberation and obviously they couldn't reach a decision. That's the purpose of the jury system and the defense council and Ms. Cook really appreciates their time and efforts and their sincere effort to try to resolve this case," defense attorney Jack Dearing said.
"But for whatever reason, they couldn't," Dearing said.
One juror told the T-G outside the courthouse that jurors had debated it "5 million ways," but everyone on the jury had made up their minds and won't change it.
Crigler had stated at 9 Friday morning that he would ask the jury at 10:30 a.m. whether it was hopelessly deadlocked; however, minutes before that was to occur, a question came from jurors asking if 10 voted for first degree murder but two were opposed, could they convict her of second degree murder.
Doing so would have skipped over the next lesser charge of facilitation of first degree murder.
After hearing arguments for an hour from the defense and prosecution on the wording of the answer, Crigler called the jury back to the court room.
Crigler told jurors that Cook must be proven guilty of the charge of first degree murder unanimously, if not, then they were to consider the next lesser charge. The judge then asked if the jury was hopelessly deadlocked.
Within 10 minutes the jury passed a note to the judge that they were deadlocked. Crigler then granted the defense's mistrial motion.
Bill Ross was shot three times while he slept in his bed at his Wartrace Pike home. His wife, 38-year-old Kimberly Ann Ross, was sentenced to life in prison last November after pleading guilty to first degree murder for her role in planning the slaying.
Crawford claims Cook pulled the trigger while Young, 20, allegedly loaded the gun and let Cook enter the home to shoot Ross in order to make the death look like part of a home invasion.
Dearing said earlier this week that while Cook may be guilty of pulling the trigger, she should not be found guilty of conspiracy or premeditated murder.
ashley is one of the coldest people i have ever known. i was her best friend and family, and she
backstabbed me in one of the worst ways. i think she deserves to get life in prison for killing that man.all her emotions in the court room are fake, its just an act for the jury to see and feel sorry for her.i really pray she has a tough jury next time, cause she should get the worst they are allowed to give.
I know this verdict was hard to swallow but we have a legal system in place for everyone from the worst person to the best person. For anyone who doesnt know what consist of 1st degree murder I advise you to look it up. We all know it has be unlawful in which her act was, it has to be intentional which it was, and premeditated which it was. There is a another part to premeditation by the LAW . I dont want to go into it because I dont want to influence anyone but for those who have a question as to why the verdict was deadlocked read on that and post your ideas. I would really like to read them.
The case will be re-tried before the end of the year...I know it's before December, but I can't remember the exact date. This girl is history! The next jury will be out less than a few hours, mark my words. The only reason this jury deadlocked is because of one bleeding-heart who just couldn't send that "little girl" to prison for the rest of her life. The odds of getting someone else like that on the next jury are slim to none. This is a clear-cut case of 1st Degree Murder if ever there were one!
I sat in on the trial, as I have to sit in on another one in about 5 months. I will have the same judge, D.A. and defense attorney. I hope the D.A. put's on as good a case in my son's trial as he put on in this one. They all three were masterminds in this. Everybody knew what they were doing. But we need to remember Ashley knew what she was doing going in. She could refused to go through with it, but she didn't. If the gloves fit you can't acquit. I don't believe the state will give her a offer, since they have a good case that could bring back a first degree murder charge. And conspiracy to commit first degree murder charge. I don't think that it will be long they want this trial to stay fresh in peoples minds. But with the court calendar it might be around the first of the year.
It is just a shame that it will cost more money....Does the jury also get paid while they are there???? What really is not right is that we spend so much money keeping these people in jail for many years when it should come to a end for them with-in a year not many years....I am guessing this girl will not come to trail again until sometime next year...
Sounds like a repeat of the killing of the Holden Children.Their dad still sitting in jail after all these years.Those poor children, like Mr.Ross did not ask to have their life snuffed out. And the ones who are guilty. Are still alive and breathing? Some thing wrong with this picture.No wonder there is so much crime in this world.Set an example,if they do the crime, make them pay the price.
-- Posted by Wheelbillie on Fri, Jul 18, 2008, at 10:48 PM
Wheelbillie, you might want to read the news more often. Holton was executed 9/12/2007 in perhaps the last execution by electrocution in TN.
Here is a link to read all about it:
http://www.clarkprosecutor.org/html/deat......
Also everyone should just chill out, because this case is far from over. Cook is still in custody and will face a retrial with a new jury and a chance for the prosecution to improve their case. She will end up going to prison for a long time, but it is a shame that the extra cost of another trial will be added. I would not be surprised if the state offers her a plea bargain that she cannot refuse. Any bets anyone?
-- Posted by bunchabull on Sun, Jul 20, 2008, at 9:09 PM
Maybe the sheriffs dept needed to put every thing in Braille.Because you would have to be Blind not to see how this man was KILLED IN HIS SLEEP.
When the wife has a life sentence. The others should also.The wife only had the plan. This woman shot the gun.And the other loaded it.
Sounds like they all had a hand in it.
If you let her get away with this, She will do it again.Wonder how the jurors or the judge would feel if this happen to one of their loved ones. To be killed in such a way?????
Again I say " Whats the use of having laws or officers,if you bring them in and let them get away with MURDER."
It's No Wonder This World Is In The Shape It's In.How do you plan on keeping crime out of Bedford County? If you show them that they can KILL someone and go free?????????
Why couldn't she be found of premeditated murder ????? She had to be asked to do this teribble murder and she had to think about it...So isn't that premeditated murder ???? And what about conspiracy ???? Isn't that were she had to talk it over with the other two ???? She had to do that to know to come to the home when she did to shoot him while he was asleep....What was so hard to decide that she was wrong with what she did and find her guilty...I just do not understand......