Killers pushed way into apartment, then waited: Topeka capital murder case arguments begin

A gunman early on Aug. 7, 2016, pushed his way into the southwest Topeka apartment where 20-year-old Camrah Trotter lived with her 4-year-old daughter, La'Miya Ryce, a Shawnee County District Court jury was told Wednesday.

That man and another man waited about two hours at the apartment for Trotter's boyfriend, Dominique Ray, then shot him to death when he came to the front door with his male cousin, jurors in the capital murder trial for Yanez Sanford heard from Keith Henderson, senior deputy district attorney for Shawnee County.

The two men chased and fired shots at Ray's cousin, who got away away as Trotter called 911 from her apartment, Henderson said. One then returned to the apartment and "executed" Trotter as she was on the phone, he said.

Disagreement about whether Sanford was among the killers was expressed Wednesday morning during opening arguments at the trial for Sanford, 41, who faces charges that include capital murder and rape linked to the killing of Ray, Trotter and Trotter's unborn daughter at Fairlawn Greens Apartments, 5235 S.W. 20th Terrace.

How long is the trial expected to last?

A courtroom is reserved through May 17 to accommodate Sanford's trial, for which jury selection began Monday. Shawnee County District Judge Bill Ossmann is presiding.

Forty-five jurors were summoned to report Monday and 60 on Tuesday, with jury selection being completed Tuesday afternoon, said Lea Welch, court administrator for Shawnee County District Court.

Fifteen jurors heard Wednesday's opening arguments. Jurors are expected to learn later whether they'll be among the 12 deciding the case or the three selected as alternates.

Capital cases require prosecutors to file a notice of intent if they plan to seek the death penalty, which hasn't been done in the case against Sanford.

What does the prosecution say?

No criminal charges were filed in the killings of Ray, Trotter and Trotter's unborn daughter until more than four years after it occurred.

Henderson told jurors Wednesday that Topeka police got their "big break" in the case when a vaginal swab collected from Trotter collected seminal fluid, which DNA testing proved belonged to Sanford.

Still, prosecutors didn't charge Sanford until September 2020.

Henderson said the filing of charges came after police once again interviewed La'Miya, who was 8 years old by that time, and she provided more detailed information that was consistent with what the evidence showed.

The prosecution will also share security camera video showing that a "Chrysler 300" car of the type Sanford owned at the time was present in the area when the triple homicide was committed, Henderson said.

What does the defense say?

Peter Conley, senior assistant capital defender for the Capital Death Penalty Defense Unit, said Wednesday that the video to which Henderson referred is "grainy" and "low quality."

Conley stressed that no other DNA from Sanford was found in the apartment where the triple homicide took place. He suggested Sanford and Trotter may have had consensual sex earlier.

DNA can remain in the body for a week, Conley said.

"They're charging the wrong person," he said.

Conley added that an expert witness would share information regarding the memories of children that would cast doubt upon the credibility of the things La'Miya said upon being questioned at age 8.

He shared names of three men he suggested may have instead killed Ray in retaliation for the Feb. 14, 2016, southeast Topeka shooting death of Del Juan Patton, whom Conley said had been Trotter's boyfriend.

Ray was suspected of killing Patton, Conley told jurors.

What had happened earlier regarding evidence in the case?

Sanford's attorneys sought Dec. 13 to have all charges against him dismissed, saying Sanford could no longer get a fair trial because of the destruction of 30 Axon police body camera videos taken in 2016 as part of the investigation.

The body camera video and other evidence were ordered preserved in February 2021. Police were then taken by surprise when the videos were destroyed later that year at the end of a planned five-year retention period.

Ossmann rejected that request April 1, saying Sanford was still capable of getting a fair trial despite the absence of the body camera videos.

Conley mentioned the absence of the videos during opening arguments Wednesday.

"And now Mr. Sanford sits here defending himself without all the tools law enforcement has," he said.

Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Topeka murder trial of Yanez Sanford begins with opening arguments