TEXARKANA -- A 67-year-old Texarkana woman accused of killing a fellow square dancer in 2013 had her last pretrial hearing Thursday morning.
Virginia Ann Hyatt appeared with Texarkana lawyers John Pickett, Damon Young and Bruce Condit before visiting Circuit Judge Randy Wright in the Miller County jail courtroom. Hyatt's capital murder case is set for jury selection Feb. 1. Hyatt is accused of capital murder in the Dec. 3, 2013, shooting death of Patricia "Patti" Wheelington, 59.
Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Chuck Black told Wright that he, Prosecuting Attorney Stephanie Black and Hyatt's defense team have met and resolved a number of procedural and evidentiary issues.
"We're ready for jury picking," Chuck Black said.
Wright told the lawyers a panel of 230 potential jurors has been summoned to appear Feb. 1 at the Miller County Courthouse in downtown Texarkana. Opening arguments and testimony are expected to begin Feb. 2, he said. Wright, of Hope, who serves in nearby 8th Judicial Circuit-North, is sitting by special appointment on the case because Miller County's other judges recused themselves.
Hyatt has been in custody since the day after Wheelington was found shot to death on the front porch of her house in Texarkana. Soon after Hyatt entered an innocent plea in July 2014, Hyatt's lawyers asked the court to order a psychological evaluation, which caused a monthslong delay in the proceedings. Hyatt was found competent, and in July 2015, the case began moving toward trial.
Wheelington was shot multiple times as she tried to reach the front door of her home in the 7200 block of Valley Street in Texarkana, according to search warrant affidavits used to create the following account:
Wheelington's home sits at the end of a long, gravel drive with a pond in front. Investigators believe Wheelington was having her morning coffee when she was attacked on her front porch.
A friend with whom Wheelington had been speaking about 8 a.m. the morning of her death told police Wheelington ended their phone call because Hyatt was walking toward her.
Prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty for Hyatt. If found guilty of capital murder, she faces life without the possibility of parole.
Metro on 01/23/2016