Fifteen jurors were selected, three of whom will serve as alternates.
Read more: Local, Crime
MANISTIQUE -- A jury has been selected for the Thomas Richardson murder trial. Fifteen jurors were chosen, three of whom will serve as alternates.
Richardson is the downstate man accused of causing his wife's fall and death from a Pictured Rocks' cliff back in June of 2006.
Seventy-five residents were called to Schoolcraft County Court Thursday as prospective jurors for the expected six week trial. And with 180 residents called Wednesday, most Manistique residents know someone who was called for jury duty.
Every Thursday a group of retired women from the Manistique area gather to chat over coffee, but one of their coffee-mates wasn't able to join them on this Thursday.
"We're here, because one of our friends for coffee is on the jury; and she hasn't come here yet, so we're thinking she might be staying," said resident Lynee Olsen.
At the Upper Crust Cafe and Deli, several patrons say they also know someone who's been called for jury duty. With opening statements expected Monday, the Richardson case is becoming the talk of the town.
"There's a lot of talk...did he, did he not? Stuff like that,” resident Jean Anthony said.
"I just know that a lot of people have been asked to sit on this jury; they've been asked to come in to be interviewed,” said Linda Inhelder. “A lot of people are talking about it."
It's not only citizens being asked to serve; public officials are also taking on additional tasks.
"We're assisting the Circuit Court in everything and anything that may come up,” Schoolcraft County Sheriff Gary Maddox said. “We're assisting the Alger County Sheriff Department with the defendant in this trial."
For every person TV6 talked to that knew about the Richardson trial, there were just as many that didn’t hear much about it. However, that's going to change as local and national media outlets, like Dateline NBC, converge on Schoolcraft County next week.
