by George Gramlich
The alleged accomplice to the triple murder in 2023 off of Oak Creek Grade, Nancy Rae Medina Kochis, had a “motions” hearing last Tuesday, February 4, 2025 in District Court in Custer County. District Court Judge Lauren Swan presided. The Defendant’s attorney was Mr. Cutler while the 11th Judicial District’s District Attorney, Jeff Lindsay, represented the state.
Ms. Kochis, who is out on bail, is charged with five Level 5 felonies in regard to the alleged homicides. The hearing was an attempt by the Defense to get the charges dismissed based on allegations that the Custer County Sheriff’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office were delinquent in delivering evidence to the defense.
Mr. Cutler called Custer County Detective Sergeant Elizabeth Robinson as a witness. Detective Robinson is the lead deputy on the case. Detective Robinson testified that there were over 200 pieces of evidence “discovered” or turned over to the defense including thousands and thousand of pages of documentation. Mr. Cutler, laboriously, attempted to show that a few items were turned over late. This went on and on. Detective Robinson explained over and over again how the process worked and how she responded to requests for information in a timely manner. It appeared that Mr. Cutler did not make much progress.
After Mr. Cutler was done, DA Lindsay reviewed the
evidence procedures with Detective Robinson and how the Public Defenders Office reviewed all the evidence at the Sheriff’s Office.
The result was that Judge Swan ordered another motions hearing on March 31, 2025 at 1:30 p.m. in District Court in Custer County.