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Longtime friend of accused murderer testifies at Kaufman trial





Jacques Merrell-Odom is the state's witness in Devaunte Hill and James Cowan's trial. Merrell-Odom had gone to the police in an attempt to contact the mother of Caitlyn Kaufman, claiming to have information about the case.Pool Photo

Jacques Merrell-Odom is the state’s witness in Devaunte Hill and James Cowan’s trial. Merrell-Odom had gone to the police in an attempt to contact the mother of Caitlyn Kaufman, claiming to have information about the case.Pool Photo

Jacques Merrell-Odom said he was trying to do the right thing when he turned his childhood friend into the police for the murder of Lebanon nurse Caitlyn Kaufman.

“What would you want someone else to do if that was me?” asked his mom, herself a former nurse.

Merrell-Odom testified Thursday in the trial of Devaunte Hill, 23, and James Cowan, 30, who are both charged with first degree murder of Kaufman on Interstate-440 in December 2020. Cowan was the driver, and Hill fired the gun in what is described as a road rage incident.

Merrell-Odom showed up at Ascension St. Thomas West on Dec. 10, 2020, a week after Kaufman’s death, and asked to speak with her mother. He had already tried to reach her through Facebook Messenger.

Merrell-Odom ended up speaking with police for several hours. He told them his friend Hill had committed the shooting and that he could get the gun. Hill and Merrell-Odom had known each other since they were early teens.

What Merrell-Odom didn’t tell detectives was the gun was, in fact, in his own car.

 

 

When Merrell-Odom got access to WiFi at police headquarters, he messaged Hill over Instagram to get him to confirm that Merrell-Odom was not involved with the shooting.

After three hours of talking with the police, he told them he had the gun in his car.

The Sunday after the shooting, Hill had traded guns with Merrell-Odom, saying he needed to get rid of the gun. Merrell-Odom’s gun was found under Hill’s mattress when Hill was arrested a few days later.

Later that Sunday night, Hill told Merrell-Odom privately and in a group that he had committed the shooting, Merrell-Odom said.

Merrell-Odom did collect the reward money. However, he’s been in jail since March 2021 on unrelated charges. In fact, he’s been in a restricted housing unit for his own safety.

Assistant Deputy Public Defender Georgia Sims tried to emphasize to the jury that Merrell-Odom may not be the most reliable narrator.

He has changed parts of his story and left out the not insignificant detail of having the gun in his car.

In a preliminary hearing the month after the shooting, Merrell-Odom testified that he had not heard Cowan say anything about the shooting. The two did not know each other well. However, Thursday, Merrell-Odom testified that Cowan said, “She shouldn’t have cut us off.”

Merrell-Odom said his memory was clearer now, since he had been sober for two years. He was high during his conversations with Hill, he said. He has also had a chance to review his police interview.

Other witnesses Thursday dealt with the investigation into Kaufman’s death, including a firearms expert who said casings found on I-440 matched the murder weapon.

Dr. Erin Carney with the medical examiner’s office testified about Kaufman’s gunshot wound. It entered through her left arm and passed through her left lung, her heart, her right lung and a rib before ending up in her right arm.

Over two liters of blood filled Kaufman’s chest, she said. It was not a survivable injury.

The state plans to wrap up its proof Friday and may get to closing arguments, depending on how long the defense’s proof lasts. The jury was told to prepare to come in Saturday.

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