The trial of a woman charged in connection with the 2014 murder, dismemberment, and dumping of 53-year-old Michigan resident Christopher Regan in Iron County, MI continued on Tuesday with testimony from the several prosecution witnesses.
Kelly Marie Cochran, 34, faces multiple charges related to the death of Regan, who police have said they believe was shot and killed by Cochran’s late husband after he came home to “find” Regan with her. Police say the entire “caught in the act” thing was simply a ruse and Regan was lured to the home where he was murdered. Cochran in accused of then helping chop up Regan’s body and dumping it in the deep woods in northern Michigan.
On Tuesday, Cochran’s mother took the stand to testify about a phone call she received from her daughter after she had been locked up in jail. The mother questioned Cochran during the phone call about why she did not tell her parents the moment she allegedly began feeling homicidal tendencies.
In addition to Cochran’s mother, the state also called a former friend of Cochran’s and her former-husband, Jason Cochran. Walter Ammerman told investigators about about Jason Cochran‘s death and agreed to participate in a police devised ruse to possibly capture Kelly in a lie.
According to Ammerman’s testimony, he recorded a phone call at the behest of authorities where he told Kelly that Jason sent him a (non-existent) letter to be sent to the Iron River Police Department in the event of Jason’s death.
On the other end of the wiretap, Kelly can be heard begging Ammerman not to send the letter.
Nearly 16 months after Regan’s death, police in Indiana accused Cochran of killing her then-husband (Jason, the man police say shot Regan), and of attempting to cover up the death as though it was a heroin overdose. She faces separate charges in Indiana related to that death and while in jail she has reportedly claimed responsibility for additional deaths, though police have been unable to verify any additional claims at this time.
The trial in Michigan is expected to last up to three weeks. The prosecution is expected to continue calling witnesses on Wednesday.
[image via screengrab]
