Adele Craven, helped by one of her attorneys, Fred Johnson, testified she felt coerced into speaking with police. (Patrick Reddy photos) | ZOOM |

        COVINGTON — Adele Craven made her first public statements concerning the circumstances surrounding her husband's death nearly a year ago when she took the stand in a court hearing Friday.

        Mrs. Craven, charged with murder in Stephen Craven's death, testified before Kenton Circuit Judge Patricia Summe in two back-to-back hearings to suppress evidence the prosecution intends to use against her. The state has said it will seek the death penalty against her in the case.

        Much of the testimony centered on whether police coerced statements from Mrs. Craven when her attorney was not present and whether police conducted illegal searches of Mrs. Craven's Edgewood home and station wagon.

        Mr. Craven, 38, a Delta pilot, was beaten and shot. He was found dead in the basement of the couple's home last July.

        A number of people were subpoenaed for the hearings — including almost the entire Edgewood police force, former Kenton Commonwealth Attorney Don Buring and the Cravens' neighbors.

Deanna Dennison, attorney for Adele Craven, questions Detective Timothy Scheidt at the hearing. | ZOOM |

        Deputies unshackled Mrs. Craven, who was wearing a blue jail-house jumpsuit, before she took the stand. She spoke in a quiet voice, often being told to speak louder so people could hear her.

        Mrs. Craven, who was 37 at the time she was arrested, said Wayne Wallace, the lead investigator on the case, coerced her into speaking while her attorney was not present.

        “He intimidated me,” Mrs. Craven said from the stand. “There were police outside. I felt like I had to talk to him. That day I felt like he had overriding authority.”

        She went on to describe how Mr. Wallace yelled at her.

        Mr. Wallace denied he yelled or coerced Mrs. Craven. He did testify that Mrs. Craven was a suspect from the beginning. Police even took the boots off Mrs. Craven's feet for evidence on the night her husband was found dead.

Ronald Pryor, also charged with murder in the slaying, attended the hearing on Friday in Kenton Circuit Court.

        Neighbor Katina Turner described Mrs. Craven sitting in a chair alone in another neighbor's front yard as police combed the Craven home for clues.

        Other times during the night she was questioned by police on the backyard deck at a neighbor's house.

        The day after the murder, witnesses testified, Mrs. Craven went shopping at the Target store in Florence with her children.

        Mr. Craven's father, Bill Craven, traveled from Minnesota to attend the hearing. He declined comment.

        The parents of Russell “Rusty” McIntire, 33, of Erlanger also attended the hearing. Mr. McIntire, who law enforcement officials said was Mrs. Craven's lover, pleaded guilty two weeks ago to murder for his involvement in the slaying. As part of a conditional plea agreement, he will cooperate in exchange for a sentence recommendation of life in prison without the possibility of parole for 25 years.

        The Craven family has said it was Mr. McIntire's father who helped broker the plea agreement.

        Mr. McIntire's father, also named Russell, embraced Bill Craven when the hearing stood in recess and said, “God bless you.”

        A third defendant, Ronald Pryor, a former car washer from Independence, also attended the hearing with his two public defenders. He is charged with murder and could also face a death sentence.

        The judge didn't rule on the motions to suppress and the hearing is scheduled to continue for a third day of testimony on July 5.
       

West End council is trying for fresh start
Priest's conduct reviewed
Two vehicles hit fallen pipe
Discovery of remains brings grief, closure
Crime Stoppers puts more on its Web site
Osteoporosis drug shown to work
Play with a purpose
HOWARD: Neighborhoods
Miami students to pay 8% more
Area students awarded GE grants
Award-winning author joins UK faculty
Change of venue denied in DiGiuro case
Chemicals didn't reach Cowan Lake
Condon, Tobias facing joint trial
Ex-radio talk show host convicted
Here, cop errors don't count
Judge: Remove commandments
Jump rope team in Macy's parade
Lawyers leave with loads of documents
Maurice J. Bibent IV began Cheviot eatery
Mayor is new and so is style
One boy freed in riot case
Oxy suit includes deceased
Power plant foe critical of Murgatroyd
Sheriff's deputies seek help finding fugitive
Slain pilot's wife testifies
Kentucky News Briefs
Tristate A.M. Report