Trial delayed for man accused of killing PDHS teacher
UPDATE: 6:09 p.m.
Michael Thomas said he carries thoughts of his sister, Jill Grant, every day.
But he said some memories that happened around the holiday season a few years ago will not go away.
When authorities found the Palm Desert High School teacher’s body dumped near a golf course in Indio.
“She was a very bubbly, young lady, and those memories of her put a smile on my face,” Thomas said. “The murder occurred on the 23rd, right before Christmas. So, it’s always a tough time. Her birthday, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, all of these things where the family comes together.”
Since her death, Thomas and other family members have come together on different terms, sitting through nearly a dozen hearings with attorneys trying to piece together what happened.
Grant’s boyfriend, Michael John Franco, is accused of her murder.
At their latest hearing Friday, Thomas and the family’s attorney, Nikki Allen, said a judge delayed Franco’s trial.
“It’s really disappointing to hear,” Thomas said. “It seems as though there are very important reasons for doing that. Nonetheless, it doesn’t make it any easier for us to hear that we’re not getting closure just yet.”
Both Allen and Thomas said the reason for the delay was due to both the prosecution and defense not being ready for trial.
“They’re just trying to get moral support,” Allen said. “And unfortunately, the victim’s rights are just not necessarily what they should be. There’s a right to a speedy trial for a defendant. But, there’s really no right to a speedy trial for the victim.”
Officials with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office released this statement regarding the delay in the case:
“Our office certainly understands and appreciates the family’s concerns with the delays in this case. We are working hard to get this to trial as soon as possible and are hopeful we will be able to do so within the next couple of months. The current continuance is due to the immediate unavailability of an important witness in the case. It is not unusual for cases, in particular murder cases, to have a number of continuances. As much as we would like to see trials happen and cases resolved as soon as possible, there often are reasons why that just can’t happen. In this specific case, the preliminary hearing was conducted in December 2015 so it has been just over a year since that happened.”
Thomas said he hopes to ultimately see justice served soon.
“We’ll always have her in our heart,” Thomas said. “But we want to be through with this process, and give our minds and intellect a rest.”
Thomas said the next hearing is set for February 3rd.
Allen said prosecutors are seeking life in prison without parole for Franco.
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ORIGINAL STORY: 4:15 p.m.
It’s been about three years since authorities found the body of popular Palm Desert High School math teacher Jill Grant. Her boyfriend at the time, Michael John Franco, is accused of murdering her.
Zak Dahlheimer was at the Larson Justice Center in Indio on Friday as a judge delayed Franco’s trial. The decision has left Grant’s family frustrated as they hope to reach closure in her death soon. Franco pleaded not guilty to the murder charges in December of 2013.
Search warrant reveals new details about Jill Grant’s murder
Riverside County District Attorney Spokesman John Hall released the following statement to KESQ News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 Friday afternoon:
Our office certainly understands and appreciates the family’s concerns with the delays in this case. We are working hard to get this to trial as soon as possible and are hopeful we will be able to do so within the next
couple of months. The current continuance is due to the immediate unavailability of an important witness in the case.
It is not unusual for cases, in particular murder cases, to have a number of continuances. As much as we would like to see trials happen and cases resolved as soon as possible, there often are reasons why that just can’t happen.
In this specific case, the preliminary hearing was conducted in December 2015 so it has been just over a year since that happened.
Watch KESQ News Channel 3 at 5 p.m. and CBS Local 2 at 6:30 p.m. to hear more from Grant’s family members and the attorney representing them.
Video: friends & family members prepare to say final goodbye to Jill Grant
