On September 28, 2004, Nori Jones, a 25-year-old woman, was murdered by Brad Compher in

Pocatello, Idaho Pocatello () is the county seat of and the largest city in Bannock County, Idaho, Bannock County, with a small portion on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation in neighboring Power County, Idaho, Power County, containing the city's airport. It is t ...

. Compher was arrested in 2014, approximately 10 years after the murder. Compher was convicted of

first-degree murder Murder is the unlawful killing of another human without justification or valid excuse committed with the necessary intention as defined by the law in a specific jurisdiction. ("The killing of another person without justification or excuse ...

by a jury on March 4, 2024.

Murder

On the morning of September 28, 2004, Nori Jones was stabbed to death inside her Pole Line Road home in

Pocatello Pocatello () is the county seat of and the largest city in Bannock County, with a small portion on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation in neighboring Power County, containing the city's airport. It is the principal city of the Pocatello metro ...

Arrest

A man by the name of Brad Compher was arrested and charged for Jones' murder upon DNA at the scene matching him. Pocatello police officers retrieved a

cigarette A cigarette is a narrow cylinder containing a combustible material, typically tobacco, that is rolled into Rolling paper, thin paper for smoking. The cigarette is ignited at one end, causing it to smolder; the resulting smoke is orally inhale ...

that had been smoked by Compher and brought it in for forensic testing.

Trial

The prosecution revealed there was a "1 in 93 trillion" chance that the DNA found at the scene could belong to someone other than Compher. The wounds found on Jones indicated she had fought back against her assailant. The first two witnesses called to the stand at trial recalled what they encountered after stepping into the house. They spotted a

ring (The) Ring(s) may refer to: * Ring (jewellery), a round band, usually made of metal, worn as ornamental jewelry * To make a sound with a bell, and the sound made by a bell Arts, entertainment, and media Film and TV * ''The Ring'' (franchise), a ...

they knew belonged to Jones. A friend of Jones explained that the ring symbolized her "promise" to marry her boyfriend one day. She also mentioned that Jones wore it in an effort to deter men from approaching her in public. There were instances of harassment that these key witnesses were aware of, but they had never heard of Compher at any time. The defense was skeptical that the DNA evidence was sufficient and argued that Compher had no motive to commit the murder. They pushed an alternative theory that there was circumstantial evidence for there to be another suspect. In a questionable move, Compher's defense singled out

Brian Draper and Torey Adamcik A thrill killing occurred in Pocatello, Idaho, on September 22, 2006 when Brian Lee Draper (born March 21, 1990) and Torey Michael Adamcik ( ; born June 14, 1990) who were high school juniors, stabbed and murdered their classmate Cassie Jo Sto ...

, the perpetrators of the

murder of Cassie Jo Stoddart A thrill killing occurred in Pocatello, Idaho, on September 22, 2006 when Brian Lee Draper (born March 21, 1990) and Torey Michael Adamcik ( ; born June 14, 1990) who were high school juniors, stabbed and murdered their classmate Cassie Jo Stod ...

in September 2006 as possible suspects and had them transported to Pocatello for the trial. Neither Draper nor Adamcik testified and were subsequently returned to the

Idaho Department of Correction The Idaho Department of Correction (IDOC) operates nine prisons, four community release centers and 20 probation and parole offices in seven districts located throughout the state of Idaho. The agency has its headquarters in Boise. IDOC employs a ...

in Kuna.

References

2004 in Idaho 2004 murders in the United States Deaths by person in Idaho Deaths by stabbing in Idaho Violence against women in Idaho Murder in Idaho {{crime-stub

Murder

Arrest

Trial

See also

References