BEAUMONT, Texas — After deliberating for 15 minutes, a Jefferson County jury has found a Beaumont man guilty of killing his pregnant girlfriend in 2020.
Jonathan Menard, 38, on Friday, was found guilty of capital murder in the death of Kayla Rice.
Menard will be sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Rice was reported missing in December of 2020 after relatives were not able to reach her since November 2020.
The trial began with jury selection on Monday, August 19, 2024 in Jefferson County's Criminal District Court before Judge Raquel West.
The case is being prosecuted by Phillip Smith who called Beaumont Police Department Detective Frank Coffin to the stand. Attorney Ryan Gertz is defending Jonathan Menard in the trial.
DAY 3 TESTIMONY
The first witness that the prosecution was called to the stand was Dr. Rick Evans, an OBGYN. He testified that Rice was pregnant with her second pregnancy. Dr. Evans said that Rice's pregnancy was normal and she had no illnesses. He testified that Rice had no intention of terminating the pregnancy.
On cross-examination the defense asked about HGC, a hormone found in a woman's body when she is pregnant. The defense asked questions about normal levels of the hormone, when it is present and asked no further questions.
The prosecution then called Dr. Terry Welke, a coroner from Louisiana, to the stand. Dr. Welke testified about the condition of Rice's body when it arrived at the examiner's office. He testified saying he used x-rays to look for bullets or evidence of weapons used. He described tests done that led to asphyxia being determined as the cause of death.
On cross-examination, Gertz asked if there was anything sent to lab for further testing and the doctor said no. Gertz asked him if they had sent anything to a lab to be tested for HGC and the doctor said no. Gertz asked about different kinds of asphyxia.
"You listed probable asphyxia but you're not really sure?" asked Gertz.
The doctor said he is "very sure" that the most likely cause is asphyxia.
"You couldn't say beyond a reasonable doubt to this jury that it is certainly asphyxia, correct" asked Gertz.
The doctor said at the time of the examination, he was sure. Gertz asked since they did not send fluids off to test, if he could be certain that the cause of death was not a drug overdose or poisoning and the doctor said that's correct.
Gertz asked if the body would look the same if she had died from overdose or poisoning and the doctor said that that it would look the same.
DAY 2 TESTIMONY
Prosecutor Phillip Smith is continuing his case against Jonathan \Menard. He is charged with two deaths.
On Wednesday, August 21, Prosecutor Smith recalled Beaumont Police Department Detective Frank Coffin to the stand.
Detective Coffin continued his testimony from Tuesday. He interviewed Menard before the victim’s body was found.
Video of the interview was played in court and Detective Coffin answered questions about the video. He told Prosecutor Smith he felt as if Menard was not telling the truth in the interview.
“I felt like he was being dishonest,” said Detective Coffin.
He pointed to Menard speaking a length about non-relevant things but responding to relevant questions with "questions" rather than answers.
Detective Coffin said Menard did not seem concerned about where his child was (speaking of the unborn child.)
In cross examination, Defense Attorney Ryan Gertz asked the detective about David Mattox who was visible at the head of the video.
Attorney Gertz asked the detective if he also interviewed Mattox, and he said he had.
Gertz asked if, "people sometimes mistake things they saw when they are interviewed", and Detective Coffin agreed.
TRIAL BEGINS
Opening statements began this afternoon on August 20 in the trial of Jonathan Menard,38, of Beaumont, who is charged with capital murder in the deaths of Kayla Rice,36, and her unborn child.
Prosecutor Phillip Smith read the indictment in court that says Menard strangled Rice in 2020.
Judge West then asked Menard how he pleaded.
"Not guilty," he said.
Prosecutor Phillip Smith began his opening statements telling the jury that the evidence will show that Menard and Rice lived together.
He told them that most of the witnesses they will hear from have criminal records and that Rice too has a criminal record.
Prosecutor Smith said that when Rice went missing in November, her body was not found until February by a rancher.
He told them that Rice was pregnant with a boy that was due to be born in March.
Prosecutor Smith told them they will hear questioning of the defendant by police, and that the jury will need to judge his credibility from those statements.
He said they will hear from the coroner who will testify about the difficulty of determining a cause of death because of the state of the bodies.
Defense attorney Ryan Gertz said in his opening statements that no matter what the deceased may have done in the past, she did not deserve what happened to her.
He asked the jury to put their personal opinions to the side and to remember that they have to believe each and every part of the charge beyond a reasonable doubt with a presumption of innocence.
Attorney Gertz told the jury they need "believable, truthful, credible, scientific evidence" to convict Menard.
He said they will learn about problems with a man who he believes will be the key witness and that he gave police two stories. He told the jury they will see problems with his testimony.
"I think you will find him to be one of the least credible you will ever hear in any trial, ever," said Gertz.
BACKGROUND
Jury selection will begin tomorrow for a Beaumont man who was indicted by a Jefferson County grand jury for capital murder and tampering with evidence in connection with the death of his pregnant girlfriend.
Jonathan Menard will stand trial Monday in front Jefferson County Judge Raquel West in the 252nd district .
Menard, 35, is accused of murdering his pregnant girlfriend Kayla Rice, 33, of Beaumont. Her body was found in a shallow grave in Vinton, LA on Feb. 11. Detectives say she was 24 weeks pregnant at the time of her death.
A probable cause affidavit obtained by 12news reveals that a witness said Menard asked for help in burying Rice's body. She died from asphyxia.
On Jan. 20, 2021, Beaumont Police announced Rice had not been seen since late November 2020. She was reported missing in December 2020 by an out-of-state relative. Police say her vehicle was “physically altered” when it was located.
Menard was arrested in Calcasieu Parish on Feb. 11, for a parole violation.
Beaumont investigators filed a tampering with evidence charge and had a warrant issued for Menard on Feb. 22. He was then transferred from Calcasieu Parish to Jefferson County on Feb. 25, where he awaited additional charges.
On March 23, 2021 Beaumont detectives announced the murder charge for Menard in the death of Rice.
Menard is facing a first-degree capital murder charge and a third-degree felony charge of tampering with evidence.
The Calcasieu Sheriff’s Office is investigating the case alongside the Beaumont Police Department and the FBI.
