Ark Valley News - Murder trial scheduled to begin this week

Murder trial scheduled to begin this week
By Taylor Messick
Last Updated: September 13, 2018

Jury trials for Jeff and Heidi Hillard are set to begin this week in Sedgwick County District Court in the murder of Scottie W. Goodpaster Jr. at a Valley Center home on Nov. 6, 2016.

Several continuances have been granted in the case with the most recent being in May of this year. A family member close to the case said he was told by a prosecutor in May of last year that new evidence was potentially available and this could be the reason for the delay. The trial was originally set to begin in March 2017.

In February of 2017, Heidi and Jeff Hillard were arraigned on two counts of first-degree murder (premeditated and/or felony murder), two counts of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated battery, conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, aggravated robbery and one count of rape. Both pled not guilty.

Willie Morris was arraigned on two counts of first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated battery and conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. He pled not guilty to the crimes but was found guilty on all counts on April 3. He was sentenced to life in prison on May 18.

Alexandria Scott was charged with aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery and conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. Scott waived her right to a preliminary hearing and her trial is also set to begin this week.

The fifth suspect, Brian Bussart, agreed to plead guilty to the murder charge in exchange for his witness testimony. All other charges against him were dropped.