Logan McFarland accused along with his partner/girlfriend of going on a bi-state crime spree that included two murders and an attempted murder a year ago could finally face trial in September.
Elko District Judge Nancy Porter set September 21st as the trial date for the Utah man on seven felony counts ranging from kidnapping, armed robbery, car theft and aiding in the attempted murder of a Wendover woman January 1, 2012.
Since his arrest McFarland has been in and out of the Lakes Crossing hospital for the criminally insane in Reno for various mental/psychiatric evaluations. A month ago Judge Porter found the man competent to stand trial.
McFarland along with Angela Hill were captured by law enforcement officers after hiding out in the Pequop Mountains two days after they allegedly shot Rattana Keomanivong in the head after trying a failing to steal her car.
The couple then fled to Wells while Ms. Keomanivong miraculously was able to drive to the West Wendover Police Station to report the crime.
It is Hill not McFarland who is charged with shooting Keomanivong and in December Hill charged with the attempted murder of a Wendover business woman a year ago changed her plea from not guilty by reason of insanity to not guilty, in what could indicate a change in defense strategy.
In interviews with various media outlets shortly after her arrest, Hill and some of her family members, asserted the she too was a victim in the week long rampage. Those claims were almost immediately dismissed by the district attorney’s office.
According to confidential sources Hill allegedly made a full confession shortly after she was taken into custody while being transported to the Elko county Jail.
Her statement to police at that time is the subject of a motion to suppress by her attorneys who claim the woman was under emotional and mental duress by going through addiction withdrawal exacerbated by spending two nights in the Nevada wilderness.
A ruling on that motion is expected within the week.
Neither McFarland or Hill have been charged with the murders of Woody and Ann Fullwood of Mt. Pleasant, Utah which occurred the day before the shooting in Wendover, although both have been labeled suspects by law enforcement.
