Audio By Carbonatix
(Running updates whenever we add another article about the case)
Tonight at 8, the Nancy Grace Show on HLN will feature the murder of Juliana Mench, the 19-year-old found strangled in a room in Fort Lauderdale in March. Barring some kind of creative editing, a certain Pulp blogger wearing a charming red and black tie will be featured, in between a bunch of lawyers and commentators of every stripe.
They will also dedicate a considerable amount of time to reenacting the text messages between James Ayers and Nicole Okrzesik, the accused killers. And yes, Casey Anthony was mentioned.
We’ve been covering the story since Ayers was arrested at the end of March; here’s a quick rundown of the stories we’ve put together for anyone not familiar with the case.
James Ayers Kill a Woman, Told His Friend a Week Later, Got Turned In, Police SayMarch 30: Our first story about the crime; not a lot was available at the time, but it was the first we heard about Ayers, a woman named Julie, and a dead body.
James Ayers Said He Strangled Juliana Mensch, Was Driving Around in Her Car, Police SayApril 2: The details start coming out — police said Ayers was arrested after driving around in Mensch’s car and telling his friend he strangled her.
Murder Suspect James Ayers Gave Himself a Chest Tattoo That Says “Sicker Than Most”April 3: There was a hint of a chest tattoo in Ayers’ mug shot — turns out it says “Sicker Than Most,” and he claimed on Facebook to have done it himself.
James Ayers, Accused of Killing Juliana Mensch, to Be Arraigned April 30April 25: Just some quick info about Ayers’ first court date.
James Ayers Trial Set for June 25 in Killing of Juliana MenschMay 2: The court date was set, but his lawyer said there were still mental health questions about Ayers’ competency.
Nicole Okrzesik, Girlfriend of James Ayers, Arrested in Killing of Juliana MenschMay 11: More than a month after the crime, Okrzesik was arrested at the drug-treatment facility she checked into in the days following the murder.
Juliana Mensch Murder: Text Messages Between the Accused KillersMay 14: Text messages between Ayers and Okrzesik show the two allegedly arguing over what to do with Mensch’s body and whether to turn themselves in.
Nicole Okrzesik Googled How to Kill Juliana Mensch, Police SayMay 21: Internet records from Okrzesik’s phone show searches for some creepy things while Mench reportedly slept on the floor next to her.
Alleged Killers James Ayers, Nicole Okrzesik Talked About Corpse on Facebook, Went to Wet Willie’s After MurderMay 29: The long electronic trail Ayers and Okrzesik left gets creepier — they checked in on Facebook at Wet Willie’s the same day Mensch died, and continued their text argument about the body via Facebook chat in the days after that.
Nicole Okrzesik Indicted in Juliana Mensch Murder, Could Face Death Penalty With James AyersJune 7: A grand jury ruled Okrzesik should stand trial with Ayers June 25.
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