State rests in trial of Burlington teen

May 2024 · 2 minute read

Prosecutors have rested their case in the trial of a murdered Burlington teen.

The defense started taking its turn in front of the jury and began calling witnesses Wednesday morning.

Jorge Sanders-Galvez is accused of killing 16-year-old Kedarie Johnson in March of 2016.

The teenage identified himself as gender-fluid.

Prosecutors argue co-defendants Sanders-Galvez, and Jaron Purham killed Johnson after finding out he was a young man dressed as a girl.

As this trial reaches the one week mark, the jury was in the South Lee County courtroom for an abbreviated time.

The case is now in the hands of Jorge Sanders-Galvez’s defense team; after making a very short opening statement, they started calling their witnesses.

The defense started by calling Terrance Polk, a friend of Sanders-Galvez. 

He says he was with the defendant the night Johnson died but doesn’t remember much because he was high.

The defense’s next witness was harder to find. 

Even though the state rested their case, it wasn’t the end of their work today.

This morning, the judge requested the state use their law enforcement resources to help the defense track down some of their witnesses.

Des Moines County Judge Mary Ann Brown said, “The difficult position that the defense counsel can be in, in trying to serve people who may not want to be found and may want to avoid the whole process.” 

The state was able to reach four witnesses, but the defense only called one of those to the stand this afternoon. 

Andrea Bedform told the jury she was with Sanders-Galvez a few hours after prosecutors say Johnson died.

Defense Attorney Ronald Ellerhoff said, “What did you guys do if anything?”

Witness Andrea Bedford said, “We had intercourse.”

Bedford says she didn’t notice anything unusual about Sanders-Galvez’s behavior and by later that morning, he left. 

Prosecuting Attorney Christopher Perras said, “The defendant was gone?”

“Yes,” Bedford responded.

Perras asked, “Did he say why he was leaving?”

Bedford said, “No.”

Perras said, “Did he tell you he was leaving?”

Bedford said, “No.”

Perras said, “He just split?”

“Yes,” Bedford said.

Perras said, “What did you think of that?”

Bedford replied, “I was mad.”

Over the weekend, the co-defendant, Jaron Purham, was extradited to Des Moines County Jail.

He was being held in Missouri in another case. 

Purham is being tried separately for Johnson’s murder.
 

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