Mardis suspects indicted on same charges; judge vacates gag order

MARKSVILLE — Cathy Mardis wants people to see the body cam video captured the night her 6-year-old grandson, Jeremy Mardis, was shot and killed.

She wants people to know the agony she went through as she decided whether or not to have Jeremy's casket open or closed at his funeral.

And she wants people to know how she felt when a mortician told her to be careful when touching Jeremy's head for fear it might collapse because of the trauma the autistic boy suffered when he was shot multiple times on the night of Nov. 3.

"I want everyone to know them things so that we can, possibly, move toward justice," she told a throng of reporters across the street from the courthouse. "I don't want it to be candy coated anymore."

Jeremy's casket was open, she said. "You could tell there was trauma," she said in a trembling voice. "They did the best job that they could."

She got a small step toward that goal on Thursday afternoon as an Avoyelles Parish grand jury indicted Norris Greenhouse Jr. and Derrick Stafford on charges of second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder. Those are the same charges made at the time of their arrests on Nov. 6.

After the indictments were returned, 12th Judicial District Court Judge William Bennett vacated the gag orders he'd issued and then amended last month.

Cathy Mardis was accompanied by Samantha Few, the mother of Chris Few and Jeremy's fraternal grandmother. Earlier in the day, the two stood across Washington Street behind the courthouse and spoke to the media. Both women said there weren't many specifics they could share about the case, citing the gag orders.

The gag orders prevented Cathy Mardis, who was wearing a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles T-shirt in honor of her grandson, from learning much and stopped Samantha Few from saying much as a potential witness.

Minutes after the women spoke to the media, Chris Few arrived. He walked inside without speaking or looking at the media, flanked by attorneys.

Also at the courthouse was George Higgins III, the attorney representing Greenhouse Jr.

After the grand jury returned the indictment, Chris Few, his mother and Cathy Mardis huddled with his attorney, Steve Lemoine. The trio then left, while Lemoine said the family needs time to heal and wants to see justice. He said they wouldn't have a statement to make now, but might at a later date.

Lemoine declined to discuss the body cam footage when asked about it. John Sinquefield, the senior counsel for the Louisiana Attorney General's Office, also refused to discuss it. He said the video would not be released because it is evidence in the coming trials.

Sinquefield also said it was too early to discuss whether the case would be moved out of Avoyelles Parish, or whether jurors from another parish would be brought into Avoyelles Parish.

Higgins released a statement after the indictments, saying it was in "no way a final judgment of guilt." He said Greenhouse Jr. hasn't had the opportunity yet to review any evidence against him or to present his defense.

"Norris has always maintained his innocence throughout this process, and after the full story is told, we expect Mr. Greenhouse to be fully exonerated of all criminal charges," the statement reads. "As of today, Mr. Greenhouse has yet to view any evidence being used against him. Mr. Greenhouse respects the legal system, and understands the role of grand juries in our system. He looks forward to presenting his defense to a jury at trial, where he can properly direct his defense and also examine the evidence against him. Norris has always maintained his innocence throughout this process, and after the full story is told, we expect Mr. Greenhouse to be fully exonerated of all criminal charges."

Greenhouse Jr. was released from jail on bond on Nov. 24. Stafford has a bond reduction hearing slated for Dec. 17.

Earlier on Thursday, Cathy Mardis said she was willing to talk. This wasn't the first trip she's made to Marksville. She also came on the weekend after Jeremy's Nov. 9 funeral.

She was supposed to come during the weekend before, bringing the boy's 3-year-old sister for a visit. Instead, on the night of Nov. 3, security officers at the hospital where she works in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, sat her down and told her the news they'd heard from Louisiana State Police.

"Instead, I was having to bury my grandson on the weekend," she said.

For reasons still unclear, Chris Few was being chased by Greenhouse Jr. and Stafford, who were working as Marksville Ward 2 deputy marshals. Another marshal, Jason Brouillette, also was at the scene, and Marksville Police Department Officer Kenneth Parnell had been called as backup.

Brouillette also is a Marksville police officer who was moonlighting that night as a deputy marshal. Neither Brouillette nor Parnell have been charged in the case.

When the chase reached the intersection of Martin Luther King Drive and Taensas Street, Chris Few was boxed in. As many as 18 shots were fired at his vehicle. His attorney says Few had his hands up before shots were fired.

Jeremy, strapped into the front passenger seat, died at the scene.

People come from near and far to remember Jeremy Mardis

6-year-old remembered for his innocence

Greenhouse Jr., 24, and Stafford, 32, were arrested on the night of Nov. 6. At a press conference announcing the arrests, Louisiana State Police Superintendent Col. Mike Edmonson called the body cam video the "most disturbing thing I've seen."

Based on that description, Cathy Mardis said she "can only imagine what's on that video tape." She said it made her physically ill, but she's thankful that the video exists.

The past month has been "pure hell," she said.

"I can't explain what it's like to bury your 6-year-old grandchild. To have to decide what you're going to bury him in, or if it's going to be an open or a closed casket."

She had no messages to give to either Greenhouse Jr. or to Stafford, but asked grand jury members to not let her grandson's death be in vain. She described Jeremy as autistic and non-verbal, yet very smart and loving.

"He was the most loving child you could have met. Anyone who ever met Jeremy loved him," she said. "He was always smiling and happy. He was very smart. He taught himself to read at 3 years old, just from watching videos on YouTube."

His younger sister doesn't understand Jeremy is dead and asks for him every day. "Every day, I have to look at her and she asks me when she can come to Louisiana" to see him.

Cathy Mardis said her daughter, 22-year-old Catherine Mardis, is having a very hard time after her son's death.

The idea of her visiting the shooting site just isn't feasible now, she also said. "She's not at a point to where she can face up to that right now. I'm sure, at some point in the future, she will."

Chris Few "is doing as well as can be expected," she said.

The two never were married, said Cathy Mardis.

Cathy Mardis said she intends to keep the case in the spotlight. "I want justice for Jeremy. I want justice for Chris. And I want justice for Marksville. I think they deserve justice, too."