BEATRICE – A motion to delay the start of the trial of Joshua Keadle, has been taken under advisement by Gage County District Judge Rick Schreiner.

The judge told prosecutors and the defense that he plans to issue a ruling by Monday, on whether the trial involving the case of missing Peru State student Tyler Thomas will be rescheduled.

Keadle is charged with first-degree murder in the trial that currently is set to begin with jury selection, Monday, September 16th. 

At issue is a laptop computer and SD card.

During a Friday afternoon hearing, Keadle’s attorney, Jeff Pickens argued that he needs time to examine information contained on a computer hard drive, received by the defense on Thursday.    Pickens says the hard drive contains 93 gigabytes of information, possibly up to twenty thousand photos and nine thousand website visits. 

He told the judge the information must be reviewed to “know what was going on in Ms. Thomas’ life, at that time”.    He said there is no possible way the defense could go through all of the information by the planned September 16th start of the trial.  He also said the additional information could aid in preparing for trial and could alter defense trial strategy.  He also said it could impact jury selection and which witnesses are called to testify.

Pickens, citing past case law, said there is also a risk of having to try the case twice should an appeal should negate the first trial result.  Pickens asked the court for at least four more weeks to review the additional information and prepare for trial.

Tyler Thomas disappeared December 3rd, 2010.  Declared legally dead in 2013, her body has never been found.

Joshua Keadle’s trial was earlier moved from Nemaha County District Court to Gage County District Court on a defense change of venue motion, granted by District Judge Schreiner.