A jury was seated Monday, Aug. 31, in the manslaughter trial of James Dolphs Elmore Jr. in Galveston County. The case marks the first criminal prosecution connected to the deaths of Laura Miller and Audrey Cook near Calder Road in League City.

Opening arguments and witness testimony were scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1, in Judge Jeth Jones' 122nd District Court. The prosecution planned to call retired League City police officer Steven Cox as its first witness.

Cox worked identification and crime scene duties when searchers found Miller's remains in February 1986 near the intersection of Calder Road and Ervin Street. Miller, 16, had disappeared from League City on Sept. 10, 1984, after her mother dropped her off at a convenience store.

Elmore, 61, of Bacliff, is charged with one count of manslaughter and two counts of evidence tampering. He has pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors allege he prepared a vial of cocaine containing a lethal dose that Clyde Hedrick, whom authorities believe killed all four Calder Road victims, then gave to Miller, causing her death. Elmore also allegedly witnessed Hedrick bury the body, according to CNN.

If convicted of manslaughter, a second-degree felony, Elmore faces two to 20 years in prison. He elected to have the jury decide his punishment.

Jury picked from pool of 184

Attorneys worked through roughly 184 potential jurors Monday before seating a panel of six men and six women, with one woman as the alternate, CW39 reported. One prospective juror was dismissed early for health reasons. Nine others said they could not be impartial.

Six prospective jurors disclosed ties to Texas EquuSearch, the volunteer search organization founded by Tim Miller, Laura's father.

Key pretrial rulings

Before jury selection, Judge Jones issued two rulings that shaped what jurors will hear, according to ChopperRose.

The judge allowed prosecutors to present evidence about Cook's death. Prosecutors said Cook died from a gunshot wound and that a bullet was recovered near her spine. They argued the evidence corroborates statements they attribute to Elmore, specifically that he allegedly knew Cook had been shot while walking away. Prosecutors said they do not plan to argue Elmore killed Cook.

Jones also ruled that witness Karey Dodson, who lived with the Miller family and shared a room with Laura in the 1980s, may testify about alleged threats connected to conversations about Laura Miller. The defense objected to both rulings. The judge overruled both.

The defense does not plan to call witnesses.

Decades-long case

The Killing Fields site near Calder Road is where the remains of four women were found between 1984 and 1991. Hedrick, 72, appears to have taken his own life on March 21, shortly before a scheduled grand jury presentation. He was never charged.

A Galveston County grand jury indicted Elmore on March 31. He remains in the Galveston County Jail on $4.5 million bond, KPRC 2 reported.

Tim Miller, 79, told reporters in April that Elmore first approached him in 2022 claiming to have information about the case. Miller said he met with Elmore more than 30 times over four years. "After 41-and-a-half damn years, I'm not going to jeopardize anything that all of us have worked for out there," Miller said at the time.

Galveston County District Attorney Kenneth Cusick told CNN the office has not given up on finding additional suspects. Attorneys estimated the trial could last about a week.

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