Ragsdale murder case delayed

PROVO — Exactly one month after Kristy Ragsdale was fatally shot in an Lehi church parking lot, attorneys agreed there is enough evidence to merit a slight delay in the murder case.

Husband David Ragsdale has been charged with first-degree aggravated murder for his wife's death on Sunday, Jan. 6, in an LDS church parking lot.

He appeared, shackled and in jail clothes, alongside his attorney, Greg Skordas, Wednesday afternoon in 4th District Court.

"The state has provided a lot of discovery," Skordas told Judge Claudia Laycock, holding up a brown accordion folder stretched to the size of an Oxford English Dictionary.

The recent acquisition will join Skordas' piles of paper reports and CDs of recorded interviews.

Based of agreement from both sides, Laycock agreed to continue the hearing until March 5.

At that hearing, it's possible attorneys will set a preliminary hearing. However, if they still need more time, they can ask for another waiver hearing, a precursor to setting a preliminarily — or evidentiary — hearing.

Kristy Ragsdale's family and friends talked with prosecutors after the hearing and left with a wave and a smile, but no comment to the media.

Several Ragsdale family members spoke to the media for the first time, expressing their sorrow over the situation and their love for Kristy and the two young Ragsdale boys.

"Our family is completely devastated by this tragedy," said Tamara Ragsdale, a sister of David. "I love and miss my sister-in-law very much."

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E-mail: sisraelsen@desnews.com