Background Mar. 23 1998Update Mar. 24 1998Update Mar. 25 1998 Update Mar. 27 1998 Update Mar. 30 1998 Update Mar. 31 1998 Update April 1 1998 Update April 2 1998 Update April 3 1998 Update April 6 1998 Update April 7 1998 Update April 8 1998 Update April 9 1998 Update The Outcome (1998 Trial) The Bail Hearing (1998) The Verdict (1999 Retrial)

(April 9) After 13 1/2 hours of deliberations over two days, jurors in the daycare death trial of Suzanne Johnson declared that they were deadlocked. But presiding Judge William Mudd encouraged them to return to court Monday and continue deliberations.

At about 6:45 p.m. EST, the jurors handed a note to Judge Mudd saying they were deadlocked. For the murder charge against Johnson, jurors were divided 7-to-5; for the "assault on a child resulting in death" charge, they were split 6-to-6. (For the 7-5 vote, it was not disclosed which side favored "guilty" and which favored "not guilty.")

Judge Mudd then called in the jurors and asked each one whether he or she thought deliberating further would lead to a verdict. Eight jurors did not think further deliberations would help them reach a decision while four wanted to continue and try and reach a verdict. So, the judge sent the jury home for a three-day weekend and instructed them to return on Monday to continue deliberating.

After Judge Mudd told them to come back next week, the jury foreman handed up another note asking about how they should consider the involuntary manslaughter charge. The jurors were not sure if they were allowed to discuss the charge since they have not yet reached a decision on the more serious murder and assault charges. Judge Mudd told the jurors they absolutely could discuss involuntary manslaughter, but they just could not vote on it until they reached a unanimous "not guilty" on the higher counts.

However, despite the judge's encouragement, it seems likely that the jury will remain deadlocked and Johnson's trial could end in a mistrial. If that happens, Johnson would get a new trial.