Week One of Homicide Trial Concludes

The State of Nebraska rested its case at the end of the first week of the trial of Jake J. Gonzalez, 19, of Lincoln, who is accused of the homicide of a two-year-old child in Fairbury earlier this year. The trial is scheduled to last two weeks and will be presided over by District Court Judge Vicky L. Johnson.This is the first homicide trial held in Jefferson County in nearly a decade.Gonzalez was arrested in Fairbury on Friday night, February 26. He is a suspect in the death two-year-old Hollen Siedschlag. The defendant is charged with child abuse resulting in death, a Class 1B felony, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. Gonzalez is also charged with terroristic threats, a Class 3A felony, which carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison, 18 months post-release supervision and a $10,000 fine.According to the statement from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office shortly after the defendant's arrest, deputies were called to the apartment building at 720 J Street in Fairbury for a welfare check on Bailey Siedschlag, who was living at the residence.Upon arrival, Deputies spoke with individuals living at the residence. Bailey Siedschlag stated that she needed an ambulance for her two year old child. Deputies found the two year old child in an apartment closet, unresponsive and showing severe injuries to the torso and head. An ambulance was called at approximately 6:30 p.m.The child was transported to Jefferson Community Health and Life by County Ambulance District #33. From there the child was flown via helicopter to Children’s Hospital in Omaha, where he later succumbed to the injuries he had sustained and was pronounced dead.A male subject, identified as Jake Gonzalez, was present at the scene. According to the Sheriff's Office, “Upon further investigation, it was suspected Gonzalez caused these injuries to the child.”After hearing deputies call for an ambulance, Sheriff’s Office officials noted that Gonzalez fled on foot and a foot pursuit ensued. Gonzalez initially evaded deputies. Dispatch requested more manpower at approximately 7:00 p.m.Gonzalez was apprehended a short time later by deputies.Day OneOn Monday, October 18, a jury of 12 individuals and one alternate was selected from a potential pool of 75.Most of the morning was spent with juror orientation and interviewing prospective jurors about their ability to remain impartial.In the afternoon, the jurors were then sworn in and Judge Johnson then gave the jury instructions, which includes not discussing the case with others and not paying attention to media reports.At the end of the trial, jurors will have the option of three possible verdicts: guilty of intentional child abuse resulting in death, guilty of manslaughter or not guilty.Day TwoThe second day of the trial, Tuesday, began with both the State and defense giving opening statements. The judge advised the jury that opening statements are not to be considered as evidence.The State is represented by Special Deputy Jefferson County Attorney William P. Tangeman and Assistant Attorney General Zachary Blackman, both of the District Attorney's Office. Blackman made the opening statement.“This case is about a two year old named Hollen Siedschlag and the injuries that he received at the hands of the defendant, Jake Gonzalez, which led to his death in the early morning hours of February 27, 2021,” Blackman said. “The State expects the evidence will show that Hollen Siedschlag was struck many times by the defendant, Jake Gonzalez, that those injuries were caused intentionally and that those injuries ultimately led to Hollen Siedschlag’s death.”Gonzalez appeared in court each day unshackled and in street clothes. Gonzalez is represented by Kelly S. Breen of the Nebraska Commission on Public Advocacy, who had previously filed a motion, granted by the judge, that Gonzalez be allowed to wear street clothes, rather than prison fatigues, to court.“The State is giving you their synopsis of what the evidence would be. And they've tied it up pretty much around February 24 through February 26, the day when Hollen was found,” said Breen in his opening remarks. “But I think, and I've seen that in reports, that the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office has received multiple requests for well-being checks on Bailey Siedschlag (the mother of the victim), but also Hollen Siedschlag.”Nine witnesses were heard on the first day. The first witness to give testimony was the Dispatcher who took the 911 call from a friend of Bailey, Marlissa Bernhardt. A recording of that phone call was played for the jury.Bernhardt: “Hi. This is Marlissa Bernhardt. Can you do a welfare check on Bailey Siedschlag for me?”Dispatcher: “What's going on with her?”Bernhardt: “So she's like in an abusive relationship and, like, we have a code word and she wanted me to call the police if she ever said it. And she just had her mom call me. And there might be a weapon involved.”Testimony was also heard from law enforcement personell who responded to the call. Tommy Osienger, who is both a Deputy with the Sheriff's office and a paramedic, told that, when he arrived on the scene, both Bailey and Gonzalez were present in the apartment. According to Osienger, “She acted like nothing was wrong,” until she was separated from Gonzalez, at which point, “I asked her if everything was okay, to which she immediately broke down crying and asked me to call an ambulance for her son.”Osienger also noted that Gonzalez left the scene at this point.Another deputy who gave testimony was Aaron Christ, who's body cam video was introduced as evidence. The video showed law enforcement's arrival at the apartment and the discovery, soon after, that Gonzalez had left the scene.Gonzalez was later located at his mother's home and arrested.In the afternoon, Marlissa Bernhardt was called as a witness. She described how she and Bailey had arranged for a code word, “sushi,” that Bailey could use if she ever wanted law enforcement summoned.During cross-examination, Breen asked about a visit on February 23, 2021, with then Sheriff Matt Schultz and Deputy Amanda Schaefer made by Bailey and Bernhard, Breen said “He discussed that he wanted to find a safe house for her and get her out of that home.”Bernhardt said, “Right.”“Bailey turned him down on that,” Breen said.The evidence included video from Kid's Connection, the daycare center where the victim had spent the day before returning home. Other witnesses including a paramedic with Jefferson County Ambulance and the flight nurse for Star Care, which provided the helicopter transfer from Jefferson Community Health and Life (JCH&L) to Children's Hospital in Omaha, where the victim was later pronounced dead.Day ThreeBailey Siedschlag, the mother of the victim, was called as a witness on Wednesday, October 20.Bailey indicated she began a relationship with Gonzalez in August of 2020 after meeting on a social media network called Snapchat. She lived with Gonzalez's family for a time before moving to the apartment at 720 J Street. Gonzalez moved in with her in January, 2021.Bailey said their relationship was good in the beginning but described how the relationship changed, with Gonzalez becoming more controlling, demanding all of her passwords and refusing to let her see certain people. Bailey said he also became physically abusive towards her.According to her testimony, she returned to her apartment on February 24 after shopping and Gonzalez told her the boy was sleeping. When she looked for him, Gonzalez took her into one of the bedrooms, where she discovered her son badly injured. She stated that Gonzalez refused to let her get help for her son and also said that he threatened to “do the same” to her other child.Bailey stated that Gonzalez then drug the boy by the arm into a closet and shut the door. She also said that Gonzalez tried to take her phone but she was able to call her friend, Marlissa Bernhardt, and use the code word, “sushi,” that they had previously arranged.When law enforcement arrived, Gonzalez told her not to open the door. This is according to Bailey Siedschlag's testimony.Bailey was also asked about a gun that she owned, a Glock. She said she kept it in her vehicle, a red Pontiac, “For safety reasons.”During the search for Gonzalez the night of February 26, Sheriff's Deputies stopped a red Pontiac, not knowing if Gonzalez had access to Bailey's vehicle. The vehicle was Bailey's but was being driven by Bailey's mother. Continued on page 2

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