Melodie Phelps, News Editor
Monticello — Hope White went back to jail on Wednesday, March 10, just five days
after she was released on home incarceration to await her trial for murder.
Circuit Judge Vernon Miniard, Jr. signed an order that afternoon which
sent White back to the Wayne County Detention Center.
She is charged with murder in connection with the July 2008 stabbing
death of Julie Hicks Burchett, who was found dead in her car.
White was arrested nearly a year later, in June 2009, and had been held
on a $250,000 cash only bond.
That all changed on Friday, March 5, when White was granted release on
home incarceration. She left the Wayne County Detention Center on Saturday,
March 6.
Her trial was slated to begin on Tuesday, March 9, but Commonwealth's
Attorney Matthew Leveridge had filed a motion asking that the trial be
delayed.
During the March 5 hearing, Miniard granted that request and a new trial
date was set for April 16, which will be for jury selection. The first day
of the trial is scheduled for April 19, according to court documents.
Witnesses in the case appeared in Wayne Circuit Court on Tuesday, March
9, since they had already been subpoenaed to appear for the trial before the
delay was granted.
Miniard directed witnesses to be back in court for the new trial date.
Also during that hearing, Miniard directed that the Wayne County
Sheriff's Department provide 24 hour monitoring at the home where White was
staying.
In the order signed on Wednesday afternoon, Miniard ordered that White
be held at the Wayne County Detention Center "until further orders of the
court."