Trial of boyfriend charged in Kiera Bergman murder case moved to Pinal County
The murder case of 19-year-old Kiera Bergman, whose body was found west of Phoenix after being missing for nearly one month in 2018, has been moved to Pinal County, officials said.
Arizona's Family was the first to report the news on Thursday, citing Bergman's family members who said "complications" with a former attorney prevented the Maricopa County Attorney's Office from taking the case to trial.
Bergman was last seen alive at her apartment near 51st Avenue and Thunderbird Road on Aug. 4, 2018. Her body was found near State Route 85 and Hazen Road on Sept. 3.
A grand jury indicted Jon-Christopher Clark, Bergman's boyfriend, on charges of second-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence in May 2019.
Court records obtained by The Arizona Republic said that Clark and Bergman had fights, and the pair were seen arguing outside of Bergman's apartment the day before her disappearance.
A judge dismissed the case without prejudice in early 2020, saying that prosecutors mishandled Silent Witness records. Dismissing a case without prejudice allows prosecutors to refile charges if they decide to do so.
The Maricopa County Attorney's Office confirmed to The Republic on Friday morning that the case was handed over to Pinal County, but said it could not comment further on pending prosecution.
The Pinal County Attorney's Office said it agreed to take on the case, but referred The Republic to Maricopa County for further details as to why it was moved.
Pinal County has requested a continuance until late spring or early summer "due to the complexity of the case" and is awaiting the judge's ruling, Attorney's Office spokesperson Mike Pelton said.
Clark's trial is currently scheduled for Feb. 22, according to court records.
Reach the reporter at bfrank@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8529. Follow her on Twitter @brieannafrank.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Trial of boyfriend in Kiera Bergman murder case moved to Pinal County
