The trial of an accused murderer has been delayed after it was discovered that Dallas police detectives failed to turn over hundreds of pieces of evidence.
As previously covered by The Dallas Express, married couple Nina Marano and Lisa Dykes have been charged in the murder of Marisela Botello-Valadez, who was found dead in March 2021. She was reported missing in October 2020 after traveling from Seattle to Dallas and going to a bar alone.
Marano’s trial was scheduled to begin on Monday, but her lawyers asked for a delay after prosecutor Robin Pittman said the lead detective gave her office a flash drive over the weekend containing more than 300 images, audio recordings, and body camera footage that had not previously been turned over.
State District Judge Amber Givens granted the delay request, according to defense lawyer Valerie Baston.
“Some [evidence] may not be beneficial to us,” said Baston, “but it makes us wonder what else is out there that has not been turned over to the DA’s office.”
Dallas police spokesperson Kristin Lowman said the police department’s internal affairs division has opened an administrative investigation to make sure all case evidence was given to the lawyers.
“We are currently in the process of conducting a review to ensure all evidence has been turned over to the court,” Public Information Officer Michael Dennis confirmed to The Dallas Express. “The Dallas Police Internal Affairs Division will be conducting an administrative investigation.”
Baston said that Pittman notified defense lawyers Friday that DPD Detective Christine Ramirez told her a body camera video from Marano’s Miami arrest was not submitted as evidence.
Pittman looked into the matter further and found more pictures and recordings that police did not give to the DA’s office, according to Baston.
On Monday, Judge Givens held a hearing and questioned prosecutors about why they had not raised the issue of the missing evidence sooner. She also criticized the Dallas police for not turning the evidence over as potential jurors waited outside the courtroom.
“I take issue with both the police department and the state for that reason,” the judge said. “We have Ms. Marano cloaked in the presumption of innocence and a family that is waiting on a trial and jurors in the hallway and this could have been resolved sooner.”
Prosecutors said they asked the Dallas Police Department repeatedly for the evidence, and they are still missing a video from the search of the home. They said they were told the lead detective would give them the video Monday morning, but they never received it.
District Attorney John Creuzot said Monday to Judge Givens that, while his prosecutors did not have all the evidence, it was the responsibility of Dallas police detectives to hand over all documents, pictures, recordings, and videos required by law.
Earlier this month, Givens accused the DA’s office of frequently failing to turn evidence over to defense lawyers.
“I mean, we are definitely disappointed,” said Botello’s niece Dennesly Castillo. “We expected the trial to finally start.”
Ernestina Valadez, Botello’s mother, said, “It doesn’t matter how long we have to wait or how many times we have to come here. What we want is justice.”
Hilda Duarte, a member of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), told The Dallas Express that she has been advocating for the family since October 5. LULAC is a civil rights activist group that has advocated for the family of Botello.
“I was at the hearing on Monday for 9 hours,” she said. “Detectives Ramirez & Ortiz failed to submit more than 325 pieces of evidence; audio, body cam videos & pictures! Due to this failure, the case for Nina Marano was reset to March 27th. Cases for Beltran & Dykes will be heard in Feb & April.”
Charles Beltran, who lived with Marano in Dykes, has also been charged for his alleged role in Botello’s death.
“Judge Amber Givens did an excellent job in reprimanding and scolding State attorneys (Pitman & Brown), for the ‘botched job’ and DA Creuzot was summoned twice to the court: the 282nd,” Duarte continued. “The family was disappointed but preferred the delay to a mistrial or appeal.”
The Dallas Express reached out to the district attorney’s office for comment and additional information. No response was received by the time of publication.
Dallas PD gives itself.yet another black-eye and reason not to be trusted. Texas must be so damned proud. Further more clearly the indivuals is not getting a fair trial by any means and regardless of guilt the joke ass broken judicial system should have dismissed the case!
First off i know nina personally she should be Brought up on charges from murdering her husband bill was a good guy but that case will never be brought up she murdered that girl and nothing will bring her back nothing and to say she should be let out is a joke she is a cold blooded murder and if she gets out who is next huh a child. You dont know her like alot of us do.
So the DA’s office just wants to blame the police, even though the police were remiss. If the police do not hand over all the evidence, the prosecutor’s office needs to hound them about it or possibly get a warrant or something to compel them to do their job. Nowadays, nothing but excuses.