Victim’s mother takes the stand in Ginger Jefferson Trial

Marlene O'Clair said she kissed her daughter Kerry O'Clair-Jefferson goodbye Sept. 25, 2013, not realizing it was the last time before she was killed a few hours later.

O'Clair received a call later in the afternoon from her daughter's husband's cousin who said she couldn't reach O'Clair-Jefferson. The cousin was upset and crying, saying she came home and there was a coroner's vehicle at her Tama home, where O'Clair-Jefferson and her husband Dustin Jefferson lived part of the time.

O'Clair, tearing up, testified she tried her daughter's cell and couldn't reach her. She then went to the house. Police were there but wouldn't tell her what was going on.

Later, she found out her daughter had been killed.

O'Clair-Jefferson's mother-in-law Ginger Jefferson, 57, is standing trial this week in Tama County District Court for first-degree murder. She is accused of killing O'Clair-Jefferson, 32, who was found dead inside a residence on Harmon Street in Tama with two stab wounds to her neck Sept. 25, 2013. Police discovered the body when they arrived to arrest Dustin Jefferson on a sexual abuse charge in another case.

The prosecution continues its case this afternoon. The trial started Monday and could possibly wrap up next Tuesday.

According to witness testimony Tuesday, Ginger Jefferson confessed to at least two people that she stabbed O'Clair-Jefferson. The state's theory is that Ginger Jefferson stabbed O'Clair-Jefferson that day because she called police to report Dustin Jefferson's whereabouts so he would be arrested on the outstanding warrant.

The defense claimed there's too many questions left unanswered to convict Ginger Jefferson and are attempting to implicate Dustin Jefferson in the crime.

O'Clair said her daughter had texted her that morning and was in good mood. She was excited about the prospect of a new nursing care job. O'Clair-Jefferson in a text message told her mother that her Ginger Jefferson had showed up at the home and said 'Crazy” regarding the visit.

O'Clair said her daughter and Ginger Jefferson didn't get along. It was unusual for Ginger Jefferson to be there because she didn't see the couple that much. O'Clair said she didn't have any relationship with Ginger Jefferson.

Michael Jones, Ginger Jefferson's attorney, on cross asked what was the relationship like between her daughter's and her husband.

O'Clair said if was 'on again, off again.” She admitted alcohol usually had a negative influence on the relationship. O'Clair said their relationship was mentally and physically abusive. Her daughter wanted to divorce him, she said.

Talia Waseskuk, who works at the Meskwaki Nation Police Department, testified she took five calls from O'Clair-Jefferson that day but one was an unintentional call. She could overhear O'Clair-Jefferson's voice and two other people yelling. Waseskuk said she was familiar with O'Clair-Jefferson and recognized her voice but couln't identify the other voices.

Waseskuk said she could hear yelling and screaming over the phone and heard O'Clair-Jefferson said 'You guys are going to jail for what you did.” Finally, O'Clair-Jefferson realized she had accidently called the department and said she was sorry and hung up. She then called back four more times. The call was lost or she hung up a few times while on hold. O'Clair-Jefferson wanted to speak to a detective.

Meskwaki Nation Police detective Craig Carr talked to O'Clair-Jefferson on the last call. He had been trying to contact with her and Dustin Jefferson since July 2013 about the sexual abuse charge against Dustin.

Carr said there was an outstanding warrant for Dustin's arrest and O'Clair-Jefferson told him that day that Dustin was at his cousin's but he probably wouldn't be there long. O'Clair-Jefferson was adamant that officers should get there quickly if they wanted him.

Carr said O'Clair-Jefferson said she would come to the police department the next day and give him some details about the sexual abuse case. She said she wouldn't give him the complete story until after she was divorced.

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