State no longer seeking death penalty for Kevin Kuintzle

JEROME, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — The state is no longer seeking the death penalty against a man accused of first-degree murder in Jerome County.

Kevin Kuintzle is charged in the death of Jerome County resident 84-year-old William “Bill” Eakin and appeared in court Monday via Zoom.

Kuintzle had a status conference hearing. Jerome County Judge Rosemary Emory confirmed dates for a pre-trial conference and a jury questionnaire. He determined the start date for Kuintzle’s trial.

Kuintzle raised concerns about his defense team not correctly doing its job, and when Judge Emory dismissed him, he requested to leave the hearing.

His defense team also requested the alibi deadline be extended, but one of his attorneys is leaving the case.

“However given that the state has elected not to pursue the death penalty, I’m going to go ahead and submit a motion to withdraw. I don’t believe the state’s public defender will have me on the case given that the death penalty isn’t involved so I will be filing that this week,” said Manuel Murdoch, one of Kuintzle’s attorneys.

Kuintzle’s next court appearance will be his pre-trial conference on April 8 before the jury questionnaire on April 22. The trial will begin on May 5, barring any setbacks.

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