A murder trial so intense, a juror asks to be excused! Daniel Bartelt's lawyer says he didn't do it



WASHINGTON COUNTY (WITI) -- An emotional and graphic opening day of testimony in the trial for Daniel Bartelt -- accused in the murder of young actress Jessie Blodgett. She was found dead in her Hartford home last summer.

The start of the trial was so intense, one juror asked the judge if she could quit.

Jessie Blodgett



19-year-old Jessie Blodgett was active in local theater and gave music lessons to children.

A fellow musician and high school friend Daniel Bartelt is accused in her murder.

On July 15th, 2013, a new student came to Blodgett's home for a piano lesson around 12:30 p.m. Blodgett's mother called for her daughter -- but after getting no response, she went to Blodgett's bedroom and discovered her daughter was dead.

Blodgett's mother tried to revive her using CPR -- and noticed something on her daughter's neck.

In court on Tuesday, August 12th, the 911 call made by Blodgett's mother was played.

Blodgett's mother: "It looks like strangulation marks."

Dispatcher: "There are strangulation marks?"

Blodgett's mother: "That's what it looks like. I don't know what's going on. I don't know what's going on."

Investigators discovered what they believe were the signs of murder tossed in a trash can in a park. They also discovered articles about serial killers on Bartelt's computer.

"A Frosted Mini-Wheats cereal box, stuffed with blood-spattered antiseptic wipes, blood-covered paper towels," prosecutor Sandra Giernoth said.

Bartelt's lawyer says all of the evidence is circumstantial.

"Daniel, by his plea denies causing the death of Jessie Blodgett," Bartelt's lawyer, Gary Schmaus said.

A juror on Tuesday asked the judge to be excused from the case due to the intense nature of what she was about to hear. The judge listened to her concerns -- but denied her requests.

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