ROCHELLE BATTLE - 16 yo (2009) - Baltimore MD

Baltimore County Police have arrested Jason
Matthew Gross, 35, of the 1900-block of Eloise Lane, 21040 for the
disappearance and murder of Rochelle Battle, a 16-year-old female who
was reported missing March 6, 2009. Jason Gross was indicted by a
Baltimore County Grand Jury in her murder.

Police are still trying
to locate Rochelle Battle’s body. Her description when she was last
seen is that of a black female, 5’1” to 5’3” tall, weighing
approximately 170 pounds. She was wearing a brown hooded sweatshirt,
blue jeans, and boots that came just below the knees.


County officers were contacted by
Rochelle’s family on March 11, 2009 stating that Rochelle Battle had
disappeared on March 6, 2009 after leaving her home in the 2800-block of
Boarman Avenue, 21215. Through an initial investigation it was
discovered that Rochelle may have been on a MTA bus line near Eastern
Avenue in the North Point and Essex Precinct areas. Based on additional
information that detectives acquired, a search of a trash collection
facility in the 200-block of Earls Road, 21220 was made to look for
Rochelle, but she was not located.Information that detectives
have developed in the case revealed that Jason Gross was responsible for
the disappearance and murder of Rochelle Battle. The case was presented
by the Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office before a Grand Jury
on April 14, at which time an indictment and warrant charging Gross were
issued.Jason Gross was arrested late yesterday afternoon and has
been charged with first-degree murder. He is being held at the
Baltimore County Detention Center on bond denied.

Event Date:	10/12/2011Event Time:09:30 AM
Result:	Result Date:

http://casesearch.courts.state.md.us/inquiry/inquiryDetail.jis?caseId=03K10002025&loc=55&detailLoc=K

Trial set to begin for Harford County man accused of murder
16-year-old victim disappeared from city


7:12 p.m. EDT, October 11, 2011

The trial of a Baltimore County man accused in the disappearance and killing of a 16-year-old girl from the city is scheduled to begin Wednesday in Circuit Court.

Jason M. Gross, 36, of Edgewood, was arrested in April, 2010 and charged with first-degree murder, about 13 months after Rochelle Battle was reported to have vanished after leaving her home in the 2800 block of Boardman Avenue, in northwest Baltimore's Arlington neighborhood. Battle has never been found.


When Gross was arrested, Baltimore County Police released a statement saying their investigation showed Battle may have been on an MTA bus near Eastern Avenue near North Point and Essex. The Baltimore County State's Attorney's Office presented the case to a grand jury, which indicted Gross on April 14, 2010.

The case is scheduled to be tried before Judge Kathleen Cox.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-county/bs-md-co-gross-trial-brief-20111011,0,1300153.story

Jury Seated In Teen's Disappearance, Death

Jason Gross Accused Of Killing Rochelle Battle

POSTED: 5:31 pm EDT October 12, 2011

TOWSON, Md. -- A jury in Baltimore County is scheduled to hear opening statements in the trial of a man accused of killing a 16-year-old girl three years ago.
Jason Gross, 36, is accused of killing 16-year-old Rochelle Battle on March 6, 2009. Investigators said they believe Battle was killed at Gross' Middle River home; however, they have yet to find her body despite searching a nearby landfill.
Investigators said Battle disappeared after leaving to meet people at Eastpoint Mall.
By 4 p.m. Wednesday, a jury of nine men, three women and four alternate jurors was selected. The prosecution has lined up 52 potential witnesses and the defense has lined up about 20. Opening statements are scheduled for Thursday morning.
The judge asked potential jurors whether they could remain fair and impartial even though the girl's body remains missing.
The judge also gave the jurors instructions them before adjourning for the day.

Read more: http://www.wbaltv.com/news/29466541/detail.html#ixzz1affxNBx1

Jury Hears From Teen's Suspected Killer

Jason Gross Accused Of Killing Rochelle Battle

POSTED: 7:12 pm EDT October 13, 2011

TOWSON, Md. -- The jury seated in the case of a 16-year-old girl's death heard from her accused killer Thursday.
Jason Gross, 36, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 16-year-old Rochelle Battle. Investigators said they believe Battle was killed at Gross' Middle River home; however, they have yet to find her body despite searching a nearby landfill. The judge in the case had asked potential jurors Wednesday whether they could remain fair and impartial even though the girl's body remains missing.
Defense attorney Jim Dills told jurors during opening statements Thursday that there was no proof that Battle is dead. He said there is no body, no proof Gross committed murder.

"There is no physical evidence, no DNA ... no blood, no fingerprints, there is nothing," Dills said. "The state is trying to paint a picture of Mr. Gross as a criminal genius that can make bodies disappear."
Baltimore County Assistant State's Attorney Jason League told jurors, "People do not vanish without a trace ... He thought it was the perfect crime. Two things he didn't count on ... technology ... and a family that wasn't willing to let her be discarded like another piece of trash on the property."
Prosecutors said cellphone records and GPS tracking proves Gross met with Battle, got her into his house, killed her and burned her body in an incinerator.
Gross had admitted to burning things from time to time. The defense claimed Battle was a prostitute using a chat line to go out and commit prostitution.

"Speculation, conjecture ... a guess. The state is making a guess about everything in this case," Dills said.
The prosecution played for the jury a videotaped interview between police and Gross, in which Gross said he talked to the girl on a chat line on March 6, 2009, the day she disappeared.
Gross said the last time they spoke, Battle was taking a bus on the way to meet him at a bar close to his house. She had said she was at Eastpoint Mall and was on her way, but she never showed. The defense said the two never met.
Gross told police he wanted to meet Battle in a public place in case she was a juvenile. He said she had told him she was in her 20s

Read more: http://www.wbaltv.com/news/29478720/detail.html#ixzz1alhrf0u1

Jurors See Police Interviews In Teen's Death Case

Jason Gross Accused Of Killing Rochelle Battle

POSTED: 5:58 pm EDT October 14, 2011

TOWSON, Md. -- The jury seated in the case of a 16-year-old girl's death heard watched more videotaped interviews between the suspected killer and police.
Jason Gross, 36, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 16-year-old Rochelle Battle. Investigators said they believe Battle was killed at Gross' Middle River home; however, they have yet to find her body despite searching a nearby landfill.
Defense attorney Jim Dills told jurors during opening statements Thursday that there was no proof that Battle is dead. He said there is no body, no proof Gross committed murder.

"There is no physical evidence, no DNA ... no blood, no fingerprints, there is nothing," Dills said. "The state is trying to paint a picture of Mr. Gross as a criminal genius that can make bodies disappear."
In the videos, Gross claimed he never saw Battle, saying, "She was never was by my house. I've never seen her or met her."
Gross said he spoke to Battle on the phone, but that he hadn't seen her.
"I was on that adult chat line," Gross said.
The defense claimed Battle was a prostitute using a chat line to go out and commit prostitution.

Gross said he had a couple beers at a bar near his house and walked home. But text messages between Gross and a friend, James Farren, seemed to suggest otherwise.
"I seen u fri nite if asked 9 oclock I will explain l8r but i need u 2 tell them u had a drink with me around 8:45 or so at boom booms then left and i was leaving right after u 2 go home," a text message read.
Investigators said the text messages was sent shortly after the police interview. A few days later, Farren agreed to wear a wire.
Farren: "Hey. What's going on man?"
Gross: "I'm getting set up."
Farren: "Huh?"
Gross: "Somebody's setting me up big time, big time. (Inaudible) found out if I killed somebody."
Jurors also heard Gross discuss investigation.
Farren: "Detectives told me it was a young girl missing."
Gross: "Yeah, some (expletive) (expletive) (expletive) underage. Some (expletive) (expletive) (expletive) (expletive) is what I'm getting told. I have no idea."
Prosecutors also showed surveillance photos from an MTA bus that showed Battle getting on a No. 23 bus and riding it from downtown Baltimore to Essex. Prosecutors said cellphone records show Battle and Gross in the same area at the same time, and later in Gross' Middle River neighborhood.
Gross had admitted to driving his truck to a gas station despite having had his driver's license suspended. He reiterated that he hadn't seen Battle at that time.

Read more: http://www.wbaltv.com/news/29488647/detail.html#ixzz1arBvESIY

Jury: Jason Gross Guilty In Teen's Death

Teenager's Body Still Unaccounted For

POSTED: 4:26 pm EDT October 20, 2011

TOWSON, Md. -- A Baltimore County jury has convicted the man accused in the death of a 16-year-old girl.

The jury announced Thursday afternoon it has found Jason Gross, 36, guilty of second-degree murder of Rochelle Battle, 16. Investigators said they believe Battle was killed at Gross' Middle River home; however, they have yet to find her body despite searching a nearby landfill. A sentencing date has not been set.
This is the second case in Baltimore County in which a trial proceeded without police having located the victim's body. The first involved that of Dennis Tetso, who was found guilty last year of second-degree murder in the death of his wife in 2005.
The defense had argued that there was no proof that Battle is dead and no proof that Gross committed murder.

Gross had said in videotaped police interviews that he spoke with Battle on an adult phone chat line but that he hadn't seen her. The defense claimed Battle was a prostitute using a chat line to go out and commit prostitution.
The prosecution countered with a cell phone text message and tracking that showed the two in the same area at the same time.
Prosecutors also showed surveillance photos from an MTA bus that showed Battle getting on a No. 23 bus and riding it from downtown Baltimore to Essex.

Read more: http://www.wbaltv.com/news/29543017/detail.html#ixzz1bMGNpSui