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Edmonson Voice Staff A local jury was unable to reach a verdict on Thursday in the Commonwealth's child abuse case against Garnett Richard Odell, 64, of Cave Hollow Bay, where Odell was accused of sexually abusing multiple members of his family that were minors. Odell was originally indicted in July of 2013 on 10 counts of sex abuse-1st degree, 5 counts of sodomy-1st degree, and 1 count of attempted rape-1st degree. In November 2013, he was indicted with more charges, including attempted sodomy-1st degree, 11 more counts of sex abuse-1st degree, 5 more counts of sodomy-1st degree, and one more count of attempted rape-1st degree. In February 2015, Odell faced even more charges as he was indicted on 5 more counts of sex abuse-1st degree.  Garnett Richard Odell, 64, Cave Hollow Bay, listens to the jury foreman on Thursday. The trial was originally scheduled for May 27, 2015, but that morning, Odell arrived at the Sheriff's Office with two gunshot wounds in the chest, claiming someone tried to kill him. After investigation, Odell admitted that he'd shot himself in a botched suicide attempt. The Public Defender's office said that Odell denied all charges and claimed all the accusations were false. The Commonwealth Attorney presented testimony from the alleged victims, investigating officers, and from an expert witness, which was a pediatrician. The jury deliberated for almost four hours, but couldn't reach a verdict and a mistrial was declared. The case can be tried again if the Commonwealth Attorney's office chooses to do so. "These cases are extremely difficult for a number of reasons," said Sheriff Shane Doyle, who testified to the May shooting incident. "Physical evidence is hard to come by in cases like this and the jury was faced with the difficult job of processing all of the testimony." 
3 Comments
Sarah Clifford
7/1/2016 03:07:01 am
This man is my grand father. He raised me as his own child from before I was a year old till I was 12 years old. When I heard about this accusations I was shocked. Because not once in my entire life has he even put a finger on me. I know for a fact, that none of these happened. And as for the young females in our family who are claiming such false assuscations, they are ruining the man I consider to be my fathers life. My grandmother died of cancer around the time these lies started pulling in. And I just hope justice is served.
Carole Clifford
9/28/2016 01:21:17 am
The truth shall set you free!!! I love you Sarah Meagan, stand for what you believe in , no matter what..
Carole Clifford
9/28/2016 12:36:13 am
Garnette Richard O'Dell was my mothers ( Tina Marie Cissell Clifford O'Dell) Husband. He was my brothers Father and my stepfather, who raised me along with my brother for 11 years of my life with my mother having full custody. I can tell you that I never, not once was ever touched by him, not even spanked or disciplined. He only ever treated me with kindness and what I remember to be love. He helped me, played and laughed with me. He provided for me and for my brother since I was 2 years old. Sure he wasnt perfect, but neither was he a rapist , let alone a child rapist. The truth is them girls continuously came around and jumped in his lap and laughed and play beat him up until their face muscles hurt from laughing so much! ( just the same way I did when I was little) Even for a long time after the incident was supposed to have happened , this behavior took place. Until it was finally reported, only then did the way they would come around to laugh and joke with him stop. Which was at least a year or maybe more they were hanging around with no worrisome behaviour or lack of interest of him while all this was allegedly going on.. My youngest daughter had pressure put on her to tell c.p.s. that she too was molested! Which they visited her at school and she told the truth, that she was not! Now, you have to wonder why that is??? There are a lot of discrepancies in this story that I do not believe were ever brought up In court on his behalf. If this were to be true , then he deserves to never get out! But I don't know the man described here at all, I know a complete different person than being described! I know a good, not perfect but loving man who would never harm a child and kill someone who did! Plea deal!!???? Scared of no justice. That's why people make plea deals!!! So, where is the justice??? Hopefully in Hart County.. If he's not really guilty, which I don't believe he is, then this poor mans life is ruined by lies! And he's already 65 yrs old with pretty serious medical issues, just think how awful it would be if it were YOU! GOD SEES ALL & VENGANCE IS MINE, SAYS THE LORD! Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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