Wednesday, February 08, 2012

Murder Case Dismissed - Rumph Released From Hendry Jail

Charged With Murder - Rumph Case Dismissed

LABELLE, FL. -- Timothy Arthur Rumph has been released from the Hendry County jail after spending two years and two months behind bars in LaBelle on a 2nd degree murder charge.

Rumph was released from jail on January 30th.

A motion to dismiss was granted by Judge John E. Duryea Jr. under Rule 190 (C)(4) which states "There are no material disputed facts and the undisputed facts do not establish a prima facie case of guilt against the defendant."

The case went through three different Circuit Judges.

Rumph, now 23 years old, was accused of the murder 2009 murder of Gee Gee Gary of Clewiston and turned himself in to authorities on December 5th, 2009.

On Friday morning, December 4, 2009, at approximately 6:25 a.m. Hendry County Sheriff's Deputies responded to the area of 10th Street and Kentucky Avenue in the Harlem subdivision of Clewiston, Florida after receiving a call that someone had been shot.

(Photo: Timothy Arthur Rumph)

Once Deputies arrived on scene they immediately saw a man known to them as 35-year old Gee Gee Gary of 1220 Harlem Academy Drive lying on the ground, suffering from a gunshot wound.

Medics arrived and transported him to Hendry Regional Hospital where he later died.

Investigators with the Hendry County Sheriff's Office immediately began searching for witnesses and were able to locate one individual that saw the entire incident occur. After speaking with several witnesses, 

Investigators were able to request an arrest warrant for Timothy Arthur Rumph for the charge of 2nd Degree Murder.

On December 5, 2009, at approximately 4:45 p.m., then 20 year old, Timothy Arthur Rumph turned himself in to Hendry County Deputies. He was then placed under arrest and was being held in the Hendry County Jail on $250,000 Bond.

The trial was set to begin begins at 9:00 a.m. Monday May 23, 2011 at the Hendry County Courthouse, and was continued several times, as Rumph's defense attorney tried to make a deal with the prosecution and get the case dismissed.

On June 17th, 2011. Judge Radford R. Sturgis said more witnesses may have to be interviewed as there was a possibility of a plea agreement to manslaughter, as the defense has some self-defense arguments.

The trial date was then moved to July 5th, 2011 at 9 a.m. at the Hendry County Courthouse and then for September 26th.

The last trial date was set for February 8, 2012.

The original story on Southwest Florida Online in December 2009 garnered 65 comments, many in support of Rumph.

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