Order Sequesters Jury in Journey Ann Cowart Murder Trial

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The jury in the trial for the Bartow County mother and boyfriend charged in the death of the woman’s child will be sequestered.

That’s according to The Daily Tribune News, which reports the order was filed late last week in Bartow County Superior Court for the trial of Austin Levi Payne and Brandy Ann Boyd.

The pair are charged with the murder of Journey Ann Cowart.

According to the order, jurors will be transported from a designated parking area to the courthouse each day of the trial, which is expected to begin on Monday, the Tribune notes.

Jurors will also not have cell phones, electronic devices or any written materials ”except those furnished by the court.” Additionally, jurors will be escorted by at least one bailiff or sheriff’s deputy during recesses and breaks for meals.

• Read more of the Tribune’s report here.

The latest order comes on the heels of Judge Carey Nelson rejecting a change of venue request to have the trial moved out of Bartow County and issuing a gag order in the case.

The defendants were arraigned in November and both entered not guilty pleas to the charges. A Bartow County grand jury in September indicted both Payne and Boyd on 22 counts, including malice murder, felony murder, cruelty to children in the first degree, aggravated battery and battery.

Together, Boyd and Payne face four counts each of malice murder, six counts of felony murder, three counts of aggravated battery and one count of battery. Boyd faces seven counts of cruelty to children in the first degree while Payne faces all eight of those counts.

Journey Ann Cowart died at Cartersville Medical Center on Jan. 21, 2014, after she was taken to the emergency room because she was not breathing.

Bartow County Sheriff Clark Millsap previously told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Journey was beaten to death, with “a fractured skull, blunt force trauma to the stomach.” He also said there was evidence of previous abuse.

The pair were initially charged with first-degree cruelty to children and aggravated battery, but the charges were upgraded after an autopsy revealed the extent of Journey’s injuries. Both defendants were granted a $1 million bond in May 2014.

(Photo: Austin Levi Payne, left, and Brandy Ann Cowart. Credit: Bartow County Sheriff‘s Office)