A jury deadlocked last year on whether Christopher Clements kidnapped and killed 6-year-old Isabel Celis. So he is facing a new trial on the charges this week.
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The previous trial included ten days of testimony on a case that gripped the Tucson area and drew worldwide publicity when Celis disappeared twelve years ago.
Clements became a suspect in 2017 when he told the FBI he could lead investigators to Celis’ remains in return for having unrelated charges dropped.
At the time, he said he simply knew the location of the girl’s remains, but had nothing to do with her death.
Clements led investigators to a remote spot far north of Tucson at Avra Valley and Trico roads.
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The location was also where someone discovered the remains of 13-year-old Maribel Gonzalez . In September of 2022, a jury found Clements guilty of kidnapping and murder in that case. He is sentenced to life in prison for those charges.