Politics & Government

Video: No Bond for Ryan Brunn

The 20-year-old River Ridge maintenance worker accused of murdering 7-year-old Jorelys Rivera hung his head for most of his first court appearance.

Jorelys Rivera murder suspect remains in isolation in the after his attorneys did not ask for bond during his first court appearance today.

Court-appointed lawyers Daran Burns and David Cannon told Judge Frank Mills they did not have enough time to review the case and prepare a bond motion after getting Brunn as a client at 3 p.m. Wednesday.

earlier that day in the brutal killing of Jorelys, a 7-year-old first-grader who disappeared from the apartment complex Friday.

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Her body was found in a Dumpster at the complex Monday. She had been sexually assaulted, stabbed and beaten.

Brunn moved into River Ridge on Nov. 5 and worked as a maintenance man there.

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He shuffled into Mills’ courtroom about 1:30 p.m. today wearing an orange jumpsuit and a white vest.

He sat at the defense table with his two attorneys. At least once Brunn turned and appeared to be looking for someone in the audience, which was packed with media members.

About a dozen law enforcement officers, some dressed in fatigues, manned the courtroom.

Brunn was read his rights and the charges against him and answered all questions with “yes, sir” during the 15-minute hearing.

He is being held on charges of murder and making false statements.

Burns said his client, who dropped out of high school in Dahlonega in the 10th grade, was very shaken by the whole situation.

It’s not clear when he next will appear in court. His attorneys will have to file a motion to get Brunn a bond hearing.

The county grand jury is convening Monday, Mills said, but it’s more likely that prosecutors won’t be ready to present the case until the grand jury’s January session.

Meanwhile, Brunn is being held in isolation from the rest of the jail population, Cherokee County sheriff’s Lt. Jay Baker said.

For stories, photos, videos and all coverage of the Jorelys Rivera case, go to http://canton-ga.patch.com/topics/jorelys-rivera.


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