WICHITA FALLS — A man indicted for murder, accused of selling counterfeit Percocet pills laced with fentanyl that killed a 20-year-old Wichita Falls woman, may have his trial delayed.
That comes after today’s hearing in the 78th District Court for a possible change of venue.
Jakob Joel Blankenship was arrested in late August 2022, at the age of 19, for the death of 20-year-old Zoe Brewer in April of that year.
Blankenship’s defense informed Judge Meredith Kennedy during the hearing on Thursday, April 24, in the 78th District Court, that not all witnesses had attended.
Subpoenaed television station employees from Wichita Falls were present. Other witnesses, however, were not subpoenaed.
Judge Kennedy denied the defense’s request to question media members today about the scope of previous coverage and then question witnesses who did not appear on another date.
She stated that the hearing would need to be rescheduled, and that because it was too close to Blankenship’s trial start date, the trial date would also need to be pushed back.
Once Judge Kennedy has selected a new date for a change of venue hearing, updates will be provided on air and online.
