Murder trial gets under way with opening statements

A Douglas County jury was told Wednesday their task in the murder trial of Karen Bodden is to sort facts from speculation and theory.

"Karen Bodden did not kill her husband; she did not shoot him," said defense attorney James Wilson Jr. of Carson City.

"She did not have any involvement in his murder and she doesn't know who did," he said.

Wilson's remarks countered opening arguments by district attorney Mark Jackson in the trial of Bodden, 45, accused of murdering her husband and dumping his body in the desert.

Bodden pleaded not guilty to the charge in October following her indictment Sept. 11, 2007, by the Douglas County grand jury.

Robin Bodden's body was discovered Sept. 10, 2006, in the desert off Johnson Lane two weeks after his sister Barbara reported him missing.

Jackson alleged Bodden killed her husband Aug. 15-16, 2006 because of "greed and liberty."

He said evidence would show she began embezzling money from the 50-year-old aircraft mechanic's business and personal accounts 10 months before he died and continued to take money after his death.

Jackson said Bodden was afraid her husband would turn her into authorities and she would go to prison for a 2004 embezzlement conviction for which she received probation.

Karen Bodden was convicted of embezzling $44,000 from the Department of Motor Vehicles.

"If the authorities were made aware of the stolen money, she could go to prison," Jackson said.

Wilson said the prosecution could not prove exactly when Rob Bodden was killed nor were investigators able to find evidence that his wife was involved.

"They looked, but they didn't find anything," Wilson said.

"Rob never told Karen because of the $2,000 he would turn her in. People who knew about it said Rob said he would not turn her in," Wilson said.

Wilson described Bodden's fatal wounds.

"The first shot was dead center at the back of his head. The second shot was at the right temple. That is cold-blooded murder. They theorize it was committed for less than $2,000," Wilson said.