Jury Selection Begins For Edenfield Trial

  A jury is being selected in Glynn County for a case that left many folks all across our area shocked and saddened.  David Edenfield is on trial for his life – one of three accused of kidnapping, raping and killing 6-year old Christopher Barrios back in 2007.  The nightmare for Christopher Barrios’ family began the evening of March 8th, 2007.  The little boy went out to play after school.  He was last seen on a nearby swing set at 6:15 and reported missing two hours later.  Dozens of people spent a week searching for Christopher near the Canal Mobile Home Park where he lived in Brunswick.  Investigators began interviewing registered sex offenders in the area.  That included George Edenfield who had moved in across the street from Christopher Barrios just six months before.  The interviews led to the arrest of Edenfield, his father David, and mother Peggy.  Police had their suspects but not Christopher.  He wasn’t found until the 15th of March - nearly three miles from his home, his body stuffed into a trash bag covered with bugs.  When the Edenfields appeared in court nearly a month later - Christopher’s mother, Latrina Keith, had this to say, “Christopher, he brightened up everyone, made you smile.  Gorgeous, would never hurt anyone, I don’t understand how they can do this to a child, anyone period.  What’s the justice for you?  Justice for me is to see them get what they deserve, which should be death.

The state is seeking the death penalty against both David and George Edenfield - Peggy Edenfield avoided that by agreeing to testify against both.  She is alleged to have watched while her son and husband both raped the little boy before killing him. Jury selection is expected to last at least a week.  It is being conducted in Hazlehurst at the Jeff Davis county courthouse because of extensive pre-trial publicity.  The jurors will then be taken to Glynn county and sequestered for the duration of the trial.