BREAKING COURT UPDATE | October 15, 2026 — Mistrial Declared
The court declared a mistrial in North Carolina v. David Prevatte following a jury-misconduct inquiry, according to the live courtroom proceedings reported October 15. No guilty or not-guilty verdict was returned. A retrial decision or schedule has not yet been confirmed. The defendant remains presumed innocent.
View More — Juror inquiry, competing accounts and sources
WECT reported that jurors were individually questioned after claims that a juror introduced information not presented at trial, including statements about the KKK, the defendant’s girlfriend and an alleged child. The statements were attributed to jurors and were not verified facts about Prevatte. Witnesses disagreed about what was said; the judge examined potential outside knowledge, candor and impartiality. Later courtroom observers reported that the proceedings ended in a mistrial. The court’s written order and full findings have not yet been obtained.
COURT UPDATE | PREVATTE MISTRIAL | UPDATED OCTOBER 17, 2026
Jaded Evidence is following several trialsinvolving child deaths, alleged homicide, forensic evidence, and disputed accounts of how victims died. Below is a direct directory of our existing interactive investigation case files, led by the North Carolina trial of David Prevatte, where the October 15 proceedings ended in a mistrial following a juror-misconduct inquiry.
Evidence standard: A trial, charge, or prosecution argument does not establish guilt. Verdict status can change without notice. This roundup records the status confirmed during the October 14 morning review and directs readers to each investigation for subsequent developments.
Verdict Watch: David Prevatte — the death of Paitin Fields
North Carolina | Jury deliberations began October 13, 2026
Nearly nine years after five-year-old Paitin Fields died following hospitalization in November 2017, the case against her uncle David Prevatte is in the jury’s hands. Prosecutors argued that the child’s fatal injuries resulted from strangulation and sexual assault; the defense challenged the state’s proof and pressed the reasonable-doubt standard. Prevatte has pleaded not guilty.
On October 12, the judge dismissed one of the charged counts. Closing arguments followed on October 13, when the state advanced theories of first-degree murder and the defense disputed whether the evidence proved the remaining allegations beyond a reasonable doubt. Jurors began deliberating that afternoon. Historical note: no verdict had been reached on October 14; a mistrial was declared October 15 following a juror-misconduct inquiry.
Read the full Paitin Fields / David Prevatte trial investigation →
What the jury must decide — and what to watch next
Watch for requests to review evidence or testimony, additional jury instructions, a partial or complete verdict, and any post-verdict proceedings. The distinction between a dismissed count and charges still submitted to the jury is critical: dismissal of one count is not an acquittal on every count.
Reporting: WECT: deliberations begin October 13 | WECT: October 12 charge dismissal.
Active Trial Directory
Choose a case to open Jaded Evidence’s existing investigation page. The case files contain the fuller background, evidence, trial reporting, and source material.
1. Matthew Farwell — Sandra Birchmore
Trial proceedings | Federal court, Massachusetts
Federal jurors are hearing testimony and evidence in the prosecution arising from Sandra Birchmore’s death. Farwell has pleaded not guilty.
2. Miguel Salguero-Olivares — Faith Hedgepeth
Guilty on all four counts — October 23, 2026 | North Carolina
The jury convicted Salguero-Olivares of first-degree murder, rape, burglary and sexual offense. See the case file for verdict sources and trial coverage.
3. Naresh Bhatt — Mamta Kafle Bhatt
Trial proceedings | Virginia
Coverage tracks the state’s evidence, defense challenges, and courtroom developments in Mamta Kafle Bhatt’s death.
4. Timothy Hauschultz — Ethan Hauschultz
Trial proceedings | Wisconsin
Interactive case file covering Ethan’s death, trial chronology, documented evidence and courtroom proceedings.
5. Caylen Deller — Chad Mullen
Trial proceedings | Florida
Interactive investigation following the trial and evidence surrounding Chad Mullen’s death.
VERDICT: Leigha Mumby — Daniel Waterman
Florida | October 14, 2026 | GUILTY ON BOTH COUNTS — SENTENCING PENDING
A Flagler County jury found Leigha Mumby guilty of vehicular homicide and reckless driving causing serious bodily injury in the death of Daniel Waterman. The jury deliberated approximately 71 minutes. Following the verdict, the court revoked her bond and she was taken into custody. A sentencing date had not yet been announced.
The underlying crash occurred on February 9, 2025, along Interstate 95 in Flagler County. Waterman died October 8, 2025, following complications from injuries sustained in the crash. The prosecution argued Mumby drove recklessly during an argument; the defense disputed the state’s account of how the vehicle left the roadway. The jury returned guilty verdicts on both counts.
Sources: Court TV verdict coverage (October 14) | FlaglerLive courtroom report (October 14).
More court coverage
Upcoming Trials We’re Watching →
Trial status note: Trial-day and verdict designations reflect available reports at publication, not a live court feed. Any verdict will be reported with the date, counts, and court-confirmed disposition after verification.
Jaded Evidence — Facts Over Speculation. Critical Thinking. Follow the Evidence.
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