Trial dates in jeopardy for Medford woman accused of murder

Published 6:05 pm Monday, February 26, 2024

A Medford woman accused of stabbing another woman to death over a drug deal in 2022 might not face a jury in two weeks as planned if prosecutors cannot get a key witness, who was arrested Friday in California, back to Jackson County in time.

Hannah Marie Martin, 22, is scheduled for a five-day trial over allegations that she fatally stabbed Brittany Lovrovich, 31, on March 22, 2022, between Rumors Karaoke and OK Market on Riverside Avenue in Medford while attempting to rob Lovrovich of fentanyl.

Martin has pleaded not guilty to robbery and two counts of second-degree murder. The additional charge was brought under the legal theory that Lovrovich died in the course of a robbery.

Martin’s boyfriend, Zackary Carl Helwagen, 32, of Williams, has pleaded not guilty to the same charges in the incident but is being tried separately.

Martin appeared virtually in Jackson County Circuit Court on Monday as her defense attorney and prosecutors discussed the witness, Kyle Andrew Dean Adams, 40, who was friends with Martin and Helwagen and had accused Lovrovich of stealing his belongings before the stabbing, according to an affidavit.

The affidavit supporting Adams’ arrest stated that he spoke to investigators and told them that, ahead of the murder, Helwagen allegedly texted Adams of his plan with Martin to steal fentanyl from Lovrovich.

Helwagen asked Adams to meet him at Rumors Karaoke on March 22, 2022. That’s when Helwagen allegedly told Adams that Martin stabbed Lovrovich in the neck. Adams briefly spoke to Lovrovich before she lost consciousness, he told investigators, but he fled the scene before police arrived.

Adams was lodged Friday in the San Francisco County Jail, records show.

The affidavit cites his family and detectives, who believe he will not testify due to his lifestyle as a homeless person and frequent drug user. Adams also faces open criminal cases in Jackson County involving drugs and assault, court records show.

On Monday, Senior Deputy District Attorney Michael Cohen told Judge Laura Cromwell that he had been in touch with San Francisco officials regarding Adams’ arrest.

Martin’s lead court-appointed attorney, Lisa Greif, told Cromwell she considered Adams an essential witness, and that if there are problems getting him to Jackson County, then “we need to know.”

Cromwell said she expected a status report on Adams by March 4.

In an interview after the hearing, Cohen said Adams’ availability could impact the start of Martin’s trial.

“It would be a few months, for sure,” Cohen said.

He said he was unsure about how quickly San Francisco officials would handle Adams to prepare him for transport to Jackson County.

“Sometimes you just don’t know. It’s a different state, a different jurisdiction,” Cohen said. “I’m trying to contact everyone I can.”

Greif said in an interview after the hearing that “of course” she would like the trial for Martin to begin on the scheduled date. But she and her co-counsel, Rachel Pavlich, are unsure what Adams’ status will mean for the trial’s start date.

The next court appearance for Martin was not listed in court records following the hearing.

Helwagen’s next appearance is scheduled for Aug. 12. His trial is expected to begin Sept. 9.