Man pleads not guilty in murder case of still-missing woman

BARSTOW • Jeami Chiapulis, accused of murdering his girlfriend, Barstow resident Leisa Hurst, pleaded not guilty in a Barstow courthouse on Wednesday in front of a crowd of Hurst’s family, friends and neighbors.

Thorough discussions with the Barstow Police Department led to the District Attorney’s Office decision to file the murder charge against Chiapulis, according to Deputy District Attorney Sean Daugherty, even though Hurst’s body has not been found since she was reported missing on Jan. 22.
Daugherty declined to comment on the case’s specifics.

Chiapulis was arrested at a Redlands motel by Barstow Police on Friday after he was released from a local hospital psychiatric ward, according to Det. Keith Libby. The arrest was made after consultation with the district attorney’s office, Libby said.

“Detectives conferred with the district attorney’s office and determined that, while Hurst’s body has not yet been recovered, enough probable cause exists to arrest Chiapulis for her murder,” he stated via e-mail. “As this is an ongoing investigation, and the search continues for Leisa, no further information should be released at this time.”

Hurst, a single mother with two daughters, remains missing as the family prepares for another community-led search for her body. The first event drew a crowd of more than 175 volunteers that searched areas in Helendale. Trinity Search and Recovery, an organization specializing in searches for missing persons, is managing the Saturday event, which will take place at an elementary school in Oro Grande.

At his arraignment, Chiapulis requested a court-appointed lawyer. Judge Steve Mapes set bail at $1 million.

“I’m just glad that he’s not out on the streets anymore,” Hurst’s next-door neighbor Donna Mass said at the arraignment.
Even with Chiapulis’ arrest, the fact that Hurst’s body still has not been recovered makes closure difficult, said Richard McClain, one of Hurst’s neighbors.

“There’s still a lot of unanswered questions,” he said.

Anyone with information in reference this incident is asked to contact Detective Keith Libby at 760-256-2211. People wishing to remain anonymous can call WE-TIP at 1-800-78-CRIME or www.wetip.com.

CONTACT THE WRITER:
(760) 256-4126 or cnguyen@desertdispatch.com

Search for Leisa Hurst
Date:   Feb. 21, 2009 (Saturday)
Time:   9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Area:   Oro Grande School
19175 3rd St, Oro Grande, CA
Needs:   Off-road vehicles, foot searchers