HIGH SPRINGS – The man accused of killing his son and wife at the family’s High Springs home in September 2011 is now relying on a defense of insanity. In a notice filed with the court on Aug. 27, Alan Chipperfield, the attorney for Russell Dewayne Hogg, provided the names of two individuals to be called as witnesses as to his client’s state of mind.Kenneth Smith of Fort White, Fla. is currently in a Columbia County Jail and is being called as a witness according to Chipperfield’s notice. He also calls on Jeannie Morris of Statenville, Ga.
In addition to these witnesses, Chipperfield, an attorney with the Office of the Public Defender, also said he intends to use family photographs depicting Hogg along with his wife, Trenda, and son, Anthony, a booking photograph of the defendant and photos of the crime scene provided by the State.
Over the last several months, the court has seen a long list of legal maneuvering in Hogg’s case. In mid-August, Hogg’s defense moved to have the court prohibit a 1986 conviction of lewd and lascivious assault as a prior violent felony conviction. The defense argues that in the more than 25-year-old case, Hogg was placed on community control and probation and that the crime was not “violent.”
The State Attorney’s Office provided notice in April that it intended to call on a firearms analyst with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, a biology and DNA analyst and to introduce jailhouse call logs and telephone audio in addition to scene photographs, video and forensic evidence.
Hogg, who turned 59 years old on Aug. 31, is being charged with two counts of first degree murder in the September 11, 2011 slaying of his 48-year-old wife and 22-year-old son.
In the days preceding the shooting, High Springs Police Department (HSPD) officers were called out to the Hogg home in reference to a verbal altercation.
Apparently at the center of the dispute was a 2005 Ford pickup truck registered to Russell or Trenda Hogg, but driven by their son, Anthony.
Russell Hogg was reportedly angered when Anthony Hogg attempted to leave in the truck, which officers noted had an expired tag.
One HSPD officer wrote in a report, “All parties separated. There was no physical violence.” The officer also reported that he was dispatched to the home again, but the disturbance was “simply verbal.”
A source has reported to Alachua County Today that during the Sept. 9 incident, officers handcuffed Russell Hogg, but never charged him, allegedly because family member weren’t interested in pursuing the matter.
The State is seeking the death penalty against Hogg, who has been charged with premeditated murder.
In the week following the September shooting, a grand jury indicted Hogg on two counts of first degree murder, one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and two counts of aggravated assault with a firearm.
Hogg is being held without bail on the murder charges and on $100,000 for each of the other three charges. His legal counsel initially submitted a plea of not guilty on his behalf on Sept. 22.
According to an ACSO arrest report, just before 1 p.m. on Sept. 11, Russell Hogg pulled into the driveway of the family home at 240 Poe Springs Road in High Springs. He allegedly exited his vehicle, pulling out an AK-47 rifle and pointed it at his son stating, “I told you I was going to kill you,” to which Anthony Hogg replied, “shoot me then.”
Russell Hogg reportedly fired two rounds at his son, striking him in the torso. The report states, “[Russell Hogg] then walked up to him and shot one round to his face.”
Upon realizing Anthony Hogg had been shot, Trenda Hogg ran outside where “Russell [Hogg] pointed the gun at her and fired several rounds at her,” the arrest record states.
Russell Hogg then threw the gun down and an eyewitness grabbed the gun and threw it under the house to prevent further access to it. Russell Hogg then got into his car and left, officials report.
Two witnesses told investigators that Hogg stated his intentions to commit the crime beforehand. “Russell was at their home and made the statement he “was going over to kill them.” After the shooting, Russell Hogg allegedly returned to the witnesses’ home where he stated, “I told you I was gonna’ kill them,” the report states.
Columbia County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Russell Hogg on U.S. Highway 441 a short time after the shooting.
Hogg made several statements acknowledging that he killed his wife and son, according to Alachua County Sheriff’s Office Detective Sandra Myers.
Among his statements to investigators was that, “Tony [Anthony Russell] had gotten too big for his britches,” and that if he could have whipped his son, he would have, “rather than having to kill him.”
Myers wrote, “Russell [Hogg] also stated that it hurt him to see his wife laying there barely breathing because he did not want her to die.”
“I just killed my family and the bread winner of the home,” Russell Hogg allegedly said.
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E-mail editor@alachuatoday.com
Kenneth Smith of Fort White, Fla. is currently in a Columbia County Jail and is being called as a witness according to Chipperfield’s notice. He also calls on Jeannie Morris of Statenville, Ga.
In addition to these witnesses, Chipperfield, an attorney with the Office of the Public Defender, also said he intends to use family photographs depicting Hogg along with his wife, Trenda, and son, Anthony, a booking photograph of the defendant and photos of the crime scene provided by the State.
Over the last several months, the court has seen a long list of legal maneuvering in Hogg’s case. In mid-August, Hogg’s defense moved to have the court prohibit a 1986 conviction of lewd and lascivious assault as a prior violent felony conviction. The defense argues that in the more than 25-year-old case, Hogg was placed on community control and probation and that the crime was not “violent.”
The State Attorney’s Office provided notice in April that it intended to call on a firearms analyst with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, a biology and DNA analyst and to introduce jailhouse call logs and telephone audio in addition to scene photographs, video and forensic evidence.
Hogg, who turned 59 years old on Aug. 31, is being charged with two counts of first degree murder in the September 11, 2011 slaying of his 48-year-old wife and 22-year-old son.
In the days preceding the shooting, High Springs Police Department (HSPD) officers were called out to the Hogg home in reference to a verbal altercation.
Apparently at the center of the dispute was a 2005 Ford pickup truck registered to Russell or Trenda Hogg, but driven by their son, Anthony.
Russell Hogg was reportedly angered when Anthony Hogg attempted to leave in the truck, which officers noted had an expired tag.
One HSPD officer wrote in a report, “All parties separated. There was no physical violence.” The officer also reported that he was dispatched to the home again, but the disturbance was “simply verbal.”
A source has reported to Alachua County Today that during the Sept. 9 incident, officers handcuffed Russell Hogg, but never charged him, allegedly because family member weren’t interested in pursuing the matter.
The State is seeking the death penalty against Hogg, who has been charged with premeditated murder.
In the week following the September shooting, a grand jury indicted Hogg on two counts of first degree murder, one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and two counts of aggravated assault with a firearm.
Hogg is being held without bail on the murder charges and on $100,000 for each of the other three charges. His legal counsel initially submitted a plea of not guilty on his behalf on Sept. 22.
According to an ACSO arrest report, just before 1 p.m. on Sept. 11, Russell Hogg pulled into the driveway of the family home at 240 Poe Springs Road in High Springs. He allegedly exited his vehicle, pulling out an AK-47 rifle and pointed it at his son stating, “I told you I was going to kill you,” to which Anthony Hogg replied, “shoot me then.”
Russell Hogg reportedly fired two rounds at his son, striking him in the torso. The report states, “[Russell Hogg] then walked up to him and shot one round to his face.”
Upon realizing Anthony Hogg had been shot, Trenda Hogg ran outside where “Russell [Hogg] pointed the gun at her and fired several rounds at her,” the arrest record states.
Russell Hogg then threw the gun down and an eyewitness grabbed the gun and threw it under the house to prevent further access to it. Russell Hogg then got into his car and left, officials report.
Two witnesses told investigators that Hogg stated his intentions to commit the crime beforehand. “Russell was at their home and made the statement he “was going over to kill them.” After the shooting, Russell Hogg allegedly returned to the witnesses’ home where he stated, “I told you I was gonna’ kill them,” the report states.
Columbia County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Russell Hogg on U.S. Highway 441 a short time after the shooting.
Hogg made several statements acknowledging that he killed his wife and son, according to Alachua County Sheriff’s Office Detective Sandra Myers.
Among his statements to investigators was that, “Tony [Anthony Russell] had gotten too big for his britches,” and that if he could have whipped his son, he would have, “rather than having to kill him.”
Myers wrote, “Russell [Hogg] also stated that it hurt him to see his wife laying there barely breathing because he did not want her to die.”
“I just killed my family and the bread winner of the home,” Russell Hogg allegedly said.
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