From prosecutor Bill Edwards:
We understand the victim’s anger and frustration. Unfortunately we are constrained by the case in front of us. Our office has spent a great amount of time attempting to prepare this case for prosecution. Our disposition of the case was due to the quality of the evidence that still existed thirty seven years after Deanna Montgomery’s murder. Representatives of this office contacted Ms. Grossman early, and frequently in this case. The possibility that the defendant was willing to plead and admit his involvement in Deanna Montgomery’s murder came very recently and very suddenly, as a result of the new administration’s push to bring this matter to trial.
When this happened we contacted Ms. Grossman and appraised her of the situation.
The District Attorney’s office ultimately has to make decisions based on the facts and evidence that can be proved beyond a reasonable doubt.