ANAHUAC, Texas – After more than two and a half years in jail, Sarah Hartsfield’s murder trial started on Monday for the sudden death of her husband in 2023.
After more than seven hours, a jury of 12 was selected for the trial.
WATCH LIVE RECAP OF FIRST DAY OF TRIAL ON YOUTUBE.
Hartsfield, 50, was indicted for murder after her husband Joseph, passed away in a Baytown hospital. His cause of death was due to complications of the toxic effects of insulin, according to medical examiners, but the manner was left undetermined.
Prosecutors allege she ignored an alert about Joseph’s dangerously low blood sugar level and delayed a phone call to 911 after finding him unresponsive. Investigators found up to 10 insulin pens on his side of the bed.
The two had been married for less than a year, and he was planning to leave her in the weeks leading up to his death, expressing concerns to his family members over his own safety, according to search warrants.
Prosecutors have filed a list of more than 80 witnesses they may call to testify during the trial, including medical and law enforcement experts, as well as over 40 individuals from Sarah Hartsfield’s past. They include all four of her children, neighbors, and exes.
KPRC 2 News will be in Anahuac at the Chambers County Courthouse during the duration of the trial, bringing you the latest updates.
5:00 p.m. - Court ends for the day
Court will resume Tuesday at 9 a.m.
4:50 p.m. - Jury seated
A jury of 12, four women and eight men, has been selected for the trial, along with two alternates.
4:44 p.m. - No gag order
According to the District Attorney, the request for a gag order was withdrawn.
4:05 p.m. - State and defense ask the judge for a gag order
The state and defense have asked Judge Cain to issue a gag order in the Sarah Hartsfield trial following Chambers County Sheriff Brian Hawthorne’s public comments about her time in jail.
2:33 p.m. - Returned from lunch
After returning from lunch, defense attorney Case Darwin started questioning jurors, asking them if they could consider the minimum punishment of five years if Hartsfield were convicted and stressed that choosing not to testify “won’t be used against” the defendant. He questioned jurors on the dangers of confirmation bias and whether they believed wrongful convictions occur in the justice system. “What can happen if police don’t go about getting all the facts?” he asked, exploring concerns about investigations starting with conclusions rather than evidence.
Darwin also spent a lot of time discussing Type 1 diabetes, which is central to the case. After one juror shared that their father died from diabetes, Darwin explained how people with Type 1 diabetes “can’t make insulin” and how both high and low glucose levels can cause confusion. “It’s a lot of work taking care of diabetes,” he said, asking who bears responsibility for managing it, and most said the person themselves.
1:30 p.m. - Chambers County Sheriff Brian Hawthorne speaks about trial
Sheriff Brian Hawthorne, who has served as sheriff in Chambers County for 13 years, briefly spoke with KPRC 2 News while jurors in the Sarah Hartsfield trial broke for lunch. He described the case as “probably one of the more interesting cases” he has encountered, noting it involves “a lot of medical aspects” and is “a very technical case.”
He explained what the public can expect to see in court over the next few weeks. “For court appearances, we allow her to change her dress every day. We don’t have them wearing the jail stripes,” he said. Regarding transportation and security, Hawthorne added, “We’re going to treat her just like any other person.” He confirmed Hartsfield is being held in the maximum-security female detention area and is “probably by herself the majority of the time, but not always.”
Addressing the national attention the case has drawn, Hawthorne said, “When we started looking at her history and then finding out some of the other scenarios in situations that she has been involved with in other states, and now that we have other cases that have been reopened in other states, and I’m glad they have reopened those cases, because I feel like they’re probably going to find very same similar scenario as to what we have.”
Speaking more broadly about the defendant, he said, “She’s not that kind, sleepy little person that she makes herself out to be... there’s a very evil side to her.”
1:10 p.m. - Lunch break
During jury selection in the Sarah Hartsfield murder trial, Prosecutor Mallory Vargas emphasized the importance of evaluating the case “beyond a reasonable doubt,” focusing particularly on the reasonableness of the standard. To illustrate, she showed a picture of a puzzle missing several pieces and explained it was still clearly a world map, showcasing how jurors can reach reasonable conclusions without having every single detail. Vargas reminded potential jurors that the defendant does not have to testify and that the charges against her are not evidence of guilt.
“This is a clean slate,” she said, underscoring that only evidence presented and admitted in court can be considered; media coverage does not qualify.
Vargas also questioned prospective jurors on a range of topics relevant to the case, including their views on law enforcement, prosecutors, crime shows, and their familiarity with diabetes.
Over 30 jurors raised cards indicating personal or family experience with diabetes, including three who had lost loved ones due to Type 1 diabetes complications. When asked about their ability to remain impartial, three raised concerns about previous media exposure. Vargas addressed circumstantial versus direct evidence, stressing that not all murder cases involve clear-cut proof like DNA or surveillance footage and asked jurors if they could still deliver a guilty verdict without knowing exactly how a crime happened. She also reminded them that while the state must prove the act was committed intentionally or knowingly, it does not need to prove motive.
12:05 p.m. - Return from break
Prosecutors asked the prospective jurors several questions about watching crime shows and about diabetes, had those familiar with diabetes raise their hands, and then specifically asked about type 1 diabetes.
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11:47 a.m. - 15-minute break
Before the jurors were dismissed for another short break, a total of 18 jurors were sent home.
10:20 a.m. - Prospective jurors returned to the courtroom
The prospective jurors returned about six minutes later. The judge warned the case could last two to three weeks, then began dismissing jurors who said they had serious reasons they couldn’t serve that long. Sixteen jurors were dismissed for that reason.
9:37 a.m. - Prospective jurors given a short break for attorneys to look over questionnaires.
9:30 a.m. - Jury prospective panel sworn in
Judge Chap B. Cain reviewed the rules with jurors, instructing them not to mingle with or speak to lawyers or witnesses, and not to discuss the case with anyone.
9:17 a.m. - Sarah Hartsfield arrives in court
Hartsfield arrived at court, unhandcuffed and dressed in plain clothing - a tan blazer.
9 a.m. - Jury selections begin
The Chambers County District Clerk said 120 people were summoned for jury duty, although only 98 were present after accounting for conflicts, which the judge said was “good.” The jurors filled out a survey when they arrived in the courtroom and then submitted the survey to the court. Twelve people will be selected for the jury.
The court prohibits live updates from the courtroom. KPRC 2 will post reports to the blog during scheduled breaks.