Elizabeth Yellstrom couldn’t believe what she witnessed two years ago. Sitting in the jury room, she was convinced prosecutors were trying to send an innocent woman to prison for her husband’s death. From Elizabeth’s point of view, there just wasn’t enough evidence to support the charges. What baffled her even more? She was the only one in the room who thought so.
Elizabeth was one of 12 jurors tasked with deciding if 74-year-old Carol Ann Hignite had killed her husband, Leon, in Lexington. Prosecutors claimed Carol bludgeoned Leon with a hammer, left him lying on the floor for days, and later set their house on fire to cover her tracks. The trial lasted four days, but Elizabeth didn’t see the proof. So, she stood her ground.
For eight long hours, the jury debated. Tensions were high. A snowstorm and bitter cold settled over Lexington as Christmas approached. The discussion became so heated that one juror had to step out, their blood pressure skyrocketing. In the end, they couldn’t agree, and the judge declared a mistrial.
According to prosecutors, the jury was ready to find Carol guilty of neglecting her elderly husband and not guilty of arson. But the murder charge was where things fell apart.
Elizabeth has since formed an unusual bond with Carol. Over the past two years, the two women have exchanged letters and supported one another. Now 72, Elizabeth attends nearly all of Carol’s court hearings, firmly believing she didn’t commit the crime. This week, as Carol faces her second murder trial, Elizabeth was right there in the courtroom, sitting just behind the defense team and taking notes.
Carol’s lawyer from the first trial, Russell Baldani, admits the connection between a juror and a defendant is rare. But he credits Elizabeth with saving Carol’s life by refusing to give in. Elizabeth, he said, has always been convinced of Carol’s innocence and has stayed deeply involved in the case.
Carol’s first trial in 2017 was filled with dramatic twists. She told investigators that her husband had fallen in their bathroom one night and hit his head on the sink. He couldn’t get up, so she left him on the floor for almost three days, checking on him occasionally. By the time she called for help, he was severely injured and lying in the bedroom, covered in blood and other fluids. Leon passed away in the hospital days later.
Prosecutors argued that Carol may have killed her husband in a fit of rage or wanted to leave him behind for a new life. But Elizabeth felt their case relied more on emotions than evidence. She believed some jurors were influenced by their personal experiences with domestic violence rather than the facts presented in court.
After the mistrial, Elizabeth visited Baldani’s office to share her thoughts. She felt the case was a rush to judgment and that Carol shouldn’t have been charged. She even analyzed the trial, pointing out what worked for the defense and what didn’t. To this day, she remembers witness testimony and parts of Carol’s police interrogation word for word.
The relationship between Elizabeth and Carol has grown beyond the courtroom. They’ve become friends. Elizabeth sends Carol books by her favorite authors, like Tony Hillerman and Agatha Christie, knowing Carol loves a good murder mystery. She’s learned about Carol’s tough childhood, her cataracts, and how she’s constantly cold in the detention center.
Carol’s family, however, isn’t in her corner. Her daughter testified in court this week, accusing her mother of abusing Leon for years before his death. She hasn’t spoken to Carol since her arrest. With no family by her side, Carol relies on Elizabeth’s unwavering support.
Baldani, who stepped away from Carol’s case because she couldn’t afford his services, still follows the trial closely. Like Elizabeth, he finds the situation heartbreaking.
For Elizabeth, this case has become deeply personal. She says it feels like a miscarriage of justice and hopes the legal system proves itself better this time. As the second trial unfolds in Lexington, she remains by Carol’s side, hoping for a fair outcome.
