The Perry mother and daughter charged in the murder of Sabrina Ray asked Friday to have their trails moved out of Dallas County.
Misty Bousman Ray, 41, and her mother, Carla Raye Bousman, 63, both face multiple felony charges in connection with the May 2017 starvation death of the adopted 16-year-old, who weighed 56 pounds at the time of her death.
Ray and Bousman’s requests to have their trials moved follow the same request made March 8 by Marc Ray, 42, the husband of Misty Bousman Ray. Both husband and wife are charge with first-degree murder and numerous other charges in the May 2017 death of Sabrina.
Carla Raye Bousman awaits trial on three counts of aiding and abetting first-degree kidnapping, one count of aiding and abetting child endangerment resulting in death and one count of obstructing prosecution or defense.
The motions for a change of venue were filed Friday Misty Bousman Raye’s attorney, Sean Patrick Spellman, and Carla Raye Bousman’s attorney, James S. Nelsen. The motions claim local media coverage of the crime makes a fair trial from an impartial jury impossible for them to receive in Dallas County.
All three motions for a change of venue will be considered April 25 in closed hearing before Dallas County District Court Judge Terry Rickers.
Marc Ray and Misty Bousman Ray were arrested May 18. The Rays were each initially charged with one count of child endangerment resulting in death, four counts of child endangerment resulting in serious injury and three counts of neglect or abandonment of a dependent person.
First-degree kidnapping charges were filed against Marc Ray and Misty Bousman Ray one week after their arrest, and first-degree murder charges were filed against them in October.
Josie Raye Bousman, 21, a niece of Misty Bousman Ray, also faces charges of three counts of aiding and abetting first-degree kidnapping and one count of aiding and abetting child endangerment resulting in death.
Josie Raye Bousman agreed in October to testify for the state in the trials of her relations. Her trial was scheduled to begin March 26, but Judge Rickers postponed the trial Friday “until further order of the court,” according to court records.
Justin Dale Ray, 22, the son of Marc and Misty Ray, was sentenced Feb. 16 to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of willful injury.
The state dropped two other felony charges filed against him, child endangerment resulting in serious injury and child endangerment resulting in bodily injury, in return for the guilty plea.
