Judge Tod Deck declared a hung jury in Thomas Popp’s murder trial on Monday, Aug. 24, after jurors could not reach a verdict following more than a week at trial. The ruling leaves Woodbury County Attorney James Loomis with a 90-day window to decide whether to retry the case.
Thomas Popp trial ends
The mistrial keeps the case against Popp unresolved in Woodbury County. Deck said the prosecution has 90 days to retry the case, which makes the next decision procedural as much as factual: whether the county attorney moves ahead with another trial or leaves the matter where the deadlocked jury stopped.
Loomis said he intends to review the case again, assess how the trial went, and speak with the family and others involved before making any decision on a retrial. He also said he cannot give a specific timetable, but expects a decision sooner rather than later.
Terri McCauley case timeline
The trial centers on the 1983 death of Terri McCauley, who was 18 when she disappeared in September 1983. Her mother called the Sioux City Police Department on Oct. 1, 1983, and filed an official missing persons report on Oct. 5, 1983. McCauley’s body was found twenty-four hours later near 33rd Street and Pavonia, now known as Glen Oaks Blvd.
Investigators say she was shot point-blank with a 20-gauge shotgun. A memorial for McCauley stands on 33rd Street in Sioux City near Trinity Heights, keeping the case visible decades after the killing.
Josh Taylor on retrial
Josh Taylor, McCauley’s nephew, said the deadlocked jury did not clear Popp. “But I think the anticipation is nothing changes. This mistrial did not exonerate this individual, and I anticipate the charges remain the same,” he said.
Loomis said in a separate statement that he “gave them my word that I would, and I have. I will continue to stay in contact with them and keep them updated.” He also said, “I work hard every day to help victims and hold defendants accountable for the crimes they commit,” as the family waits for the county attorney’s decision within the 90-day window.
