Killer mom Gigi Jordan to be released on bail after conviction tossed
A federal judge ordered the release of millionaire pharmaceutical executive Gigi Jordan to home confinement Wednesday after tossing her conviction for killing her 8-year-old autistic son with a fatal dose of pills.
US Magistrate Judge Sarah Cave said Jordan, 60, would be sprung on a $250,000 bond after she’s outfitted with an electronic ankle monitor — over the objections of state prosecutors who wanted her to remain behind bars while they fight the ruling.
“We do believe we have a meritorious appeal,” Assistant DA Vincent Rivellese said during the bail hearing in Manhattan federal court, which was conducted via video. “We do intend to retry her if the appeal fails.”
Jordan will be confined to her house unless pretrial services gives her permission to visit her lawyers, doctors or grocery shop.
She was found guilty of manslaughter in 2014 for force-feeding her son, Jude Mirra, a lethal prescription cocktail at a luxury Manhattan hotel and sentenced to 18 years in prison.
But the conviction was overturned by Cave, because the trial judge, retired Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Charles Solomon, had briefly sealed the courtroom.
Assistant DA Matthew Bogdanos had asked the judge to boot reporters and members of the public so he could discuss online posts complaining about the trial that he suspected Jordan had authored.
Defense lawyer Ron Kuby had strenuously opposed the closure, arguing that it violated his client’s right to a public trial. Just six hours later, the judge realized his error and unsealed the minutes of the proceeding.
But Cave wrote in her decision that even though Jordan’s case hadn’t been materially harmed by the judge’s actions, the violation of her Sixth Amendment right to a public trial was so serious, the conviction must be vacated.
Jordan has already served 11 years in prison — more than 70 percent of her sentence.