A sixth person was arrested Thursday in the case stemming from the January shooting of Superior Court Judge Steven Meyer and his wife, authorities said.
Prosecutors charged Mindi Metzinger, 35, alleging she coordinated by telephone with defendant Thomas Moss while Moss was in solitary confinement. Law enforcement says Moss was permitted to contact only his attorney but instead participated in what investigators describe as a three-way call lasting 1 hour and 39 minutes that included Metzinger and Moss' sister.
Alleged attempt to influence the case
During that call, the three participants discussed Moss' pending trials, and Moss reportedly relayed information he had received from other inmates concerning co-defendant Raylen Ferguson. Authorities say Metzinger told Moss to place responsibility on Ferguson, allegedly telling him,
"you can’t have two criminals that commit the same crime."
Prosecutors allege there were nine additional calls between Moss and Metzinger during April. Metzinger faces multiple felony counts: three Level 6 counts of obstruction of justice and one Level 5 count of assisting a criminal.
Defendants and conditions
Moss, Ferguson, along with Blake Smith and Neveah Bell, are being held in solitary confinement following accusations they conspired in the attempted murder of Meyer. Moss and Ferguson additionally face attempted murder charges in connection with the shooting of Meyer and his wife.
| Defendant | Allegations/Status |
|---|---|
| Thomas Moss | Accused of conspiring in shooting; allegedly used restricted phone to coordinate |
| Raylen Ferguson | Co-defendant; alleged recipient of inmate-provided information |
| Blake Smith | Held in solitary; accused of conspiracy |
| Neveah Bell | Held in solitary; accused of conspiracy |
| Mindi Metzinger | Arrested on obstruction and assisting charges |
Legal and procedural context
The new arrest raises questions about how inmates under restrictive conditions are monitored, how communications with counsel are differentiated from other calls, and the integrity of evidence and testimony in high-profile prosecutions. Metzinger's charges—if proven—are felony-level offenses that carry separate penalties from the attempted murder counts faced by others in the case.
Authorities have said Moss was restricted to attorney communications while in solitary, but investigators contend he used the phone for other contacts. Prosecutors also allege that messages from other inmates provided purported details about Ferguson to Moss.
- New arrest: Mindi Metzinger, 35, charged with obstruction and assisting a criminal.
- Alleged misconduct: An allegedly unauthorized three-way call of 1 hour, 39 minutes while Moss was in solitary.
- Ongoing detentions: Four defendants held in solitary; two face additional attempted murder charges.
Investigators and prosecutors continue to develop the case. Court proceedings and any arraignments related to the new charges have not been detailed publicly. News Block will report further developments as filings and hearings are scheduled.
Every News Block article undergoes editorial checks for accuracy prior to publication.
