A judge denied bond this week for Doug Stewart, the estranged husband of Venus Stewart who's been missing since April 26, 2010. Doug Stewart's in jail and accused of murdering his wife, though her body has never been found.
Along with denying bond, the judge set a Feb. 18 trial date for Doug Stewart. The judge heard from several witnesses, but now has to decide whether they will be allowed to testify about what Venus Stewart told them before she disappeared.
Venus Stewart was last seen at her parents' home in Colon Township early on the morning of April 26. Police believe Doug Stewart arranged for his wife to be abducted and killed. Numerous searches to find Venus Stewart have failed.
In July, a judge heard testimony from Larry McComb, Venus Stewart's father and Richard Spencer, according to a South Bend Tribune story. Spencer testified he impersonated Douglas Stewart to give Stewart an alibi in an alleged plot to kill Venus Stewart.
Spencer was given immunity for his testimony.
Early in the investigation, Doug Stewart claimed to be in Virginia at the time of his wife's disappearance. That alibi fell through when, on May 11, police found evidence placing Stewart at a WalMart in Ohio, according to another South Bend Tribune story. Police believe he bough a tarp, gloves, shovel and hat at the store on April 25. Police also found blood in Stewart's vehicle.
The South Bend Tribune contributed to this story.
