Union County Circuit Court approves motion to postpone Mamas Genagritis’ trial

Published 11:00 am Sunday, February 18, 2024

LA GRANDE — The defense attorney for a La Grande man arrested in connection with a 2022 murder submitted a motion on Thursday, Feb. 15, to postpone the upcoming trial.

Mamas Genagritis faces a second-degree murder charge in the May 2022 slaying of his girlfriend, Deanna Badgley, at the couple’s Robbs Hill Road home.

The case was originally scheduled to go to trial in May, but in his motion, Genagritis’ attorney, James Schaeffer, requested the trial be postponed due to “a variety of defense-related and rescheduling-related reasons.”

Union County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Powers approved the request on Feb. 16, according to court records. District Attorney Kelsie McDaniel took no position regarding the request for postponement.

In November 2023, Genagritis pleaded not guilty to the charge of second-degree murder, court records indicate.

In his declaration supporting the motion, Schaeffer explained that he is currently consulting with several medical professionals who could be called as witnesses and central to any defense presented. This includes Dr. Glena Andrews, a Newberg-based neuropsychologist, who is set to evaluate Genagritis in mid-March. The results of this evaluation could possibly necessitate further evaluation and consultation.

Schaeffer also outlined that he is also looking to retain and consult with at least two additional medical professionals about aspects of the case that could be central to the defense offered at trial, according to the declaration. At this time, these professionals have not yet been retained.

The court ruled that Genagritis was fit to proceed with trial in August 2023 after he received restorative services at Oregon State Hospital.

Genagritis was sent to the state hospital for evaluation in August 2022 after it was determined he was a danger to himself or others because of a mental disorder and required hospital care due to the dangerousness and the acuity of symptoms of the disorder, stated court documents.

In his declaration supporting the motion to postpone, Schaeffer added that the defense may need to subpoena out-of-state witnesses who live in Idaho and California, which can be a lengthy process. Lastly, Schaeffer explained there are complex aspects in this case. He wrote that there are “potential defense theories that have expanded or evolved from the time when the case was first scheduled for trial.”

Schaeffer has also requested that the court schedule a judicial settlement conference.

On May 23, 2022, around 7:30 p.m., according to a probable cause declaration, Genagritis called Union County Sheriff Cody Bowen asking for help and stating he had killed Badgley.

When police arrived at the home, Genagritis met officers in the driveway yelling, “Help me. I killed her, I hit her with (a) hammer,” according to the declaration.

Police took Genagritis into custody without incident, and officers observed blood on his hands and clothes.

Officers then found Badgley’s body inside the home with multiple wounds. Police stated it appeared she had been dragged from a bedroom into the kitchen area of the home.

Police located a “blood coated hatchet” at the residence, according to the probable cause declaration.