It was 1976 when former MU student Becky Doisy disappeared. More than 30 years later, Johnny Wright, her accused killer, appeared in court as the jury selection for his trial began Tuesday.

Due to media attention given to the case over the past year, a larger than normal group of people were selected to be part of the jury pool, so there would be a better chance of finding 12 unbiased jurors. Judge Gary Oxenhandler and the attorneys on the case asked the 88 potential jurors a variety of questions about their knowledge of the trial and the media reports that went with it to achieve this goal.

“The business of the court is to make decisions based on evidence,” Oxhenhandler told potential jurors. “Can you set aside what you have read, heard or saw and decide based on the evidence presented to you?”

Two people said that they would not be unable to set aside the evidence presented to them in the media to make a fair decision.

Doisy was last seen on Aug. 5, 1976, dining with Wright at the Heidelberg. Her sister reported her missing two days later.

Doisy’s body was never actually found, but police say Wright appeared to be close to the victim, visiting her at work at Ernie’s Café and Steakhouse several times.

Boone County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Richard Hicks predicted the case would be decided quickly.

“It will be decided one way or another by the end of the week,” Hicks said.

Wright has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder. Oxenhandler said Tuesday that the trial could last until Saturday.

Stay with the Maneater for continued coverage of the trial.