Jury selection got underway Monday in the often-delayed trial in a cold murder case in Mahoning County. And just after lunch, the trial ended in a third mistrial for this case.

Robert Moore's trial in the courtroom of Mahoning County Common Pleas Judge Maureen Sweeney was expected to get under Monday after many delays.

Moore is accused of murdering 16-year-old Glenna Jean White in June of 2009 after leaving his house with her. White was never seen again.

A mistrial was declared Monday by Judge Sweeney because of two juror misconduct incidents brought to the courts attention. 

Moore’s attorney said just before the jury pool broke for lunch there was a “commotion” and a potential juror yelled something that others heard. 

”Speaking aloud and swearing to other jurors. He of course categorically denied that initially and then turned that into ‘Well I was a little irritated. I was just talking to myself then,’” Moore's attorney told the judge about what the juror said. 

Additionally, one person told the court that they saw two jurors drinking and discussing the case in a restaurant during their lunch break - something they are specifically instructed not to do. 

"It leads to some possible bias among the jurors before they’ve heard all the evidence in the case," Patrick Fening, Mahoning Counties Assistant Prosecuting attorney said.

The judge said both incidents were concerning and accepted the motion for a mistrial. Both sides were visibly upset in court about yet another delay in this case. 

"It's frustrating," Fening said. "Ideally we would like to get the case resolved, get some answers for the family have some closure there."

Moore is charged with one count of murder in this current case. Back in May of 2022, a jury found Moore not guilty of aggravated murder involving White but could not reach a decision on the less serious charge of murder. That resulted in the cases first mistrial. Since then, prosecutors have tried to bring Moore back for a new trial for just the one count of murder. 

When the case was brought back to court in April of 2024, jurors heard testimony from several people including White's mother. That trial ended in a mistrial as well. 

In total, the case has had seven delays, most being continuances for various reasons.  

Moore has been in custody since his arrest in December 2021. He has not posted his $1 million bond and has remained behind bars for more than two-and-a-half years. Fening said if the defense ever filed a motion asking for Moore to be moved to house arrest they would argue that he should remain behind bars until a trial is over. 

The prosecutor's office told 21 News that it will put Moore on trial again come October. If convicted of the one count of murder, Moore faces 25 years to life in prison.