Frank Don Causey listens to testimony from the mother of the woman he is accused of have strangled and drowned in the bathtub of her home in Eatonton last December. His murder trial got underway in Putnam County Superior Court in Eatonton Monday.

EATONTON, Ga. — The murder trial of Frank Don Causey got underway in Putnam County Superior Court late Monday afternoon with the victim’s mother recalling what led up to her discovering her daughter’s body in the bathtub of her West Walnut Street home Dec. 2, 2016.

Maurine Huggins, the first witness to testify in the case, was questioned by Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit District Attorney Stephen A. Bradley, as well as Keri Thompson, who is representing the 26-year-old Causey as his defense attorney.

The majority of the first day of the murder trial, which is expected to last throughout this week, was spent selecting a jury. By 3 p.m., a 10-woman, two-man jury had been empaneled to hear the case. Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit Judge Alison T. Burleson gave jurors instructions before testimony began.

Causey is charged with murder, felony murder, and aggravated assault in the strangulation and drowning death of Lydia Huggins Ivanditti.

Causey, who has pleaded not guilty to the crimes, was clad in dress pants, a shirt and necktie on the first day of his trial.

During opening statements, Assistant District Attorney T. Wright Barksdale told jurors nobody had heard from Lydia Huggins Ivanditti Dec. 2, 2016.

“It is the early afternoon of Dec. 2, and because nobody heard from Lydia, her mother, Mrs. Maurine Huggins, goes to 307 W. Walnut St., a couple of blocks from where I’m standing right now,” Barksdale said. “She walks in the garage and notices her daughter’s golden SUV. She knocks on the door and Lydia doesn’t answer.”

Others had tried to call her, too, via cellphone.

“After a moment, Mrs. Maurine Huggins leaves and goes back to her home only to shortly return to 307 W. Walnut St.,” Barksdale said. “And this time, ladies and gentlemen, she checks the front door. It’s unlocked. She walks into the living room; she takes a right and heads toward the bedroom, Lydia’s bedroom. Maurine Huggins enters the bathroom and discovers a parent’s worst nightmare. She discovers Lydia Ivanditti, her 62-year-old daughter, strangled and drowned in her own bathtub.”

 Barksdale said local law enforcement authorities were called to the Ivanditti home and the crime scene was secured by officers with the Eatonton Police Department.

The assistant prosecutor told jurors before moving forward that it was important for them to understand who Lydia Ivanditti was and that it was also important to understand the layout of her home.

Barksdale said Ivanditti was “a social butterfly” who never met a stranger.

“She had her house just so; it had to be spotless,” he said.

Barksdale said Ivanditti, a former director of The Plaza Arts Center in Eatonton, had friends from all backgrounds. 

“She had friends that had substance abuse issues,” he added. “She had white friends and black friends. She was an individual that had just that type of personality that drew people close.”

 

Barksdale also described Ivanditti as a giving person who allowed a number of individuals to stay in her home.

“You see, Lydia split time between Eatonton where Mrs. Maurine (lives) and Atlanta,” Barksdale said.

Testimony resumed Tuesday morning.