WMBB News 13 - The Panhandle's News LeaderJury Selection Begins for the Johnny Mack Sketo Calhoun Trial

Fourteenth Judicial Circuit Judge Christopher Patterson is looking to seat 15 jurors between Monday and Tuesday to hear the high profile Johnny Mack Sketo Calhoun case.

Calhoun is accused of killing 24-year-old Mia Brown of Bonifay. Brown went missing on December 16, 2010 after leaving her job at an Esto convenience store and reportedly offered to give Calhoun a ride to a party. Four days later, her body was found in the trunk of her burned car in Geneva, Alabama.

Calhoun was soon brought in for questioning and later charged with Brown's murder.

Assistant State Attorney Brandon Young is leading the state's charge, trying to prove that Sketo Calhoun is guilty on 2 counts, first-degree murder and kidnapping. For the prosecution, they say the death penalty is non-negotiable

Defending Calhoun is assistant public defender Kim Dowgul. 42 potential jurors were called in and all but 13 were excused... leaving 12 jurors and 1 alternate.

Among those excused are one of Brown's teachers and a friend of the Brown family. This was a concern the court had going into the case since the victim's family is well known, in an already close knit community.

The community searched for Brown for days, shining light on the issue. Two days before Christmas 2010, hundreds packed a memorial service for Brown. But despite it all, State Attorney Glenn Hess---who is serving as second council for the case, says picking a jury was a pleasant surprise.

Jury selection is expected to continue on Tuesday and the trial is anticipated to start on Wednesday. To stay up to date with the case---follow our tweets on Twitter @wmbbnews.