Trial to begin Monday for man accused of murder behind Planet Fitness in Idaho Falls

Jake Eilander in court in March | Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
IDAHO FALLS — A trial in Bonneville County is set to begin on Monday for a man accused of second-degree murder after a body was found behind a local gym.
The trial for Jake Eilander, 37, is scheduled for two weeks with Judge Stevan Thompson starting on Monday and running until Nov. 10. Jury selection for the trial will begin Monday morning and is expected to last several hours.
RELATED | Man charged with second-degree murder after body found behind local gym
The investigation into Eilander started after a man, identified as 44-year-old Ulises Rangel, was found shot to death behind Planet Fitness in Idaho Falls in late March.
Officers arrived and discovered Rangel’s body near a 1980 white Ford F350 owned by Eilander, according to an affidavit of probable cause. A single shell casing from a .45 Winchester pistol was found by the front of the truck with a trail of blood leading to Rangel’s body.

Numerous police officers were called to the parking lot behind Planet Fitness after a man was shot and killed in March. | Andrea Olson, EastIdahoNews.com
Police later obtained video footage that showed an argument between Rangel and Eilander. Eilander was later found at an Idaho Falls residence, where officers discovered a loaded handgun with ammunition consistent with evidence found at the scene.
RELATED | New details released about Idaho Falls shooting as murder suspect appears in court
He was arrested and booked into the Bonneville County Jail. His bond was set at $350,000 after Magistrate Judge Michelle Mallard mentioned during a court hearing that Eilander has two other felonies on his record from within the past two years.
RELATED | Grand jury indicts man on murder charges
Eilander was charged with felony drug charges in August 2021 and March 2020. He was also arrested and charged with felony arson in September in Jefferson County, but Prosecuting Attorney Mark Taylor dropped the charge.
The post Trial to begin Monday for man accused of murder behind Planet Fitness in Idaho Falls appeared first on East Idaho News.
Source: eastidahonews.com