Jury in fraud trial of celebrity pathologist Cyril Wecht says they're deadlocked

The jury in the fraud trial of celebrity pathologist Cyril Wecht declared an "impasse," but the judge instructed them to return Monday for more deliberations.

The jury sent U.S. District Judge Arthur Schwab a note Thursday, saying they were stuck. "We agree additional deliberation would not be helpful," the jurors wrote.

Schwab told the jury to continue deliberating, which is common in such scenarios, but also said his instructions were "not meant to rush or pressure you into agreeing on a verdict."

Wecht, 76, has made millions for his private investigations into deaths, including celebrated cases such as JonBenet Ramsey and Anna Nicole Smith's son, Daniel.

He faces 41 counts, mostly mail and wire fraud, alleging that he had his county employees send correspondence relating to his private practice from the coroner's office on county time. Wecht's defense contends his charges are minor administrative lapses that don't rise to the level of federal crimes.

Each of the 11 jurors answered "Yes" after Schwab asked them individually whether they were "hopelessly deadlocked" and agreed further deliberations would not lead to a unanimous verdict.

Prosecutors declined to comment outside court, but Wecht and his legal team had a difficult time hiding their optimism after the jury's ninth day of deliberations.

"You heard what I did," defense attorney Jerry McDevitt said. "They did not think that further deliberation would produce a verdict."

Asked how he felt that the jury was "close to being hung," McDevitt said, "Close to being hung? They are hung. They said they were."

The jury has only 11 members because one man was excused for medical tests after he complained of dizziness and his physician said the stressful deliberations were a problem.

Wecht's defense has asked the judge to halt deliberations until the court gets more information on the man's medical condition. That motion was still pending Thursday.