TUCSON, Ariz. (KOLD News 13) – The first of two murder trials for Christopher Clements begins Thursday, Sept. 8, with jury selection.

The jury selection, which is expected to last two days, will be closed to the public and media.

Clements is facing several charges for allegedly kidnapping and killing Isabel Celis in 2012 and Maribel Gonzales in 2014.

Maribel’s body was found days after she disappeared, while Isabel’s remains were not recovered until Clements led federal agents to them in 2017. Both bodies were located in the same desert area near Trico and West Avra Valley roads in Pima County.

Clements’ first murder trial is for Maribel’s death. Opening statements are scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 13, and the trial could last through Sept. 30.

Clements will face a different jury for Isabel’s death. That trial is scheduled to start Feb. 2, 2023, and could run through March 3.

In June 2022, Clements was sentenced to 35 years in prison for a Maricopa County burglary case. Hoping to get that case dropped, Clements told FBI agents he had information on Isabel’s whereabouts and later led them to her remains. He told authorities he was not responsible for her death and only knew where her body was through talking with other inmates.

DISAPPEARED IN THE DESERT

KOLD has been covering the case for years. In 2021, we released an award-winning podcast called Disappeared in the Desert.

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CLEMENTS’ CRIMINAL HISTORY

• In 1993, Clements was accused of molesting a very…