COQUILLE - At first their testimonies seemed shocking.

But as more and more employees of the South Coast Education Service District came forward, their tales of unprovoked hair pulling, shin kicking, breast grabbing and strangulation at the hands of Henry Cozad began to blend into one image. To them, Cozad represents an uncontrollable danger.

These witnesses, along with some others who know the 18-year-old murder suspect, painted this picture in support of the Coos County District Attorney's argument - that Cozad needs to be put away.

The Bunker Hill resident is accused of murdering Linda Foley, his father's girlfriend, in March.

Because he had been diagnosed with moderate to severe mental retardation years ago and can't aid in his own defense, he won't see the inside of a prison cell. Instead, District Attorney R. Paul Frasier is seeking a civil commitment to place the 5-foot-8, 258-pound man in a secure group home where he would be supervised 24 hours a day.

To bolster his case, Frasier brought forward more than a dozen witnesses.

"I have to show to the judge that Henry is dangerous to others and/or can't take care of his needs and can't be taken É out into the community," Frasier said.

The hearing also will finally resolve whether Cozad will be tried on a murder charge stemming from Foley's beating death on March 12. That day, Coos County sheriff's deputies arrested Cozad after discovering Foley's half-naked body in the home she shared with the Cozads.

Removed from court

Before Wednesday's proceedings, people passed single file through a walk-through metal detector to ensure no one brought weapons into court. Coos County court officials also kept the first row of audience seating clear in case Cozad's behavior escalated. The hearing was the first to feature the man in the courtroom. Since his arrest, he's appeared via teleconference to keep him calm.

However, about 12 minutes after deputies brought the shackled Cozad into the courtroom to sit with defense attorneys John Meynink and Carole Hamilton, he began making handgun-like gestures pointing an index finger and thumb toward guards. Shortly after, jailers escorted him out.

Frasier began the hearing with an opening statement arguing that Cozad needs more appropriate care because he is a danger and his needs aren't being met. Meynink, on the other hand, suggested that evidence isn't clear enough to support a commitment.

An aggressive teen

Cora Handsaker, a Springfield resident who once dated Fred Cozad's brother and has known the family since 1981, told of an incident when the defendant was 14 or 15 years old. She described how he spread his arms as if to hug her.

"I went to give him a hug and he slapped me across the face," Handsaker said, adding that the attack left a welt and bloodied her lip.

For years after, she wouldn't return to the Cozad home on Bunker Hill.

"I was too afraid to go back up there because of what happened," she said.

Allison Pex, the program administrator for the South Coast ESD and a former special education teacher, said she had Cozad as a student in the fourth through sixth grades.

Cozad was often unkempt, she said. He smelled of stale cigarettes, body odor and urine. He wore ill-fitting clothes. He came to school that way nearly every day. Behaviorally, Cozad could be aggressive. He was known for pulling hair, spitting at others and punching. On one occasion, while he was at Sunset Middle School, Pex said Cozad tried to kiss and lick her face. Often, he also would grab her hair.

"He was a student É you never turned your back on," Pex said.

Teachers' warnings

Other ESD employees, both current and former, wrote cautions in Cozad's behavioral plans. They warned educators to watch for physical aggression, avoid physical contact and suggested they try to communicate with Cozad to lessen his frustration.

Special Education teacher Marta Minty said Cozad became more sexually aggressive as he matured. One time, he grabbed one of her breasts.

"I told him to never touch me like that again," Minty recalled.

She had him as a student in her life skills class for three years. She, too, recalled his soiled clothing and the odor of dried urine, feces and body odor.

Powers Police Chief Rhett Davis, who served as an ESD instructional aid from 2005 to 2007, said the student liked to shake hands and give overly long hugs to girls at Marshfield High School.

"He had taste," Davis said.

He also has worked with Cozad through his horse therapy program. While with the ESD on one occasion, Davis said Cozad grabbed a male teacher by the hair with both hands and dragged him across a table.

Davis noted that he often saw injuries on Cozad as well. He had bruises, scratches and abrasions on his arms and face. One time, when he asked his student where an injury came from, the teen - who has limited verbal and sign language skills - said "Pow, Pa." Davis explained that Cozad calls his father Pa.

Disabled educators

Former ESD employee Tim Waits, who filed a criminal complaint against Cozad after the student strangled him, said he hasn't been able to return to work due to his injuries.

Craig Hirshman, another former ESD employee, said he is out of work because of injuries caused by Cozad. He testified he had to have back surgery, following a Jan. 31, 2005, incident with the teen. He explained that when he and the student stood up to go to an art class, Cozad approached him, and then grabbed him by the hair and neck. Eventually, Hirshman fell and heard a pop in his back.

When there were problems with Cozad, which were often, educators were told to call Fred Cozad, who would then pick him up. On occasions when Foley came along for the ride, educators said they frequently saw him pull her hair or hit her on the side of the head.

ESD assistant Carolyn Breedlove testified she'd seen Cozad hurt Foley.

"Fred wouldn't say anything for quite a while, and then he would tell Henry to stop," she said.