A Milton woman accused of helping carry out a murder spree across the Gulf Coast that left four women dead will stand trial starting Monday.

Mary Rice, 38, faces a series of charges for the attacks from Jan. 31 to Feb. 6, 2017. The charges include one count of accessory after the fact to murder for the Jan. 31 deaths of Alicia Greer and Jacqueline Moore at the Emerald Sands Inn in Milton; first degree-murder for the Feb. 3 death of Peggy Broz of Lillian, Alabama; and first-degree murder for the shooting and death of Kayla Crocker of Beulah on Feb. 6.

When jury selection begins in Escambia County court Monday, Rice will stand trial on all of the charges, except for the murder count relating to Broz, which will be tried in Alabama.

Rice and Billy Boyette were found at the end of the week-long spree holed up in a motel room in West Point, Georgia, where Boyette eventually died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound and Rice gave herself up to authorities after a tense police standoff Feb. 7.

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The Milton mother's trial is expected to be lengthy, and State Attorney Bill Eddins estimated between 50 and 70 witnesses will take the stand over two weeks of testimony.

Although the events unfolded across three states, prosecutor Bridgette Jensen will be able to present the jury some — but not all — evidence related to activities that took place outside the State Attorney's jurisdiction, Eddins said.

"The unusual feature regarding Mary Rice is that the fact pattern lasts for several days and covers a large geographic area in three different states, and as a result there are a significant number of crime scenes," he said.

The case was heavily covered by both local and national media, at one point causing Rice’s attorney, Kenneth Brooks, to make a motion in court to restrict media coverage of court proceedings so an impartial jury could be selected. That motion was withdrawn soon after.

Brooks could not be reached for comment Thursday. But, Eddins said, the prosecution and defense have worked together to develop jury questioning guidelines to assist them in determining whether jurors have been swayed through media coverage.

Brooks hasn't spoken publicly about his client’s defense, but during the murder spree, it appeared police were considering a theory that Rice may not have been with Boyette willingly.

Police issued a statement Feb. 4, 2017, saying Rice could be with Boyette and could be in danger. Days before that, her family had filed a missing person report.

But two days after issuing that statement — and after the death of the fourth woman — police labeled Rice as a suspect in the murder spree.

Authorities have released surveillance footage that showed Rice alone in multiple stores in the area during the spree, buying supplies like sleeping bags and ammunition.

Authorities have not released information about a motive for the spree and they have not elaborated on the relationship between Rice and Boyette. However, at the time of the spree, police told media that Greer, who was among the first victims, was one of Boyette’s ex-girlfriends.

Reports show Boyette had a lengthy violent history, rife with accusations that he brutally assaulted girlfriends, while Rice had relatively little criminal history.

A series of letters Rice wrote to friends, family and strangers in her first few months in jail have also been entered into the court case. She wrote that she "met a true monster" in Boyette and wrote well wishes, prayers and jokes.

Rice's brother wrote, "I am real glad you made it through that alive."

Read the jail letters:'I did meet a true monster:' Mary Rice's jail letters shed light on first months in jail

Eddins said the state and defense will begin choosing the jury Monday morning, and testimony will begin late Monday afternoon or Tuesday morning.

Emma Kennedy can be reached at ekennedy@pnj.com or 850-435-8680.