13 Things To Know From The #Delphi Murders Trial Today - Oct 28🧵
1. Two witnesses today on two important topics: DNA found at the crime scene & blood patterns at the site of the murders.
Jurors heard fascinating, highly-technical, excruciatingly painful testimony. #wthr
2. The first witness Monday was Stacy Bozinovski (pictured right). She’s an ISP DNA analyst who tested dozens of evidence samples from the #Delphi crime scene to see if any DNA could be detected from those samples that would reveal the identity of the killer(s).
3. Bozinovski said she tested clothing; the cartridge at the crime scene; blood found on the girls, on the ground & on a tree; Libby’s cell phone; & items from Richard Allen’s house (among other items) while looking forDNA — specifically from a male. She found lots of DNA but…
4. The state’s DNA expert concluded:
*Richard Allen’s DNA was not found on any evidence recovered from the crime scene
*Abby & Libby’s DNA was not found on any items taken from Allen’s home when investigators served a search warrant. They tested his blue jacket, boots & knives.
5. Keep in mind, Bazinovski was a STATE witness who testified that no DNA links Allen to the crimes. Why did the state offer up that testimony? Likely to lessen the impact so jurors didn’t hear that info first from the defense. During cross exam, she still faced tough questions.
6. Def atty Jen Auger asked why the state looked ONLY at male suspects & if hairs found at crime scene could be tested more.
Bazinovski said yes, they could, but a decision was made not to test them at this time.
Aguer responded: “But THIS is the time RA is now on trial!”
7. And the jury asked the witness some incredible questions such as:
*What type of quality controls are utilized for DNA reagents?
*Can drugs/inhalants impact DNA strands?
*How do you handle chimeras?
Holy smokes! Some of these jurors really know a thing or two about DNA.
8. Before moving to the next witness, Judge Gull admonished some in the gallery for dozing off during the super technical DNA testimony.
Her zinger: “I do not conduct court in your bedroom. I would appreciate you not sleeping in my courtroom.”
FYI: I wasn’t the one sleeping.
9. The afternoon session was really hard for jurors & victims’ families. Blood patten stain expert Pat Cicero testified about his analysis of the bloody crime scene. That involved showing more graphic photos of Abby & Libby’s bodies—so graphic, several jurors kept looking away.
10. Warning, graphic details:
Cicero showed the jury in great detail the blood spatter markings on Abby & Libby, the pools of blood on the ground at the crime scene and on a nearby tree. Then he was asked to give the jury his theory on where and how the girls were killed.
11. He told jurors Abby was likely killed (throat cut) in the same spot where she was found. Based on blood patterns, he thinks Libby’s throat was cut nearby, but then she died where a larger pool of blood was found a short distance away & her body was then dragged to a tree.
12. Perhaps the most devastating testimony: asked to explain moisture marks around Libby’s eyes in the bloody crime scene photos, Cicero said it appeared to be from tears.
Her grandmother slumped forward and cried with her face resting in her hands. 😢
13. Cicero said he thinks Libby’s blood on a nearby tree is from her hands, which were covered in her own blood. This testimony differs from what we heard this summer from a defense expert who said she believes the tree mark is a pagan ritualistic symbol not left by the victims.
14. As we do each weeknight during the trial, @EmilyWTHR, 13News legal analyst Katie Jackson-Lindsay and I go much more in-depth on the day’s testimony and evidence in the 13News Delphi Debrief, available on WTHR+ or at this link: #
@EmilyWTHR wthr.com/video/syndicat…
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