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: #
Leaving #Delphi tonight after being here for nearly 4 full weeks. Just a few things to pass along…
1. From a visual standpoint, things are starting to return to pre-trial Delphi. The barricades & barriers have been hauled away and courthouse square is now fully open. #wthr
2. How strange to be able to walk into any Carroll County courthouse entrance freely with no signs of police, sheriff deputies or security anywhere. Inside the courthouse, security has returned to how it was before the Delphi murders trial. That would be no security at all.
3. The metal detectors purchased for the trial are no longer being monitored. I’m told they don’t need to be. No metal detectors used at the CC courthouse prior to this trial. No need for them now.
13 Things To Know From The #Delphi Murders Trial Today - Nov 8🧵
1. No verdict today. On the first full day of deliberations, jurors arrived around 8:55am & left the courthouse at 3:50pm. For those keeping score at home, that’s roughly 9 hours of deliberation time so far. #wthr
2. A lot of folks I spoke to outside the courthouse expected a verdict today—especially since it’s Friday & the assumption is the sequestered jurors (understandably) want to reunite w their families in time for the weekend. It’s just not that simple. SO much evidence to review.
3. Making this case so complex: multiple timelines the jury must review (time of murders vs witness statements & forensic data, dates of confessions vs dates of RA mental health diagnosis) and 100% opposite testimony from state & defense experts on ballistics & RA mental health.
13 Things To Know From The #Delphi Murders Trial Today - Nov 4🧵
1. Important day for the defense. Their star witness was a neuropsychologist who presented compelling evidence that Richard Allen was mentally ill at the time he confessed to killing Abby & Libby. #wthr
2. Dr. Polly Westcott told jurors that she met with Allen in prison to conduct a series of psychological exams on him. She also reviewed prison videos, phone calls Allen made in prison, medical records & staff notes to write a 127-page report with a detailed set of conclusions.
3. Among her conclusions: Richard Allen suffered from Major Depressive Disorder and Psychosis, had significant mental and physical decline, and was not faking or exaggering his mental health problems during the time period that he confessed to killing Abby & Libby.
13 Things To Know From The #Delphi Murders Trial Today - Nov 2🧵
1. The jury got to see the jail videos we discussed yesterday: 15 camcorder videos taken by guards at the Westville prison. The defense says they show the harsh conditions Richard Allen was subjected to. #wthr
2. The defense contends those conditions caused Allen to be psychotic, prompting him to make 60+ false confessions to the murders. The jury spent about 2 hours watching these videos, but no one else in the gallery was allowed to see them. Theoretically. More on that in a moment…
3. Only jurors got to see these videos bc some of them show Allen naked in different areas of the prison. A large video screen in the courtroom was angled & moved close to jurors to prevent others from viewing the videos. But a few reporters in the 1st row could see them anyway.
13 Things To Know From The #Delphi Murders Trial Today - Nov 1🧵
1. Today was the first full day of testimony for the defense. They had a strong strategy to counter Thursday’s damaging jailhouse confessions played for the jury. But that strategy blew up in their face. #wthr
2. They called Max Baker to testify. He’s a defense team intern who compiled months of prison video obtained through discovery, including video of Richard Allen in & out of his cell—highlighting his treatment & mental decline. Could have been powerful, but the jury never saw it.
3. Prosecutor Nick McLeland objected to jurors seeing the IDOC videos bc the defense couldn’t verify the dates they were recorded. Judge Gull ruled the jury CAN see the videos at a later date—IF the defense can prove the videos are from the same time period of RA’s confessions.
13 Things To Know From The #Delphi Murders Trial Today - Oct 31🧵
1. This afternoon the State rested its case against Richard Allen, but not before presenting its most powerful evidence. The jury got to hear more confessions — this time, in Allen’s own words and own voice. #wthr
2. To say these recorded confessions were damaging to Allen’s defense would be a gross understatement. Hearing a man saying over & over again that he killed two girls — making the incriminating statements to his wife & mother — is something the jury cannot un-hear.
3. Let me first show you some of the confessions so you understand the words Allen spoke, then we’ll discuss the tone & context — which are both very important. These images represent portions of 4 calls as I tried to create transcripts in real time as they played for jurors.