Delphi Murders Trial Day 9: The DNA and blood

 

DELPHI, Ind. -- Prosecutors called ISP Forensic Scientist Stacy Bozinovski to the stand to discuss her DNA analysis of crime scene evidence, with most of the DNA collected coming from the victims, Libby and Abby.

There were some trace male DNA found, not necessarily uncommon, but it wasn't enough to create a DNA profile.

Crucially, there is no evidence that Richard Allen's DNA was at the crime scene, or any other male.

In cross examination, Defense Attorney Jennifer Auger pressed Bozinovski about why more testing wasn't done, and why she was only looking for an unknown male DNA profile. 

ISP decided not to pursue further testing on hair, she says, because that would destroy the strands, rather, they are preserving the evidence for evolving technology.

Bozinovski stated quote, " the DNA field is always advancing, there's always something new on the horizon."

During jury selection, the defense revealed there was hair found in Abby's right hand that didn't match Richard Allen.

The prosecution got ahead of this, getting samples from Libby's Grandmother and sister just two weeks ago to compare.

Bozinovski testified Monday that the hair is consistent with DNA from Kelsi German, Libby's sister.

There also seemed to be some evidence contamination, Bozinovski found unknown male DNA at one point, but later determined it matched an employee from the ISP Lab.

Next on the stand was LaPorte County Sheriff's Deputy Major Patrick Cicero.

He did a blood pattern analysis of the crime scene in Feb. 2024.

Cicero stated one thing that is especially unusual was that Abby's hands were up in a "boxing' position, and they were entirely free of blood. He said that he's never seen that before and that she probably didn't die instantly from the crime, so it's very unusual she never reached for the wound on her neck.

Cicero testified over crime scene photos, another difficult afternoon for the victims' families in court, explaining how Abby seemed not to move, lying face up while she bled out.

Libby, meanwhile, left several accumulations of blood at the scene, meaning she was mobile when her neck was cut, at some point sat down as she bled, and she was likely dragged to her final position.

In cross examination, the defense pushed Cicero to explain how blood moved from Abby's neck to her mouth, if she remained supine, she could have been picked up.

Before court let out, the prosecution brought forth a motion to admit evidence into trial, that evidence, the Google search history attached to Allen's email.

Judge Gull took this under advisement and will review case law before ruling on it.

Trial continues on Tuesday.