Hmm.
Since the IGG stuff was clearly referenced as such in the In Camera Submission document of 12/01, then this 29/11 submission must be something else, right?
Speculation: I see two options.
It could be that the State wants to "forensically evaluate" something they found when the FBI returned to the house on Halloween, but if they found something new on 31/10 why wait a whole month to evaluate it? Wouldn't that have been done immediately?
Or, more likely IMO, this could be about the three extra DNA profiles which were originally found at the crime scene but not thoroughly tested, and which the State is now reluctantly handing over for full testing as requested by AT.
Wondering what others here think this could be.
It depends on what the "something" was on Hallowe'en. Forensic investigation can be very slow. If special lab equipment is needed, it's a question of waiting in line (esp with the FBI). Let's just use a scenario that could occur (it would be a rare and unusual example if true, I'm just throwing it out there).
Let's say that the reason Ethan's autopsy took so long is that he had knife wounds to bones (whereas the other victims had mainly soft tissue wounds). His body was then sent for forensic MRI to see if any metal from the knife was present microscopically. They find evidence of metal, take further tissue samples, get spectometry from the metal. They contact KaBar to find out its proprietary formula and bingo! It's a match. So now, not possessing the murder weapon, they do know it was a KaBar knife; if they also have receipts for a purchase of a KaBar knife, this is really tightening up the case.
But what if there could be further microscopic evidence of this same metal recipe in...the mattress (which surely was taken into evidence) or the house itself (the microscopic remnants of blood in the floor and underlayment of Xana's bedroom)? It would be so hard to resist seeing if some kind of analysis could find it. Rework the footprint evidence, the blood samples, map them onto the house (even if the house yields no further samples, the existing blood evidence might now be telling a story about order of events, single weapon used, etc). What if some other metal is found upon this inspection (and now that metal needs to be analyzed and perhaps another knife or weapon is implicated - we don't know).
For those of us with hyperactive forensic imaginations (and really, that's what the investigators have to employ at least a little, because all murders are non-rational and these murders are particularly strange and brutal), many scenarios could emerge out of advanced metallurgic radiology. Even if there's no further evidence of any other knife, I can see how the FBI might want to check out the house again, with just the new knowledge that for Ethan's death, a KaBar knife is clearly involved.
If they did uncover such evidence (but found nothing new at the house), that would bring that particular branch of the investigation to an end. Which is also valuable, while the State is waiting for the Defense to file more pre-trial motions. This is just one scenario - there could be so many others.
But yes, this does take time. A good investigation would verify, for example, by obtaining KaBar knives, that the propietary coating (which is the part that would rub off first) is the same on several knives and matches what they found (possibly in more than one place). It's a multi-week process, in my opinion.
Journal article from 2018, showing how new this kind of research is. And how complicated.
In the above article, they were examining cadaver skin, but found that microscopic metals were carried by the bleed-out process (and were more clearly visible on the bone cuts). This is pretty new stuff and one would have to find special experts to do this analysis. They use a highly specialized electron microscope - there aren't a lot of those around. I do believe Seattle UofW has this equipment. The study above uses SEM-EDS in Milan, Italy. One needs both access to the equipment and experts who've published in the field to run it. It would be pushing the forensic envelope to try and find more evidence from the house itself - I am just spitballing on one possible scenario, knowing that I am very likely wrong - but another equally surprising technique may be in use.
We just don't know. But now that the State has a long timeline on which to review its evidence and use emerging techniques, anything is possible. I'll be very happy if the forensic people can think of a new scientific method to bring justice in this case - one that someone like BK would never have thought of.
What if these microscopic particles show a dramatic picture of the murderer's movement through the house? Or the use of two weapons? Or something else - everyone else's guesses are welcome and as good as mine. I just remembered that Xana had defensive wounds (likely on her hands). Perhaps both Ethan and Xana provided evidence that can only be seen under electron microscope. Xana's hands would have been easier to sample, I'd think, than Ethan's rib or shoulder bones.
Does anyone remember what the status of the house is? Is it still slated to be torn down?
Mostly just more questions - not many answers. IMO.
