Good morning, y'all! Just checked WTVY for an update so far this morning.
WTVY DOTHAN
Witness: Bobby Blankenship
9:10 a.m. Bobby Blankenship, retired Ozark police officer, is called to the stand by the prosecution.
9:13 a.m. He testified that he found the Mazda 929 at around 9 a.m. on August 1, 1999. Dale County Assistant District Attorney Emmett Massey presented a crime scene photo of the vehicle. Blankenship said that they used a baton to break the car window and found identification belonging to JB Beasley.
9:15 a.m. He said that they notified Dothan police after finding the ID of JB.
9:16 a.m. Defense Attorney David Harrison began cross examination. Harrison questioned Blankenship about the patrol that took place the morning of August 1. Blankenship stated that the police department did not leave any officers on the scene. The Ozark Police Department was notified by the Dothan Police Department that the car was not stolen and that they were looking for two teens.
9:21 a.m. Blankenship stated that the opened the car at around 10:30 a.m. and found a purse and JB’s identification in between the seats of the car.
9:22 a.m. Harrison claimed that, due to the stated nightly patrol done by the Ozark Police Department, the car was not there prior to 9:02 a.m. on Herring Avenue, but was not there before that time.
9:23 a.m. Blankenship stated that he sat in the driver’s side of the Mazda 929.
9:26 a.m. Harrison alleged that the crime scene was not preserved as Blankenship said he did not have a list of who came in and out of the scene.
9:29 a.m. Harrison asked Blankenship if he knew what time the bodies were discovered. He stated that he did not because he was not on the scene at the time.
9:30 a.m. Harrison questioned Blankenship about the hypnosis of witnesses in the case. Blankenship stated that he had heard about witnesses being hypnotized. He testified that he did not order it nor had he himself been hypnotized.
Witness: Alton Miller, retired Dothan police officer
9:33 a.m. He testified that in 1999 when the murders happened he was a juvenile officer. He spoke to the victim’s families the morning they were killed, but before the bodies were found.
9:36 He traveled to the crime scene in Ozark.
9:37 Ozark police officer arrived shortly after Miller did and they canvassed the neighborhood. “There were red flags.” Miller said he observed dried blood and the car appeared to have been driven on a dirt road.
9:40 He located the release and opened the trunk and he eased trunk early and he saw jeans then realized the bodies were in there. The officer with him because emotional and had to be calmed. Crime tape was put around the scene. This was about 10:30.
9:43 He testified JB appeared to be in a fetal position. He and others went to another location that could have been the crime scene that turned out to be unrelated. He told then Dothan Police Chief John White to go with him to notify the parents.
9:45 Prosecutor Emmett Massey passes witness to defense attorney David Harrison
9:46 Miller said when he arrived at crime scene no officers were there.
9:50 He said if Ozark secured crime scene, which Blankenship testified happened, Miller said it would have been after him.
9:53 Harrison asks about crime scene contamination and Miller admits that if scene is contaminated it could reveal inaccurate information.
9:55 Miller believes there had been someone in the back seat.
9:56 He indicates that if gloves are not worn evidence could be compromised, apparently in reference to Blankenship removing wallet from car without wearing them which happened before it had been determined to be a crime scene.
9:59 Miller said he did not know how many people were on the scene before he left early afternoon.
10:00 Miller testimony has ended
Witness: Marc Crews, retired lab director with the Department of Forensic Sciences, Dothan Laboratory
10:02 a.m. In 1999, he worked with the Department of Forensic Science at the Dothan Laboratory. He stated his credentials and the types of education and training that he has received.
10:07 a.m. Crews testified that he worked the crime scene as a member of the Violent Crime Unit. He stated that he had people helping him on the scene. They searched the area with metal detectors. Photographs of were taken of the scene and they called a member of the Montgomery Lab to come view the scene.
10: 11 a.m. The prosecution presented ballistic evidence that was given to the Forensics team back in 1999. Crews explained the evidence, reading the case and item numbers, how the envelopes are sealed and tagged. He went on examining the envelopes, opened them one by one, and pulled the projectiles out to show the jury. One of the envelopes contained a cartridge casing.
10:17 a.m. Crews testified that the casing was found on the jeans of one of the victims.
10:19 a.m. Crews stated that his team was told that gunshots were heard near the scene. He walked through other evidence he examined at the scene, including blood, “red-brown stains” found in the car, and clothes in the back of the vehicle.
10:23 a.m. Judge Filmore called for a break.