Now back to #KelseyBerreth trial. Today we heard from the previous owner of the condo where Kelsey lived. This woman testified that she lived there for 26 years, moved out spring 2018. (Prosecution appeared to be explaining why someone else’s DNA might be found there)
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Dr. Diane France, an expert in the field of forensic anthropology, took the stand this afternoon. One area of her expertise (shes written books on this topic) is looking at bones and determining whether they are human or animal
Dr. France said she was asked to help review what investigators found when they searched the Midway Landfill for #KelseyBerreth’s remains. (Ultimately, they did not find remains there)
Dr. France was also asked to review possible tooth fragments found near the alleged burn sight on Patrick Frazee’s property. “They are both tooth fragments, that’s pretty clear” she said, referencing photos shown in court. She testified its consistent w/ a *human tooth
Prosecutor points out there could be other animals on Patrick’s property – dogs, horses, cow, etc. Prosecutors asks Dr. France (again, expert in human vs. non-human identification of bones) if the tooth could belong to any of those animals – France says no. “I think its human.”
Next we hear from serology and DNA expert Cailtlin Rogers, who works for CBI. She handled majority of DNA testing in Kelsey Berreth case.
This is super complex science, but best I can explain it is this: she collected DNA belonging to Kelsey, Patrick, their daughter, Kelseys mom & brother, previous condo owner/resident, and Krystal Lee. Then she used those DNA profiles as references as she tested items of evidence.
So in simplest terms, Rogers testimony explains how she matched Kelsey’s DNA profile to samples collected from Kelsey’s bathroom and toilet, possible blood on Kelsey’s fireplace, a baby gate, pieces of hardwood living room floor, and furniture
Lot of DNA samples collected from pieces of the hardwood floor, a few of those wood pieces were shown in court. Remember previous testimony that investigators ripped up that floor after Krystal told them about blood there
Many of those samples had other DNA in the mix, too. Lots of DNA from the bathroom and several floor samples also matched the previous condo owner (who testified that she had hardwood floors installed about 2 decades ago).
Some of the DNA samples from floorboard also had potential matches to Patrick Frazee, Kelsey's mom Cheryl and her brother. Some of those results said DNA match were more likely/accurate others.
Rogers also tested a sample of hay from the barn at Nash Ranch, where Frazee allegedly stored Kelseys body in a tote. Rogers said that sample, when tested, did not indicate presence of human DNA
Rogers also tested the tooth fragment found on Frazee’s property. She testified that she could detect 2 things: there was human DNA, and it wasn’t male. However, Rogers says there wasn’t enough DNA in the sample to get a profile (meaning WHO it belonged to)
Rogers says the tooth went to FBI for more testing, still not enough DNA to develop a profile. We’ve previously heard about “consumptive testing” in this case, its a testing process that “consumes” the item. The tooth is, essentially, gone now due to the testing it went through
After a full afternoon of testimony, Rogers ends by saying bleach can destroy DNA to the point where it cant be detected or analyzed. Remember Krystal said she cleaned Kelsey's home with bleach
And with that, day 8 of testimony is finished. Court resumes tomorrow morning at 8:30. And if we continue moving at this rate, the judge says we could hear closing arguments by the end of the week.
Jennifer Meckles on Twitter
