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Summary of tweets for Wednesday, April 26th -
State witness: Dr. Angi Christensen, forensic anthropologist for FBI.
Nate Eaton
@NateNewsNow
·
8h
We are back from the break. Dr. Angie Christensen is the next witness called by the state.
*Angi -- not Angie
Rachel Smith is questioning Dr. Christensen. She is a forensic anthropologist for the FBI in Quantico, Virginia where she has worked since 2004.
Christensen describes her credentials and training. "Forensic anthology is a specialized area that includes the analysis of skeletal remains."
Christensen says a medical examiner would refer skeletal remains to a forensic anthropologist is they wanted a more in-depth exam. She says generally the exam will begin with a visual assessment of the bones & could progress to looking at bones under a microscope or using x-rays
The Ada County Coroner requested help from Christensen. Christensen did the initial visual assessment, measured the bones, looked at some items with a microscope and did a CT scan of the bones. Christensen examined around 100 bones belonging to Tylee Ryan.
Christensen said all major parts of the skeleton were represented when she did the assessment.
Christensen said when she received the remains, they were "fragmented in nature" and a lot of them were burned. Three bones had sharp edges that were likely impacted by a tool.
Christensen asks if she can refer to her notes. Smith asks permission from the judge. The defense is reviewing the notes before permitting them in.
Lori is whispering with her attorneys. They have no problem with the notes and the bailiff gives them to Dr. Christensen. Christensen says at least one bone was bent or hinged.
Christensen says there was evidence the bones were subjected to thermal damage. Burning changes the color of the bone to tan, black and eventually white.
Christensen says she documented her findings in a report and photographs were taken in her exam notes. Smith asks to admit a report as evidence.
Thomas is questioning Christensen about the validity of photos in her presentation.
The photos are admitted into evidence. Christensen says there was one bone that had "carnivore activity" -- some sort of mammal had chewed on it.
The first photo is shown on the big screen. It shows portions of Tylee's left and right femur. On the backside of these bones is where Christensen found the carnivore activity.
We now see a picture of a human skeleton and Christensen shows where the femur is on the body. She points to the legs. The next photo shows three parts of Tylee's skull. On the right side of the face and upper jaw bone, there is a blackened area that was altered from heat.
Lori continues to look down - not at the screen showing her daughter's bones.
Christensen also points out thermal damage to the jaw bone. Christensen has experience in bone trauma. She says there is blunt trauma, sharp trauma & high-velocity trauma. Christensen identified sharp trauma on three of Tylee's bones - the left & right hip bones & back of pelvis
Something with a "small service area" caused trauma to these bones, Christensen says. She is not sure what tool was used to cause the trauma.
The next exhibit is a photo that shows the sharp alterations on the bones. Christensen says there were five areas of sharp trauma on the left hip bone and they were not the result of disease process.
Christensen says an "external force" was imposed on the bone. She has experience looking at bodies that have been dismembered. "Typically sharp trauma in dismemberment cases appear around joints," she says.
Christensen says the images we are saying are not consistent with dismemberment because they are not near joints. "The purpose of dismemberment is to break the body into smaller pieces. In this case, all of the sharp traumas are in the area of the pelvic region."
You can see evidence of the sharp trauma in some bones on both sides - meaning the instrument went all the way through.
We now see images of a CT scan Christensen performed. She points out areas of sharp trauma on the bones in the pubic region.
Court is adjourned for the day.
Sketches from today include FBI Special Agent Steve Daniels, Forensic Pathologist Dr. Garth Warren and FBI Forensic Anthropologist Dr. Angi Christensen.
link: https://twitter.com/NateNewsNow
State witness: Dr. Angi Christensen, forensic anthropologist for FBI.
Nate Eaton
@NateNewsNow
·
8h
We are back from the break. Dr. Angie Christensen is the next witness called by the state.
*Angi -- not Angie
Rachel Smith is questioning Dr. Christensen. She is a forensic anthropologist for the FBI in Quantico, Virginia where she has worked since 2004.
Christensen describes her credentials and training. "Forensic anthology is a specialized area that includes the analysis of skeletal remains."
Christensen says a medical examiner would refer skeletal remains to a forensic anthropologist is they wanted a more in-depth exam. She says generally the exam will begin with a visual assessment of the bones & could progress to looking at bones under a microscope or using x-rays
The Ada County Coroner requested help from Christensen. Christensen did the initial visual assessment, measured the bones, looked at some items with a microscope and did a CT scan of the bones. Christensen examined around 100 bones belonging to Tylee Ryan.
Christensen said all major parts of the skeleton were represented when she did the assessment.
Christensen said when she received the remains, they were "fragmented in nature" and a lot of them were burned. Three bones had sharp edges that were likely impacted by a tool.
Christensen asks if she can refer to her notes. Smith asks permission from the judge. The defense is reviewing the notes before permitting them in.
Lori is whispering with her attorneys. They have no problem with the notes and the bailiff gives them to Dr. Christensen. Christensen says at least one bone was bent or hinged.
Christensen says there was evidence the bones were subjected to thermal damage. Burning changes the color of the bone to tan, black and eventually white.
Christensen says she documented her findings in a report and photographs were taken in her exam notes. Smith asks to admit a report as evidence.
Thomas is questioning Christensen about the validity of photos in her presentation.
The photos are admitted into evidence. Christensen says there was one bone that had "carnivore activity" -- some sort of mammal had chewed on it.
The first photo is shown on the big screen. It shows portions of Tylee's left and right femur. On the backside of these bones is where Christensen found the carnivore activity.
We now see a picture of a human skeleton and Christensen shows where the femur is on the body. She points to the legs. The next photo shows three parts of Tylee's skull. On the right side of the face and upper jaw bone, there is a blackened area that was altered from heat.
Lori continues to look down - not at the screen showing her daughter's bones.
Christensen also points out thermal damage to the jaw bone. Christensen has experience in bone trauma. She says there is blunt trauma, sharp trauma & high-velocity trauma. Christensen identified sharp trauma on three of Tylee's bones - the left & right hip bones & back of pelvis
Something with a "small service area" caused trauma to these bones, Christensen says. She is not sure what tool was used to cause the trauma.
The next exhibit is a photo that shows the sharp alterations on the bones. Christensen says there were five areas of sharp trauma on the left hip bone and they were not the result of disease process.
Christensen says an "external force" was imposed on the bone. She has experience looking at bodies that have been dismembered. "Typically sharp trauma in dismemberment cases appear around joints," she says.
Christensen says the images we are saying are not consistent with dismemberment because they are not near joints. "The purpose of dismemberment is to break the body into smaller pieces. In this case, all of the sharp traumas are in the area of the pelvic region."
You can see evidence of the sharp trauma in some bones on both sides - meaning the instrument went all the way through.
We now see images of a CT scan Christensen performed. She points out areas of sharp trauma on the bones in the pubic region.
Court is adjourned for the day.
Sketches from today include FBI Special Agent Steve Daniels, Forensic Pathologist Dr. Garth Warren and FBI Forensic Anthropologist Dr. Angi Christensen.
link: https://twitter.com/NateNewsNow
