GUILTY MO - Hailey Owens, 10, Springfield, 18 Feb 2014 #3

[Betty P]

Reading back over Carlos Edwards' testimony makes you realize what a hero he is in this case. He may not have been able to rescue Hailey, but he was able to memorize the license plate of the truck and recalled clearly the physical description of Wood. Had he not done that, LE would never have found Hailey at Wood's home, tying him to her murder. They likely would not have even considered him as a suspect due to his reputation in the community and the good standing of his parents. Springfield is that kind of town, like so many others. If a suspect's family is well to do and well known, LE and prosecutors are reluctant to pursue a search warrant, arrest and charges.

 

[Jewels53]

[video=twitter;925384852186238976]https://twitter.com/GregHolmanNL/status/925384852186238976[/video]


[video=twitter;925384131583897600]https://twitter.com/GregHolmanNL/status/925384131583897600[/video]

 

[Jewels53]

This tweet is from yesterday!

[video=twitter;925140421705175040]https://twitter.com/springfieldNL/status/925140421705175040[/video]




5 big moments from the first day of the Craig Wood trial


http://www.news-leader.com/story/ne...moments-first-day-craig-wood-trial/815368001/

 

[Betty P]

http://www.ky3.com/content/news/Day-2-Craig-Wood-trial-454271293.html

3:55 Court resumes with Special Agent Brian Pickens talking about recovering Hailey's clothing from the dumpster behind Cosmic Fish on Glenstone Ave.

3:08 Special Agent Brian Pickens with the FBI talks about his team being called to Springfield in the middle of the night to help with the investigation. Pictures of Wood's clothes being recovered at the laundromat on Glenstone Ave.

Court in recess and will continue with Special Agent Brian Pickens.

2:55 - 3:05 Courtney Sartin, manager of Cosmic Fish at the time of the crime and SPD Det. Kent Shipley (ret.) confirm DVD discs contain video surveillance showing Wood in the alley near dumpster where Hailey's clothes were found. Video not played in court.

2:38 Sgt. Todd King, SPD, describes the department's efforts to find Hailey Owens. After an extensive search, they found the clothes she was wearing on the day she disappeared in a dumpster behind Cosmic Fish on Glenstone Ave.

2:28 Hailey Owens' mother, Stacy Herman, takes the stand. No video or audio permitted.

She talked about Hailey being home from school with the flu the day she was abducted. Hailey was feeling better and went to a friend's house. Her mother said she saw Hailey for the last time around 3pm on February 18, 2014.

 

[Betty P]

Below is a link to the original case map from the first thread. It has some other locations as WS members speculated about possible connections to other missing women cases.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir//37.19982,-93.346174/@37.1997994,-93.416214,12z/data=!3m1!4b1

It's still frustrating to read about how the police had Wood's license plate number and physical description immediately after the abduction, yet they didn't go to his home to question him until over 4 hours later. They didn't search his home until a few hours after that.

Link to video of LE questioning Wood, asking him to tell them where she is.

http://www.ky3.com/content/news/WEB-EXCLUSIVE--454163653.html

 

[jggordo]

Thanks Betty P for your help. I took a nap. Don't know if you remember but IIRC the truck and plates were registered to Wood's father. They initially went to the father's farm and found that Craig was the driver of the truck. That took some time. Our scanner thread (downstairs) was monitoring during this time. When LE initially went to his home there was nobody there. He was at Wal-Mart buying that duct tape that he threw into the bed of the truck when confronted. Or possibly at the laundromat.

JMO

 

[Betty P]

Thanks Betty P for your help. I took a nap. Don't know if you remember but IIRC the truck and plates were registered to Wood's father. They initially went to the father's farm and found that Craig was the driver of the truck. That took some time. Our scanner thread (downstairs) was monitoring during this time. When LE initially went to his home there was nobody there. He was at Wal-Mart buying that duct tape that he threw into the bed of the truck when confronted. Or possibly at the laundromat.

JMO

Thanks for the refresher, jggordo. Now I remember. The whole chase and capture took so long and everyone here at WS was so frustrated while following it. We're getting a little of the timeline details in trial coverage, but not much. LE has kept quite a bit of the details out of the news media, it would be nice if they could fill in more blanks now. Most of the old news stories are not available online now.

 

[jggordo]

A point, Patterson chose to focus on, to illustrate his theory that Wood strategically chose that gun due to its caliber.
Tucker said the smaller caliber*weapon makes a softer noise compared to other guns found in the home and typically makes a smaller "mess".

One of the first items was the Rubbermaid-style container in which Tucker and his team of agents found ten-year-old Hailey Owens' body.

http://www.ozarksfirst.com/news/day-two-of-craig-woods-murder-trial-witness-testimony/848512120

 

[Jewels53]

Also presented as evidence Tuesday, was Wood's often-referenced purple folder, containing fictional stories of sex with children and photos of teen girls who went to the school Wood was once employed by.

The material in that folder was then given to the jury for consideration.

But it's that purple folder that will likely be the base for the defense's claim that Wood's actions were the product of a long-standing mental illness, triggered by drug use.

http://www.ozarksfirst.com/news/day-two-of-craig-woods-murder-trial-witness-testimony/848512120

I think the defense is really going to have a difficult time getting the jury to buy this defense if this is what they are selling. imo moo

 

[jggordo]

9:35 State calls witness Dr. Carl Stacy, a forensic pathologist at the University of Missouri Columbia.
9:30 Attorneys have been in conference with judge in a separate room for about 15 or 20 minutes.
9:05 Vandeburg describes removing Hailey's body from plastic bin and garbage bags, and notes some liquid with no color and a strong smell of bleach inside. Vandeburg says Hailey's body was taken to the University of Missouri Columbia for an autopsy the next day.
9:00 Jury enters courtroom. Courtroom is about half full. Hailey's mom, Stacy Herman, is not present. State calls investigator for Greene county medical examiner's office, Tom Vandeburg. Vandeburg responded to scene of Hailey Owens' murder at Craig Wood's house. Vandeburg testifies photos admitted as evidence show how Hailey's remains were found and the the nature of her primary wound. Copies of photos handed to jury members.
8:45 Prosecution plans to share copies of medical examiner photos with jury. Defense renews an objection to photographic exhibits. They say no one is arguing about the cause of death. Judge overrules. Defense asks that anyone who believes they cannot witness graphic testimony without reacting leave the courtroom.

8:30 Day 3 begins. Defense argues they are having trouble making a proper record because they have to leave the courtroom each time they need to speak with the judge.

http://www.ky3.com/content/news/LIVE-BLOG-Day-3-Craig-Wood-trial-454448873.html

 

[jggordo]

11:05 State calls an FBI firearms specialist.
10:55 SPD Detective Scott Hill testified about collecting evidence from the autopsy.
10:15 Dr. Stacy described the gunshot wound to Hailey's head, saying it came from a smaller caliber weapon. He says Hailey's cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head with the nature of her death being homicide. Court taking a short recess.
9:35 State calls witness Dr. Carl Stacy, a forensic pathologist at the University of Missouri Columbia. Dr. Stacy says he performed Hailey Owens' autopsy on Feb. 20, 2014. Stacy noted redness and bruising to Hailey's wrists, which according to his experience, appear to be ligature injuries. He also found bruising to her forehead caused by an injury inside her head, as well as injuries consistent with sexual abuse.

 

[Betty P]

A point, Patterson chose to focus on, to illustrate his theory that Wood strategically chose that gun due to its caliber.
Tucker said the smaller caliber*weapon makes a softer noise compared to other guns found in the home and typically makes a smaller "mess".

One of the first items was the Rubbermaid-style container in which Tucker and his team of agents found ten-year-old Hailey Owens' body.

http://www.ozarksfirst.com/news/day-two-of-craig-woods-murder-trial-witness-testimony/848512120

Thanks for the link. That also explains why the defense wanted to block the introduction of evidence of Wood's extensive gun collection in the home. It shows he had a choice of weapons and indicates premeditation, right?

 

[jggordo]

Thanks for the link. That also explains why the defense wanted to block the introduction of evidence of Wood's extensive gun collection in the home. It shows he had a choice of weapons and indicates premeditation, right?

I agree totally. Also much of the evidence today shows aggravating factors that the defense does not want in. Although it has not been characterized as such that I know of, the shot that killed her was at the base of the skull which really is an execution shot. Hunters as an example know that if you shoot a deer as an example, to quickly kill the prey is to shoot at the base of the skull and death is instantaneous.

IMO the defense is trying to get LWOP and not the DP. They know there is no chance of a NG outcome. I don't expect too many more witnesses for the State.

JMO

11:30 State calls Lorie Cousin, a document analyst and forensic examiner at an FBI laboratory in Virginia.
11:25 Greene county deputy testified about obtaining a letter from Craig Wood that he turned over to a SPD detective.
11:05 State calls an FBI firearms specialist who testifies he could not tell for certain whether the bullet that caused Hailey's death came from Craig Wood's 22 caliber rifle. But he can say it did come from a 22 caliber firearm. He says bullet found in Wood's house is consistent with the type of bullet.

http://www.ky3.com/content/news/LIVE-BLOG-Day-3-Craig-Wood-trial-454448873.html

 

[jggordo]

11:30 State calls Lorie Cousin, a document analyst and forensic examiner at an FBI laboratory in Virginia. Cousin testified the handwriting on a letter Wood wrote in jail matched the stories found in the purple folder in Wood's house. Breaking for lunch at 11:45.

 

[Niner]

Is it 10 after noon there? TIA!

 

[AMShhh]

I guess they decided against live streaming? I'm in CoMo and cant be there. This trial is a long time coming.

 

[jggordo]

1:50 An FBI forensic examiner takes the stand to testify about analyzing bodily fluids. She testified Hailey Owens' DNA was found on passenger side armrest of Wood's truck. She testified blood was found on Wood's shirt that matched Hailey Owens' DNA.
1:35 State calls Constance Fisher, a DNA expert with the FBI. Fisher says according to mitochondrial DNA, a hair found with Hailey's clothing was not hers, but Craig Wood could not be excluded as a source.
1:15 Jury now present. State calls Jessica Walker, forensic examiner at FBI laboratory in Virginia who analyzed hairs and fibers in Hailey Owens' murder. She testified hairs found with Hailey's clothing items in a dumpster were consistent with that of Craig Wood.
1:00 Jury not yet in the room. Defense wants to use detective testimony that investigation did not reveal any sexual abuse to other young girls, whose pictures Wood had at his house. Prosecution argues testimony that other crimes didn't occur is irrelevant in the case.

 

[Jewels53]

The state rests it's case.

2:20 State lays out timeline with Detective McAmis' help. Wood seen on Pleasant View School surveillance after 2:30PM at the end of the school day. 911 call from W. Lombard at 4:47PM. Wood seen on surveillance arriving at Walmart Neighborhood Market on S. Glenstone at 5:36PM, then seen purchasing 2 bottles of bleach and a bottle of Liquid Plumber. McAmis says shirt Wood was seen wearing at Walmart was later found at Dutchmaid Laundry. Wood was seen leaving Walmart at 5:46. Surveillance video behind Cosmic Fish shows Wood putting something in dumpster where Hailey's clothes were later found. Detective says Hailey's underwear, flip flops and ligatures used to bind her were never found. Then, Wood is seen again at Walmart Neighborhood Market at 8:18 PM. The next place he is seen pulling into his driveway. McAmis testified it is 12 minutes from Hailey's neighborhood to Wood's house.

2:10 State read testimony from Dr. Rickenbock of the FBI, stating that the fluid found in the plastic storage tub was bleach.
Springfield Police Detective Neal McAmis takes the stand. He testified he watched another detective interview Wood and interviewing Wood's father and the 911 caller. He was assigned as lead investigator in the case.

 

[Jewels53]

3:31 Defense addresses the court about Wood's right to testify. Wood has decided not to. Defense doesn't call any witnesses. Defense rests their case. Closing arguments will commence then case will go to jury for deliberation.

3:20 State is done presenting its case against Craig Wood. Court in recess until defense decides how to proceed.

3:10 Detective McAmis cross examined by the Pat Berrigan, defense attorney. Berrigan asks detective to confirm detective's account of Wood's lack of disguise. Detective is also questioned about the girls Wood had pictures of. The four girls were questioned by detectives and child advocates. Each girl said that Wood never made them feel uncomfortable or never threatened them.

Detective was also questioned about a phone call he had in March 2014 with Rob Wood, Craig Wood's brother. Rob Wood called detective McAmis about some evidence he found at his brother's house when cleaning it out when Craig Wood was in jail. Items were marijuana and a tin with a plastic straw, hallowed out pen and what Rob Wood thought was crystal meth.

 

[Jewels53]

3:40 Court adjourned for the day. The trial will start again Thursday morning at 9:00am with closing arguments and jury instructions on how to proceed with deliberations.

I was surprised both the prosecution and the defense rested today. I guess they are counting the trial lasting 2 weeks included's the penalty phase.

Justice for Hailey!