I think a lot of us are wondering what happened in those final moments. After reading the 44 page document a few times, it is still tough to sort out how all of the evidence fits into the timeline and how these events occurred.
Here are a few thoughts that I have about the evidence in my working theory:
**Warning Some Parts Are GRAPHIC** This is only a working theory and none of the photos are from this case, only Examples.
First of all, I do not believe the sodomy and murder happened in the front seat. The center console in the front seat of a 1999 Explorer is a permanent fixture and restricts movement between the two seats (unlike the Ford Ranger where the middle console can be flipped up)
sample photo from a different 1999 Ford Explorer:
http://www.rodenmotors.com/images/1999_ford_explorer_004.JPG
From the evidence in the 44 page document, it leads me to believe that JH was in the back seat (driver side) and at one point had the back of his head against the rear passenger side window. The document states a smudge was on the rear seat, driver's side window, located middle of the top portion. This could occur with skin contact from a person with a military style haircut, because some of the back of the head skin is partially exposed. With a longer haired person, it would unlikely to leave the smudge from the back of the head. Touch DNA analysis might show who's skin print this was on the window.
I also believe JH was right handed. In his wedding photos he appears to be right handed (banquet serving hand, jacket hand..etc), and with this theory, he fired his weapon with his dominant right hand from the back seat. Gun powder residue analysis, hair analysis, body fluid analysis (JH & WH clothing/backpack/seats) and skin cell DNA analysis can help determine what went on in the back seat and possibly what interaction happened between the victim and the accused. In the 44 page document JH tells LE that he had been in the back seat during service for the church a month before. JH definitely tried to stress the point that he had been in WH's backseat. We do not have a confirmation that they did church service using WH's SUV before. AH only stated that she did not go out of her way to talk to WH on a daily basis. The only evidence that we have of shared service is the sound department document paper, and even that is unclear. Meetings for the church were Sunday and Tuesday nights, so it could be possible that the sound department could have already taken place on the previous Sunday. What is known is that JH's DNA was found on the steering wheel of WH's SUV.
With JH sitting with his head against the window (rear seat, driver side with back rest in upright position) and WH in the middle back seat area, she was either starting to stand up or possibly reaching for her phone as a last ditch effort when it rang at 10:39am (either reaching inside the mid console, or inside her purse possibly in the front seat).. that is when JH shot her in the head twice and then the chest as she fell down in the back seat area.
By the blood pattern described, there was a high impact spatter to the front windshield and skull fragments and blood on the front seat area. This indicates that the high impact (rear of the head exit wound) was in the diagonal direction of the front passenger seat window, (the bullet and bone fragments )possibly shattering the glass. Blood on the rear driver side door could be possible front spatter. In this theory, the first two shots were from the drivers side/rear seat diagonal (aiming toward the passenger side window). If the red spots on the hood, stated on the report, are blood spots, then the Explorer was most likely facing East. If the results from the headshot (bone and FMJ bullet) broke the glass, then the reported 5mph winds(up to 20mph gusts) from the West could have caused the over-spray on the hood. The SUV hood gets hot and the blood dries quickly on the hood, with some deformation in blood spots due to the wind.
An illustration of front spatter example:
http://www.crimescene-forensics.com/images/BackSpatter03.gif
A link to blood stain analysis:
http://www.crimescene-forensics.com/Blood_Stains.html
Sample angle shot from a different 1999 Ford Explorer:
http://www.rodenmotors.com/images/1999_ford_explorer_012.JPG
The exit wound is not the only place evidence can occur, a couple of things also happen to the entrance wound. When a bullet is fired at close range, it does two things. First off, the gases from the gun cause blood to come out of the front entrance of the bullet wound, causing front spatter. Secondly, when someone is shot at close range the cooler gases in the gun can suck blood into the barrel, thus leaving internal muzzle staining. This is another way LE might be able to tie one of the two weapons to the murder scene.
From an article:
"If a gunshot occurred at close range, the victim might have stippling, or burns on his skin from gunpowder. Shots fired at very close range can also cause internal muzzle staining. When this happens, the victim's blood is sucked back into the gun's muzzle by the cooling of the explosive gases that are released when a short is fired. Testing the gun's muzzle for blood can provide an additional clue to solve a case."
http://science.howstuffworks.com/bloodstain-pattern-analysis2.htm
The shell casings say S&B 9x19 in the report. JH admitted to buying two packs of 9mm shells from the NW Armory in Oregon. The S&B packs for that price were most likely S&B 9mm which have 115 grain powder and possibly full metal jackets(FMJ is an assumption, LE didn't release the writing on the boxes found in the dumpster). Full metal jackets are known for going through objects and not mushrooming like other ammo. Most self defense bullets and hunting bullets, often use a bullet that mushrooms inside of the target for stopping power. 9mm handguns are known for little recoil, and seem to be marketed as using the double tap because it doesn't kick back as much, taking less time to reengage the target and shoot the next round.
There are two 9mm handguns as evidence in the 44 page report. One is identified as a Smith and Wesson 9mm compact weapon. JH admitted to buying 9mm shells from the NW Armory for 10 dollars a bulk pack. In doing research, some people have had problems with the S&W compact 9mm ejecting spent casings back into their face with powder loads below 124 grain. The S&B shells were most likely 115 grain and not higher than 124 grain at that low of a price. So it is possible that JH had hot brass casings being ejected into his face or that direction. But like the glass from the broken window, the door gets opened and shut and the crime scene gets shuffled around. The glass fell on the outside and inside of the vehicle and the shell casings probably rolled around.
Video on 9mm casing ejection problems:
http://youtu.be/_2uVciX1neY
After the shooting, JH then proceeds to wipe himself off of possible back spatter doing a quick wipe down of the front seat. He drags WH's body out, folds the seats down, leaving blood and hair evidence on the back seats and floor, and creates a barrier with the back storage rugs/floor mats. Then he wraps WH's body in linen sheets and places her on top of the fold down seats. Covering her with more linens. Further DNA evidence from the bloody linens and WH's body could connect JH to the crime scene as well. JH throws the phone onto the berm, trying to get rid of any connection to WH & CH, knowing that it could link him to them, if it is found in his backpack. If the stolen phone was found, it could be traced back to CH with the serial number.
I believe JH had the ability to do the cleanup after this act because of his EMT training. If the EMT course was at MHCC, the classes are 5 months in length (couple hours on Mon & Wed nights). At first I thought it only involved coursework to become and EMT. But in Oregon, to get certified as a basic EMT, the person has to work in the line of duty (under supervision) as an EMT for 8 hours, then work 8 hours in a hospital emergency room to be certified. This on the job training, is 16 hours of likely exposure to bloody incidents and bodily fluid cleanup. Exposure, that the average person does not experience outside of the LE and medical field.
JH's acts of spreading out evidence, shows to me that he has done criminal acts before. Taking off a license plate, could mean that he has stolen cars before and knows how to temporarily evade getting spotted. The Larch Mtn.area, is also known as a place where people dump stolen cars. Putting evidence in the woods and in bushes, on easily remembered side streets means that he could retrieve them later. He already systematically spent his time hiding Child *advertiser censored* from his wife. Hiding things seemed to be ingrained in JH's life. His acts of scattering all of the evidence does not surprise me. In July of 2011, JH had shown a lack of empathy toward his friend and his wife when he stole his friend's rental car and disappeared.
This scenario is only a theory. LE and the Prosecutors have the evidence that led them to change their working theory, into an JH's arrest. They obviously have a lot more evidence than is in the 44 page document that they released. We will probably have to wait until the trial to find out more.
