DC,
I realize that experts can be wrong, but we have to use expert testimony for things we don't understand, like the cause of the wounds to the boys. So, given that we have to use experts, to me what is of paramount importance is the credibility of the expert. When we have several
certified forensic pathologists agreeing that the wounds to the boys were caused by animal predation, I tend to agree with the finding. The experts may have disagreed about some particulars, but they were united in their belief that the wounds were caused by animals, not knives. Peretti, the WM medical examiner, has failed to pass his certification test on several different occasions, making his testimony, IMO, less credible than the others.
The State had indicated prior to the Rule 37 hearing for Jason and Jessie that they intended to put on an expert witness to refute the animal predation findings of the defense experts. They did not. Maybe they will find such a witness for the December hearing, but without contradicting testimony, I will continue to accept the opinion of several certified forensic pathologists over the opinion of the medical examiner who is not certified.
To me, the Manhole Theory explains the rebar marks and the road rash type injuries. To my knowledge, no one has found a location other than the manholes where that type of rebar was present in '93. BTW, the most suspect manhole was recently given a facelift making it impossible to compare the scrape marks to the concrete exterior of the manhole. The other manholes in the area were untouched, and the one repaired was not totally repaired. A large chunk of missing concrete, near the rim IIRC, was not repaired, only the surface which could have caused the scrape marks had new concrete applied and the exterior surface smoothed out. It
does make me wonder why.
Peretti was the one who declared that the "degloving" injury was done with surgical precision. The gouge marks around Chris' genital area have not been linked to any of the knives in the case, and the certified forensic pathologists have indicated that the "degloving" was a result of animal predation, the gouge marks being caused by the animal's teeth. Therefore, again I don't trust Peretti's opinion about the injury.
As to why animals didn't predate equally on all boys, Michael's body seemed to be the least affected by the predation, and, if you remember, his body was found a little way away from the other two. My guess, and it
is just a guess, as to why Chris' body was degloved is that his genitals were floating in the water in such as way as to be enticing to the predators. Stevie's body did have scratches on the shoulder IIRC that appear to be possibly caused by the claws of some animal like a raccoon or an opossum. Also,the apparent bite mark on Stevie's forehead is most likely the result of animal predation IMO.
My theory is this: The animals (maybe just one animal) found Chris' body first. They degloved his penis and made some of the other superficial injuries with claws and teeth. They moved on to Stevie's body and began to bite on the forehead, but something happened to frighten them away. There may be another explanation, but I haven't heard one.
As you have recently watched the two documentaries, I am sure that you are aware that they both pointed the finger of suspicion at Mark Byers. His son was the most severely injured. The supposed "precision" of the injury to his penis could have been done by someone with a jeweler's background as Mark had. There was the whole issue of the Kershaw knife, too. Plus, when the injury to Stevie's forehead was suspected to be a bite mark, the fact that he had had his teeth removed was considered suspect.
However, the DNA information released in 2006 and the testimony from the Rule 37 hearing should make the thinking person discard these initial suspicions of Mark and look elsewhere. With the expert testimony that attributes the genital injuries to animal predation, we need to look at the injuries differently. One of the injuries on Stevie's penis, for instance, was consistent with something being used to bind the penis, and this injury could have occurred much earlier than the time of the attack.
In all of your reading, please be sure to read the Pasdar depositions and/or declarations from Mildred French, David Jacoby, Terry Hobbs and members of the Hicks family. Consider Terry's actions after the death (leaving Pam about two weeks later because she couldn't "just get over" Stevie's death [when many believe that the
real reason he left was to avoid police interrogation], injuring his brother-in-law, Jackie Hicks, Jr. [who years later died as a result of complications from the gunshot wound], quitting his job because he couldn't stand the sympathy of his co-workers to highlight some of his more suspicious actions). Consider the DNA results revealed in 2006. I believe that, if you do all that, you will not suspect Mark Byers at all.
Most importantly, the evidentiary hearing is coming in December. There is a petition on Facebook requesting that electronic media be allowed into the courtroom. (Judge Laser has ruled that no electronic media will be allowed.) If you feel so inclined, sign the petition. (Here's a link:
http://www.change.org/petitions/allow-electronic-media-into-the-courtroom-for-wm3-hearing .) If electronic media is allowed, you can follow the hearing that way. If electronic media is not allowed, the Blackboard site (and many others, I have no doubt) will provide daily updates of the proceedings. I am confident that much more information will be presented at the hearing that will identify the
real killer of the three little boys, and that killer
won't be the WM3.