The blood clean-up at the sink

[JenniferTx]

Can someone give me some information on the clean-up at the sink? I keep seeing the sink on different crime shows and want to know where they discuss the sink in the transcripts and I can't find it.

 

[LeanaSA]

Charles Linch talks about the sink eatly in Volume 37. Kathryn Long also testifies about it as she actually did the presumptive tests, but I don't recall now in which volume

 

[cami]

Can someone give me some information on the clean-up at the sink? I keep seeing the sink on different crime shows and want to know where they discuss the sink in the transcripts and I can't find it.

Jennifer, here you go.

9 Q. All right. What is the next thing
10 that you all did then?
11 A. Again, we moved back into the house,
12 and as you stand in the front entryway hall, you can
13 evaluate the family room and the kitchen.
14 And, at that time I asked Miss Long to
15 check other bathrooms for occult or latent blood that you
16 cannot see, as if someone had washed up. And then I
17 focused my attention on the kitchen sink.
18 Q. All right. And when you looked at the
19 kitchen sink, what was its appearance?
20 A. It was unusual. It -- the sink
21 portion had been cleaned of blood, and the blood stains
22 on the front of the cabinet, were such that when that
23 blood was being shed, it would also need to be shed into
24 the sinks, which were now clean. So, it was my opinion
25 that the sinks had probably been cleaned of blood.
Sandra M. Halsey, CSR, Official Court Reporter
2797

1 Q. All right. Did you do any testing,
2 presumptive testing to determine if there was actually
3 blood in the sink or around the sink?
4 A. Miss Long did.

5 Q. All right. And what were the results?
6 A. The faucets were -- showed no blood
7 present, but with our chemicals we got a reaction.
8 Q. All right.
9 A. The -- there were some stains that
10 appeared to be watered down, that had run into the

11 stainless steel areas, that were positive for blood.
12 Kathryn took samples of those. The
13 water faucet, where the water actually comes out, that
14 appeared clean and stainless steel, but that was also
15 reactive for the presence of blood.
16 Q. All right. Now, when you get a
17 reaction for blood, does it range -- is there a certain

18 range of reaction? I mean, does all blood react equally,
19 or do you have a variance there?
20 A. Well, with time you appreciate a
21 difference. With the chemicals we use, if blood is
22 present, or the presumptive presence of blood, it will
23 pop up a green color, kind of a blue-green.
24 If the blood is fresh, it will react
25 very quickly and a very bright blue-green. If the blood
Sandra M. Halsey, CSR, Official Court Reporter
2798

1 is old, you will get kind of a dull, light-green color to
2 the reaction.
3 And some of the false/positive
4 materials will give the dull, slower, green reaction.
5 Q. What kind of reaction did you get for
6 the samples actually inside the bowl of the sink?
7 A. Those were quickly and darkly
8 reactive.
9 Q. All right. Did you sample anything
10 from the faucet area that appeared to be clean?
11 A. Yes, sir.
12 Q. What kind of reaction did you get up
13 there?
14 A. That was quickly and darkly reactive.
15 Q. Which told you what?
16 A. That there was recent contact with
17 that faucet with blood.
18 Q. All right. Did you have an
19 opportunity to look at the cabinet work that faces right
20 there at the sink area?
21 A. Yes, sir.
22 Q. All right. Was there blood actually
23 visible on the cabinetry?
24 A. Oh, yes, sir.
25 Q. How about on the handles to the
Sandra M. Halsey, CSR, Official Court Reporter
2799

1 cabinets?
2 A. Yes, sir. There was blood on the
3 knobs to the cabinets below the sink.
4 Q. All right. Now, did you or Miss Long,
5 in your presence, open up the doors to that cabinet?
6 A. Yes, sir.
7 Q. All right. And, did you see anything
8 unusual when you opened up the doors to the cabinet?

9 A. There was blood present inside the
10 cabinet, consistent with the door having to have been
11 opened when the blood was shed.
12 Q. All right. So, in your opinion, was
13 the blood on the facing or the outside of the cabinet,
14 that was consistent with having been deposited when the
15 doors were closed?
16 A. Yes.
17 Q. All right. Was there also blood

18 inside that was consistent with having been dropped while
19 the doors to the cabinet were actually open?
20 A. Yes.
21 Q. Do you remember what was inside that
22 cabinet?
23 A. As I recall, it was the usual under
24 the sink, kitchen-cleaning materials, cleanser and stuff.
25 Q. Now, did you instruct Miss Long to
Sandra M. Halsey, CSR, Official Court Reporter
2800

1 take actual blood samples from the kitchen sink area?
2 A. Yes, sir.
3 Q. Anything else done there at the sink
4 at that time?
5 A. At that time, no, sir.


http://www.routiertranscripts.com/transcripts/volumes/vol-37.php

 

[JenniferTx]

Jennifer, here you go.

9 Q. All right. What is the next thing
10 that you all did then?
11 A. Again, we moved back into the house,
12 and as you stand in the front entryway hall, you can
13 evaluate the family room and the kitchen.
14 And, at that time I asked Miss Long to
15 check other bathrooms for occult or latent blood that you
16 cannot see, as if someone had washed up. And then I
17 focused my attention on the kitchen sink.
18 Q. All right. And when you looked at the
19 kitchen sink, what was its appearance?
20 A. It was unusual. It -- the sink
21 portion had been cleaned of blood, and the blood stains
22 on the front of the cabinet, were such that when that
23 blood was being shed, it would also need to be shed into
24 the sinks, which were now clean. So, it was my opinion
25 that the sinks had probably been cleaned of blood.
Sandra M. Halsey, CSR, Official Court Reporter
2797

1 Q. All right. Did you do any testing,
2 presumptive testing to determine if there was actually
3 blood in the sink or around the sink?
4 A. Miss Long did.

5 Q. All right. And what were the results?
6 A. The faucets were -- showed no blood
7 present, but with our chemicals we got a reaction.
8 Q. All right.
9 A. The -- there were some stains that
10 appeared to be watered down, that had run into the

11 stainless steel areas, that were positive for blood.
12 Kathryn took samples of those. The
13 water faucet, where the water actually comes out, that
14 appeared clean and stainless steel, but that was also
15 reactive for the presence of blood.
16 Q. All right. Now, when you get a
17 reaction for blood, does it range -- is there a certain

18 range of reaction? I mean, does all blood react equally,
19 or do you have a variance there?
20 A. Well, with time you appreciate a
21 difference. With the chemicals we use, if blood is
22 present, or the presumptive presence of blood, it will
23 pop up a green color, kind of a blue-green.
24 If the blood is fresh, it will react
25 very quickly and a very bright blue-green. If the blood
Sandra M. Halsey, CSR, Official Court Reporter
2798

1 is old, you will get kind of a dull, light-green color to
2 the reaction.
3 And some of the false/positive
4 materials will give the dull, slower, green reaction.
5 Q. What kind of reaction did you get for
6 the samples actually inside the bowl of the sink?
7 A. Those were quickly and darkly
8 reactive.
9 Q. All right. Did you sample anything
10 from the faucet area that appeared to be clean?
11 A. Yes, sir.
12 Q. What kind of reaction did you get up
13 there?
14 A. That was quickly and darkly reactive.
15 Q. Which told you what?
16 A. That there was recent contact with
17 that faucet with blood.
18 Q. All right. Did you have an
19 opportunity to look at the cabinet work that faces right
20 there at the sink area?
21 A. Yes, sir.
22 Q. All right. Was there blood actually
23 visible on the cabinetry?
24 A. Oh, yes, sir.
25 Q. How about on the handles to the
Sandra M. Halsey, CSR, Official Court Reporter
2799

1 cabinets?
2 A. Yes, sir. There was blood on the
3 knobs to the cabinets below the sink.
4 Q. All right. Now, did you or Miss Long,
5 in your presence, open up the doors to that cabinet?
6 A. Yes, sir.
7 Q. All right. And, did you see anything
8 unusual when you opened up the doors to the cabinet?

9 A. There was blood present inside the
10 cabinet, consistent with the door having to have been
11 opened when the blood was shed.
12 Q. All right. So, in your opinion, was
13 the blood on the facing or the outside of the cabinet,
14 that was consistent with having been deposited when the
15 doors were closed?
16 A. Yes.
17 Q. All right. Was there also blood

18 inside that was consistent with having been dropped while
19 the doors to the cabinet were actually open?
20 A. Yes.
21 Q. Do you remember what was inside that
22 cabinet?
23 A. As I recall, it was the usual under
24 the sink, kitchen-cleaning materials, cleanser and stuff.
25 Q. Now, did you instruct Miss Long to
Sandra M. Halsey, CSR, Official Court Reporter
2800

1 take actual blood samples from the kitchen sink area?
2 A. Yes, sir.
3 Q. Anything else done there at the sink
4 at that time?
5 A. At that time, no, sir.


http://www.routiertranscripts.com/transcripts/volumes/vol-37.php

Thank you Cami. That was exactly what I was looking for.

 

[JenniferTx]

Thanks for the information Cami. Do you remember hearing something about the blood clean-up at the sink was from chicken blood from their dinner the night before? That must have been one bloody chicken. I always thought that was reaching a bit too far using the bloody chicken excuse. When I still thought Darlie wasn't guilty I thought she stood there on the phone with 911 and didn't even realize that she was cleaning the blood around the sink since she was such a clean freak. Funny how I was trying to think of any reason for her not to be guilty of this crime.

 

[cami]

Thanks for the information Cami. Do you remember hearing something about the blood clean-up at the sink was from chicken blood from their dinner the night before? That must have been one bloody chicken. I always thought that was reaching a bit too far using the bloody chicken excuse. When I still thought Darlie wasn't guilty I thought she stood there on the phone with 911 and didn't even realize that she was cleaning the blood around the sink since she was such a clean freak. Funny how I was trying to think of any reason for her not to be guilty of this crime.

LOL, Darlie supporter Jeffrey is the person who concocted the chicken blood story.

It's totally made up from the fantasies of their heated brains. Not only was Darlie cutting up chicken for supper that night (they had chicken noodle soup), they have Darin repairing his computers with the bread knife, hence the polyglass fibre and the rubber dust on the knife.

I feel sure if we could have perused Darlie's recycle bin, we'd find a couple of cans of Campbells. LOL

I don't think they realize what harm they are doing when they concoct such ridiculous scenarios but they will say anything, anything to put the blame on anyone but Darlie.

 

[Zzzz]

This is a subject I've been interested in and would like to start a discussion thread on it. Those with good knowledge of the case might have some insight.

I've always been curious about several facts concerning the sink. Darlie cut herself there, as evidenced by her blood dripping down the front of the counter. But why did she do that when it would have supported her intruder story much better if she had done it in the living room or over the sofa? Surely she didn't care about the mess since the carpet was already blood-soaked from her sons. Was there a window over the sink and perhaps she could see herself in the reflection to guide the cut? But weren't the lights out?

Luminol tests showed that the sink was wiped of blood. If it had only been her blood, she could just say she ran to the sink to get a towel for her wound and there would be no need to wipe it. But she also washed her hands of her boys' blood after the stabbings, as their blood was found in the pea trap. Thus, the sink had to be wiped, since an intruder wouldn't have washed his hands. What happened to the towels or sponge? Did she ditch them in the storm drain when she ran down the alley? Or was it the same towel she then pressed to her wound?

Crime photos show wet and bloody hand towels on the floor. After she learned the sink was removed, she claimed she wet towels to press on her boys' wounds. But of course wet towels wouldn't have been absorbent, the first responders found no towels on the boys and she never even approached the boys after the 911 call started. So that story was concocted to explain the wiped-out sink. Were those floor towels tested to see whose blood they matched?

 

[cami]

This is a subject I've been interested in and would like to start a discussion thread on it. Those with good knowledge of the case might have some insight.

I've always been curious about several facts concerning the sink. Darlie cut herself there, as evidenced by her blood dripping down the front of the counter. But why did she do that when it would have supported her intruder story much better if she had done it in the living room or over the sofa? Surely she didn't care about the mess since the carpet was already blood-soaked from her sons. Was there a window over the sink and perhaps she could see herself in the reflection to guide the cut? But weren't the lights out?

Luminol tests showed that the sink was wiped of blood. If it had only been her blood, she could just say she ran to the sink to get a towel for her wound and there would be no need to wipe it. But she also washed her hands of her boys' blood after the stabbings, as their blood was found in the pea trap. Thus, the sink had to be wiped, since an intruder wouldn't have washed his hands. What happened to the towels or sponge? Did she ditch them in the storm drain when she ran down the alley? Or was it the same towel she then pressed to her wound?

Crime photos show wet and bloody hand towels on the floor. After she learned the sink was removed, she claimed she wet towels to press on her boys' wounds. But of course wet towels wouldn't have been absorbent, the first responders found no towels on the boys and she never even approached the boys after the 911 call started. So that story was concocted to explain the wiped-out sink. Were those floor towels tested to see whose blood they matched?

The two towels found in the hallway, one a dish rag, actually were not wet with water and they had so little blood on them it couldn't be typed. As for the rest of your post. I don't what was in Darlie's mind that mind that night so I don't know why she chose to cut her neck at the kitchen sink. I don't think she used a cloth to wipe/rinse any blood in the sink, I think she just used her fingers to direct the flow down the drain--as evidence by the bloody wet fingermarks found in the sink. She could have though used that dish rag she held to her own neck, as you noted. I do believe she rinsed the knife under running water to get of the boys blood on it before she used it on herself, then had to use it on Damon again. But this is just speculation as I noted I wasn't there so I don't know what was in here mind. Good thoughts though

 

[Summerc25]

Can someone give me some information on the clean-up at the sink? I keep seeing the sink on different crime shows and want to know where they discuss the sink in the transcripts and I can't find it.

One thing that always bothered me about that "blood cleanup" is the fact that Darlie and Darin said she was wetting towels at the sink and using them on Damon then re-rinsing them. You can clearly hear the water being turned on during the 911 call. To me this corroborates Darlie's side of how the blood got in the sink. Not saying it's smart to put wet towels on a gaping stab wound just saying that may really be what happened. Darlie was not a nurse and she may not have known better than to do that. Listen to the call and listen for the water to be turned on. It's there.

 

[2 percent]

One thing that always bothered me about that "blood cleanup" is the fact that Darlie and Darin said she was wetting towels at the sink and using them on Damon then re-rinsing them. You can clearly hear the water being turned on during the 911 call. To me this corroborates Darlie's side of how the blood got in the sink. Not saying it's smart to put wet towels on a gaping stab wound just saying that may really be what happened. Darlie was not a nurse and she may not have known better than to do that. Listen to the call and listen for the water to be turned on. It's there.

I have listened and I don't hear water running
Also, the evidence does not support Darlie and Darin's claim of wet towels. While there was diluted blood in/around the sink there was no diluted blood outside of that area, including on/around the boy's bodies. Also the blood drops indicate low velocity spatter, not high velocity and there was no dilution of the blood drops from her moving from the kitchen to the other areas.

 

[Ssejors]

I haven't listened to the call closely and I will do that asap.

Reading through this thread.

Is it possible that the running water(if it's audible) is her cleaning the sink while she's on the 911 call? Rinsing away the blood in the sink.

No trails of water or diluted blood from sink to boys.
No wet towels.
Clean sink.