Day 4 - February 15, 2007

Bobby Dassey — Cross Bobby Dassey Dean A. Strang

614 lines

Strang tested Bobby Dassey's account of the garage remark, what he observed before leaving to hunt, and when he woke on October 31.

Bobby Dassey — Redirect Bobby Dassey Kenneth R. Kratz

87 lines

Bobby Dassey clarified his timing and brief opportunity to hear noises before leaving to hunt; afterward, the jury heard a stipulation about the garage conversation.

Highlights

Bobby Dassey — CrossadmissionBobby said he had not heard the start of Steven and Mike's conversation. He agreed that he understood Steven's body remark as a joke and that he and Mike laughed.Bobby Dassey — Crosstestimony highlightBobby said Teresa's SUV was still present when he left to hunt, but he did not see Teresa or Steven then and heard no screaming or calls for help.Bobby Dassey — Redirectevidence eventStrang read the agreed stipulation to the jury, Kratz confirmed the State's agreement, and the court told jurors they could accept the stipulated facts as evidence.Bobby Dassey — Redirect“At this point Steven asked Michael if Michael wanted to help bury the body, and they laughed about this together.”— Dean A. StrangStrang read this as part of the parties' stipulation about what Mike Osmunson would say if called, not as testimony Osmunson gave in court.

Brett Bowe — Direct Brett Bowe Kenneth R. Kratz

311 lines

Brett Bowe described security and large-scale searches at and around the Avery property; the court admitted property photographs numbered 79 through 86.

Brett Bowe — Cross Brett Bowe Dean A. Strang

312 lines

Strang tested Bowe's knowledge of search assignments and March entry logs; the court reserved ruling on admission of the five-page garage log.

Brett Bowe — Redirect Brett Bowe Kenneth R. Kratz

24 lines

Bowe clarified nighttime lighting, the limits of a citizen group's search, and differences in searchers' evidence training.

Recross

Brett Bowe — Recross Brett Bowe Dean A. Strang

26 lines

Bowe clarified how nighttime search lights were moved; the court later declined to allow juror questions to witnesses.

Highlights

Brett Bowe — Directtestimony highlightBowe described searches beyond the salvage yard, including quarry ponds, and qualified that some wooded portions of the surrounding acreage did not receive the same large-scale hand search.Brett Bowe — Direct“There were probably portions of it that were not searched.”— Brett BoweBowe qualified the extent of the searches outside the salvage yard.Brett Bowe — Directtestimony highlightBowe said teams searched approximately 4,000 salvaged vehicles on November 6 for a body, opening trunks and hoods and marking searched vehicles or groups.Brett Bowe — CrossrulingAfter Strang moved to admit the five-page Exhibit 125 and the State asked to be heard after the witness examination, the court reserved its ruling.

Peter O'Connor — Direct Peter O'Connor Kenneth R. Kratz

69 lines

Peter O'Connor described the first roadside roadblock at Avery Road, vehicles leaving the property, and the limits of his search involvement.

Peter O'Connor — Cross Peter O'Connor Dean A. Strang

144 lines

Strang used a dispatch recording to test O'Connor's account of the first roadblock, vehicles that passed it, and his later logging duty.

Peter O'Connor — Redirect Peter O'Connor Kenneth R. Kratz

27 lines

O'Connor located his Avery Road vehicle stop on an aerial photograph, which the court admitted as Exhibit 127.

Recross

Peter O'Connor — Recross Peter O'Connor Dean A. Strang

6 lines

O'Connor said he did not start a November 5 access log and did not know whether another officer had.

Highlights

Peter O'Connor — Crosstestimony highlightO'Connor said he thought two vehicles got past him before the roadblock was set up, but could not tell what number he had said on the garbled recording.

Jason Orth — Direct Jason Orth Kenneth R. Kratz

128 lines

Orth described finding and identifying the RAV4, then watching it while officers secured the area.

Jason Orth — Cross Jason Orth Jerome F. Buting

178 lines

Buting tested Orth's view into the RAV4, his access-log account, and the scope of his watch over the vehicle.

Jason Orth — Redirect Jason Orth Kenneth R. Kratz

12 lines

Orth described a brief look inside the RAV4, an item that stood out against the darker interior, and no dark blood seen.

Highlights

Jason Orth — Directtestimony highlightOrth described the RAV4's location, missing rear plate, and branches and other objects covering or leaning against it; he said Teresa was not visible inside.Jason Orth — Crosstestimony highlightOrth distinguished what he saw through the rear window—a name on an item he described in his report as a smaller piece of paper—from his later understanding, based on Detective Remiker's report, that it was a digital camera card.Jason Orth — Cross“In my report, I indicated that I observed a smaller piece of paper with Teresa's name on it. After reviewing Detective Remiker's report, that is when I learned it was some type of digital camera card.”— Jason OrthSeparates Orth's own observation from the later identification he learned from another officer's report.Jason Orth — CrossimpeachmentButing confronted Orth with a 2:45 p.m. report entry stating that he started an access log. Orth said he had begun a rough log earlier, prepared a final log later, and no longer had the rough notes.

Todd Hermann — Direct Todd Hermann Kenneth R. Kratz

88 lines

Hermann described the initial watch over the RAV4, said he saw no one disturb it, and explained the transfer of scene security to Calumet County.

Todd Hermann — Cross Todd Hermann Jerome F. Buting

202 lines

Buting tested Hermann on conflict concerns, the RAV4's condition, gaps in the southwest perimeter, and the timing of Calumet County's takeover of vehicle security.