Law enforcementWisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation

Kevin Heimerl

Special agent who examined burned debris and helped search Steven Avery's garage.

431 lines·17 proceedings·10 mentions·2 trials

About

Special Agent Kevin Heimerl testified about examining burned material and searching Steven Avery’s garage. He described sorting burn-area debris visually and recovering Daisy Fuentes-stamped clothing rivets, without identifying who had worn the clothing. During the March garage searches, he found two bullet items in separate locations; other investigators’ testimony distinguished his discoveries from collection of the fragments. Heimerl acknowledged that he had not seen the garage interior in November 2005 and that his later observations and measurements could not establish where items had been then. In Dassey’s trial, questioning also addressed the lack of video of the garage search, photographed markers from an earlier search, and his team’s decision to package a roller creeper whole rather than swab it on site. He testified that investigators learned of a reported garage shooting from Dassey on March 1.

Trial Record (17)

AverySteven AveryFeb 12, 2007 – Mar 18, 2007Called by prosecution

In Steven Avery's 2007 trial, Special Agent Kevin Heimerl described sorting burned debris and finding two bullet fragments during the March garage searches. On cross-examination, he acknowledged that his March observations and measurements could not establish the garage's November condition.

Day 6

Feb 19, 2007

DirectDavid Siders — DirectDavid SidersKenneth R. KratzMentioned

Summary

Siders described finding a burn barrel and apparent cell-phone parts during a field search, then explained his handling of the barrel before three photographs were admitted.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

ProceduralExhibit Admissions and End-of-Day Counsel MattersMentioned

Summary

The court admitted several exhibit groups, corrected the status of Exhibits 89 and 28, and clarified how disputed photograph dates could be presented to the jury.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 8

Feb 21, 2007

DirectDave Remiker — DirectDave RemikerKenneth R. KratzMentioned

Summary

Remiker described identifying Halbach's RAV4, assisting with property searches, recording an answering-machine message, and collecting a garage bullet fragment.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 9

Feb 22, 2007

DirectGary Steier — DirectGary SteierKenneth R. KratzMentioned

Summary

Steier described collection and custody of two garage bullet fragments, distinguished Lenk's presence at the perimeter from entry into the garage, and the court admitted the exhibits.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

DirectKevin Heimerl — DirectKevin HeimerlKenneth R. Kratz131lines spoken

Summary

Heimerl described burn-pit debris sorting, a marked clothing rivet, and his discovery of two bullets during the March garage search.

CrossKevin Heimerl — CrossKevin HeimerlJerome F. Buting119lines spoken

Summary

Buting tested what the March garage search could establish about November conditions, along with Heimerl's observations of bullets, burned debris, and blood spatter.

RedirectKevin Heimerl — RedirectKevin HeimerlKenneth R. Kratz5lines spoken

Summary

Heimerl said the garage was padlocked between search days but could not identify which day the padlock photograph showed.

RecrossKevin Heimerl — RecrossKevin HeimerlJerome F. Buting4lines spoken

Summary

Heimerl said he understood Avery was jailed during the period in question and could not have entered the garage; the court then admitted four exhibits.

Day 13

Feb 28, 2007

DirectThomas Sturdivant — DirectThomas SturdivantThomas J. FallonMentioned

Summary

Sturdivant described finding apparent bone fragments near the burn pit, sifting debris with Crime Lab personnel, and preserving the scene; exhibits 363–371 and 373 were admitted.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 18

Mar 7, 2007

DirectRodney Pevytoe — DirectRodney PevytoeThomas J. FallonMentioned

Summary

Pevytoe described burn pit recoveries, comparisons with barrel contents, and examinations of other possible burn sites.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

CrossRodney Pevytoe — CrossRodney PevytoeDean A. StrangMentioned

Summary

Pevytoe described limits on the burn-site recovery, the origin and timing of burned material, and his smelter documentation.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 19

Mar 8, 2007

ProceduralHearing on proposed Kakatsch testimonyMentioned

Summary

After a defense offer of proof, the court excluded proposed testimony from Ms. Kakatsch as minimally probative and potentially confusing.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 23

Mar 14, 2007

ClosingState’s Closing Argument by Kenneth KratzKenneth R. KratzMentioned

Summary

Kratz began the State's closing with the RAV4, blood and DNA evidence, and burned electronics; an objection led the court to remind jurors that argument is not fact.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

ClosingState’s Closing Argument ResumesKenneth R. KratzMentioned

Summary

Kratz completed the State's closing by linking its timeline, burn-area, firearm, and DNA arguments and requesting guilty verdicts on the three remaining charges.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

DasseyBrendan DasseyApr 16, 2007 – Apr 25, 2007Called by prosecution

Kevin Heimerl testified in Brendan Dassey's trial about burned debris and a garage search that located two bullet items. Cross-examination tested the limits of his observations and the search documentation; on redirect, he addressed when investigators learned of a reported shooting in the garage.

Day 2

Apr 17, 2007

DirectKevin Heimerl — DirectKevin HeimerlKenneth R. Kratz5highlights83lines spoken

Summary

Kevin Heimerl described a burn barrel, the sorting of burned debris, and a garage search that located two bullet items.

Highlights (5)

testimony highlightHeimerl identified the burn barrel in photographs, described seeing burned debris and a possible Motorola device cover, and said others handled the barrel's later processing.Open in transcript →

testimony highlightHeimerl explained the manual examination of burned debris, Dr. Eisenberg's role in assessing possible bone, and the recovery of five Daisy Fuentes-stamped rivets.Open in transcript →

testimony highlightHeimerl said Brendan Dassey's statements prompted a new search warrant, then described the March 1–2 garage search and the paint thinner and roller creeper found there.Open in transcript →

evidence eventHeimerl identified a bullet or bullet portion beside marker 9 in a concrete crack and said he believed the packaged Exhibit 114 was that item.Open in transcript →

Show all 5 highlights

evidence eventHeimerl identified a second bullet under the air compressor near marker 23 and described the related photographs and packaged Exhibit 113.Open in transcript →

CrossKevin Heimerl — CrossKevin HeimerlMark R. Fremgen1highlight86lines spoken

Summary

Heimerl was questioned about burn-debris handling, garage-search documentation, the bullet fragment, and why the creeper was packaged rather than swabbed on site.

Highlights (1)

admissionHeimerl confirmed that the garage search itself was not videotaped; video was taken before and after it.Open in transcript →

RedirectKevin Heimerl — RedirectKevin HeimerlKenneth R. Kratz1highlight3lines spoken

Summary

Heimerl confirmed when officers were told about a shooting in the garage and who supplied the information.

Highlights (1)

testimony highlightHeimerl agreed that law enforcement was not told until March 1 that Teresa Halbach was shot in the garage, and confirmed that Mr. Dassey supplied that information.Open in transcript →