Expert witnessWisconsin State Crime Laboratory (Madison)

Nick Stahlke

Crime-lab bloodstain-pattern specialist who interpreted stains inside Teresa Halbach's RAV4.

574 lines·16 proceedings·9 mentions·2 trials

About

Nick Stahlke, a Wisconsin crime-lab forensic scientist, interpreted bloodstain patterns in Teresa Halbach’s RAV4. He described passenger-area stains as consistent with someone actively bleeding and a cargo-area pattern as strongly suggestive of contact by bloody head hair. He said rear-area patterns were consistent with a body being loaded into the vehicle, but qualified that account as a possible scenario. Questioning established limits on those interpretations: he could not determine a timeline or identify the bodily source of most cargo-area stains, and he did not know whether cleaning had occurred. In Dassey’s trial, he also said he saw no indication of bleach use on the back of the RAV4.

Trial Record (16)

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

Nick Stahlke testified as a bloodstain-pattern expert in Steven Avery's 2007 trial, interpreting stains inside Teresa Halbach's RAV4. Under cross-examination, he maintained his interpretation of a cargo-area hair-transfer stain but acknowledged limits on the blood estimate, possible cleanup, and what the stains could establish.

Day 10

Feb 23, 2007

DirectRonald L. Groffy — DirectRonald L. GroffyNorman A. GahnMentioned

Summary

Groffy identified vehicle photographs and reported positive presumptive blood tests on two areas of the RAV4.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

CrossRonald L. Groffy — CrossRonald L. GroffyJerome F. ButingMentioned

Summary

Groffy described limits on his RAV4 testing, clarified photograph timing and fingerprint markings, and testified about the driver's-seat fit. The court admitted the vehicle photographs.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 11

Feb 26, 2007

DirectNick Stahlke — DirectNick StahlkeNorman A. Gahn1highlight64lines spoken

Summary

Stahlke described photographed stains inside the RAV4; a proposed link between a hand cut and a dashboard stain drew foundation and disclosure objections.

Highlights (1)

testimony highlightUsing Exhibit 290, Stahlke described the driver's-seat stain as thicker than an ordinary contact transfer and said it might instead be a passive drop.Open in transcript →

ProceduralHearing on scope and disclosure of Stahlke’s bloodstain opinion1highlightMentioned

Summary

The judge sustained the defense's objection to a proposed bloodstain opinion linking a photographed cut to a dashboard stain.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Highlights (1)

objectionOutside the jury's presence, counsel disputed whether Stahlke's report disclosed an opinion linking a photographed cut to the dashboard stain and whether he had a foundation for that link.Open in transcript →

DirectNick Stahlke — Direct ContinuedNick StahlkeNorman A. Gahn2highlights66lines spoken

Summary

Stahlke interpreted RAV4 cargo-area and rear-door bloodstains, described disconnected battery cables, and compared stains in two vehicles; the judge then required notice of further frame-up evidence.

Highlights (2)

testimony highlightStahlke identified cargo-area contact-transfer stains, including a pattern he said was indicative of bloody hair, and agreed that the combined stains were consistent with a body with bloody hair having been present.Open in transcript →

testimony highlightUsing the rear-door photograph, Stahlke described impact stains with flow patterns. He said they were consistent with a bloody object such as a body being put into the vehicle, while expressly noting that this interpretation did not require bloody hair.Open in transcript →

Day 12

Feb 27, 2007

CrossNick Stahlke — CrossNick StahlkeDean A. Strang265lines spoken

Summary

Strang tested the limits of Stahlke's RAV4 bloodstain analysis, including blood quantity, possible cleanup, absent stains on vehicle controls, and what the cargo-area patterns could establish.

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.

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

In Brendan Dassey's 2007 trial, crime-lab criminalist Nick Stahlke interpreted bloodstains in Teresa Halbach's RAV4 as consistent with an actively bleeding person in the passenger area and possible loading of a body with bloody head hair into the cargo area. Cross-examination established limits on what the stains could show about wounds and timing.

Day 3

Apr 18, 2007

DirectNick Stahlke — DirectNick StahlkeNorman A. Gahn82lines spoken

Summary

Nick Stahlke interpreted RAV4 bloodstains as consistent with an actively bleeding person in the passenger area and a possible loading of a body with bloody head hair into the cargo area.

CrossNick Stahlke — CrossNick StahlkeRaymond L. Edelstein87lines spoken

Summary

Stahlke limited what the RAV 4 stains could show about wound locations and timing, and identified scene work and blowback testing he had not performed.

RedirectNick Stahlke — RedirectNick StahlkeNorman A. Gahn8lines spoken

Summary

Stahlke clarified limits of the RAV4 bloodstains and discussed factors that could affect visible blood or later detection.

RecrossNick Stahlke — RecrossNick StahlkeRaymond L. Edelstein1highlight1line spoken

Summary

Stahlke said he saw no indication of bleach use on the back of the RAV4.

Highlights (1)

admissionAsked whether anything he saw on the back of the RAV4 suggested bleach use, Stahlke said he had no information indicating that and saw nothing that would indicate it.Open in transcript →

Day 5

Apr 20, 2007

CrossMark Wiegert — Cross-examination resumesMark WiegertRaymond L. EdelsteinMentioned

Summary

Edelstein tested Wiegert's interview tactics, gaps in the February 27 transcript, and the scientific link between listed physical items and Brendan Dassey.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 7

Apr 23, 2007

CrossMichael Riddle — CrossMichael RiddleNorman A. GahnMentioned

Summary

Riddle explained why shell casings may yield no comparable prints and agreed that finding no Steven Avery fingerprints in the RAV4 did not establish his absence.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 9

Apr 25, 2007

ClosingProsecution closing argument by Thomas J. FallonThomas J. FallonMentioned

Summary

Fallon argued that Dassey's statements were corroborated, that his alleged acts made him a party to all three crimes, and that the jury should return guilty verdicts.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

ClosingDefense closing argument by Mark R. FremgenMark R. FremgenMentioned

Summary

Fremgen argued that forensic gaps and changing details in Dassey's statements left reasonable doubt.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

RebuttalProsecution rebuttal closing argument by Thomas J. FallonThomas J. FallonMentioned

Summary

Fallon rebutted challenges to Dassey's statements and the forensic gaps, played part of the March 1 interview, and requested guilty verdicts.

Mentioned in this proceeding.