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Steven Avery & Brendan Dassey— Case Archive
personpersonRodney PevytoeRodney PevytoeSpecial agent who examined burn-pit debris and material caught in burned tire wire.← All People
Law enforcementWisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation

Rodney Pevytoe

Special agent who examined burn-pit debris and material caught in burned tire wire.

AppearedSteven AveryBrendan Dassey
567 lines·13 proceedings·7 mentions·2 trials

About

Special Agent Rodney Pevytoe testified about his examination of the Avery-property burn pit and its debris. He described fragments he considered consistent with bone, suspected dental remains, charred material he considered consistent with muscle, and material he identified as bone entangled in burned tire wire. He also examined other sites and compared suspected bone from a burn barrel with the generally smaller fragments he found in pit material. Pevytoe acknowledged that others had removed much of the loose pit material before he arrived, limiting his ability to document its earlier condition. He could not determine when the tires burned or how the suspected bone and wire came together, and he offered raking material from a fire as one possible explanation. In Dassey’s trial, he discussed how fuel affects an open-pit fire but could not establish an exact tire count or the time needed to consume a body.

Trial Record (13)

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

Special Agent Rodney Pevytoe testified in Steven Avery's 2007 trial about suspected bone in burn-pit debris and its association with burned tire wire. Cross-examination established that much of the pit material had been removed before he arrived and that he could not determine when the material burned or how it came together.

Day 9

Day 18

DirectRodney Pevytoe — DirectRodney PevytoeThomas J. Fallon1highlight142lines spoken

Summary

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

Highlights (1)

testimony highlightPevytoe described re-examining previously removed burn pit material and finding suspected bone fragments, a possible tooth fragment, and material he believed was charred muscle tissue; he handed recovered items to Deputy Riemer.Open in transcript →
CrossRodney Pevytoe — CrossRodney PevytoeDean A. Strang3highlights276lines spoken

Summary

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

Highlights (3)

admissionPevytoe said earlier workers had removed the main mass of material from the burn pit before he reached the scene, so he could not photograph its original condition.Open in transcript →
admissionPevytoe accepted several possible explanations for how suspected bone became embedded in tire wire and said he could not select one or date the burning of either material.Open in transcript →
admissionPevytoe acknowledged that he failed to write a smelter report, although photographs and a photo log were made. He described looking into and reaching around the chamber, and said he removed nothing of interest.Open in transcript →

Day 19

Day 23

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

At Brendan Dassey's 2007 trial, Special Agent Rodney Pevytoe testified about suspected remains in burn-pit debris and material he identified as bone in tire wire. His Day 4 cross-examination established limits on what he could say about when the tires burned and how long the fire lasted.

Day 2

Day 4

Day 9