Former Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) agent David Gratz continued his testimony on Monday morning. He told the jury several items of evidence recovered on the night Evelyn’s remains were found were sent to TBI labs for analysis.
Assistant District Attorney Amber Massengill provided Gratz with a piece of evidence that he identified as the trash can Evelyn was found in. Gratz removed the white trash can from its container and showed it to the jury.
Gratz said the black residue on the trash can was the result of the TBI lab searching for fingerprints. He also noted that pieces of the trash can had also been removed for analysis and said it did not look exactly like it had the night the child was found.
Next, Massengill provided Gratz with a piece of gum that had been stuck to the inside of the trash can when Evelyn’s remains were recovered. Gratz confirmed it was collected as evidence and sent for analysis.
Gratz also identified the trash bag Evelyn’s body was in at the time investigators recovered her remains on March 6, 2020. He told the jury that it had undergone extensive analysis at a TBI lab like the trash can.
Massengill also provided a water bottle that Gratz said was found in the trash can. Gratz was unable to recall if the bottle had been in the bag or elsewhere in the trash can.
Gratz was then given several pieces of evidence, one of which was aluminum foil.
“It was in the trash can, wrapped around the victim’s head,” Gratz said. Gratz unfolded the aluminum foil and showed three larger pieces to the jury, as well as some smaller ones. He clarified that it had been flattened and folded in order to be processed, but it had been formed to Evelyn’s head when she was found.
On one piece, Gratz noted there was material residue that he identified as “human decomposition.” Gratz also identified hair collected from the aluminum foil.
Massengill gave Gratz another piece of foil that he said could fall apart if he were to handle it. Gratz told the jury that the foil had markings on it from when it underwent analysis at the TBI lab.
Gratz identified the outfit Evelyn had been wearing when she was found on March 6, 2020, a fleece onesie with penguins on it. He also noted there was some “insect debris” along with the outfit in the bag. The onesie had several stains on it when Gratz held it up to show the jury.
The next item identified was the gray and white blanket wrapped around Evelyn’s body in the trash can.
The court then entered a recess due to at least one juror becoming ill because of the smell of the evidence.
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by raisedbywolves
