Latest / The Epstein Chronicles / Murder In Moscow: The Experts Behind The case Against Bryan Kohberger (Part 14) (9/11/26)

Transcript

Murder In Moscow: The Experts Behind The case Against Bryan Kohberger (Part 14) (9/11/26) · The Epstein Chronicles

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  Speaker 1: What's up everyone and welcome back to the program. In
• 0:03
  Speaker 1: this episode we're going to pick up where we left
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  Speaker 1: off with the experts behind the Brian Koberger case. Exhibit S11.
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  Speaker 1: Amended Supplemental Expert Disclosure, Catherine White. The state has previously
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  Speaker 1: disclosed Catherine White, formerly Dace, Forensic Scientist 3, as an
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  Speaker 1: expert witness in the field of biology and DNA, which
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  Speaker 1: includes but in no way is limited to DNA extraction, quantification,
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  Speaker 1: and amplification, analysis, and interpretation analysis, including but not limited
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  Speaker 1: to STR data, YSTR data, and STR mix, probabilistic genotyping,
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  Speaker 1: forensic biology, serology, which includes but in no way is
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  Speaker 1: limited to examination of evidence for the presence of biological fluids,
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  Speaker 1: and trace evidence. The state hereby incorporates its response and
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  Speaker 1: attachments filed on December 18, 2024 and February 16, 2025.
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  Speaker 1: and is hereby supplementing those responses as follows. White may
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  Speaker 1: testify about DNA, which is genetic material contained in cells
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  Speaker 1: that may be utilized for human identification. DNA may be
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  Speaker 1: present on an item in the form of biological materials
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  Speaker 1: such as blood, semen, and saliva, or it may be
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  Speaker 1: left on an item when it's handled. Biological evidence and
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  Speaker 1: possible potential DNA evidence is collected for preservation and may
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  Speaker 1: be sent for further testing by qualified analysts. DNA can
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  Speaker 1: be collected by swabbing an item or by taking a
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  Speaker 1: cutting directly from an item. Reference DNA samples can be
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  Speaker 1: collected directly from individuals. DNA can be used to identify individuals,
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  Speaker 1: link individuals to crime scenes, link crime scenes, as well
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  Speaker 1: as exclude individuals from DNA profiles that we obtain. There
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  Speaker 1: are four steps to DNA analysis. One, extraction. Add chemicals
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  Speaker 1: to break open all the cells to release the DNA. Two, quantification.
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  Speaker 1: Amount of DNA is measured within each sample. Three, amplification.
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  Speaker 1: Copy the specific location of DNA using a chain reaction. Four,
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  Speaker 1: developing DNA profile. Visualize the DNA profile, which looks like
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  Speaker 1: peaks on a graph. Comparisons can be between evidence and
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  Speaker 1: reference samples to include or exclude an individual from a
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  Speaker 1: single source or mixture DNA profile. For exclusions to single
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  Speaker 1: source profiles, the exclusion can be made by visually comparing
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  Speaker 1: DNA profiles. For mixture samples, a software tool, STRmix, can
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  Speaker 1: be used to aid in this comparison. White may explain
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  Speaker 1: how reference samples can be used for comparison and how
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  Speaker 1: an individual may be excluded as a contributor to a
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  Speaker 1: DNA profile. White was able to exclude a suspect as
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  Speaker 1: the source of the DNA profile previously obtained from item 1.1.
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  Speaker 1: This conclusion is explained in White's report, 6, Bates Pages,
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  Speaker 1: 607 through 626. White was the analyst tasked with performing
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  Speaker 1: presumptive testing, swabbing, and examinations on several items taken from
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  Speaker 1: 127 Parkside Avenue, Blakeslee, Pennsylvania, which was taken from the
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  Speaker 1: trash from Kohlberger's residence at 119 Lambsden Drive, Albrightville, Pennsylvania.
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  Speaker 1: White forwarded these items to DNA analysis. White is anticipated
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  Speaker 1: to explain what presumptive testing as well as the purpose
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  Speaker 1: and process of swabbing and examining evidence. Further details regarding
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  Speaker 1: the processing of items from the trash pull can be
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  Speaker 1: found in White's Report 16. Exhibit S12, Amended Supplemental Expert Disclosure,
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  Speaker 1: Stephanie Witt. The state has previously disclosed Stephanie Wilt, excuse me, Wilt,
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  Speaker 1: not Witt, Wilt. The state has previously disclosed Stephanie Wilt,
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  Speaker 1: forensic scientist, as an expert witness in the field of
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  Speaker 1: forensic biology and DNA. which includes but in no way
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  Speaker 1: is limited to DNA extraction and quantification. The state hereby
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  Speaker 1: incorporates its previous responses and attachments filed on December 18, 2024,
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  Speaker 1: and is hereby supplementing those responses as follows. Wilt can
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  Speaker 1: be expected to testify about trace evidence as well as
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  Speaker 1: the presumptive testing for the presence of blood. A presumptive
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  Speaker 1: blood test is a preliminary screening test used to indicate
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  Speaker 1: the possible presence of blood. Presumptive testing is performed by
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  Speaker 1: taking a small sample of a suspected blood stain and
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  Speaker 1: adding chemicals. If a color change occurs within one minute,
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  Speaker 1: the stain is presumptive positive. If no color change occurs,
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  Speaker 1: the stain is presumptive negative. Additionally, Wilt may discuss lab
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  Speaker 1: protocol and procedures including collection, including swabbing, examination, consumption, and
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  Speaker 1: the disposition of evidence. Examining evidence is done to identify
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  Speaker 1: biological stains or material presence on items and collect samples
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  Speaker 1: for DNA. Consumption of evidence is using an entire sample
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  Speaker 1: for DNA testing. This is typically utilized when a low
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  Speaker 1: level of DNA is anticipated. More specifically, Miller will provide
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  Speaker 1: an explanation of what DNA is, how DNA can be collected,
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  Speaker 1: and how DNA can be used. Wilt will also discuss
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  Speaker 1: DNA to the following extent. DNA is a genetic material
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  Speaker 1: that contained in cells that may be utilized for human identification.
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  Speaker 1: DNA might be present on an item in the form
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  Speaker 1: of biological materials such as blood, semen, or saliva, or
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  Speaker 1: may be left on an item when it's handled. Biological
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  Speaker 1: evidence and possible potential DNA evidence is collected for preservation
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  Speaker 1: and may be sent for further testing by qualified analysts.
• 5:41
  Speaker 1: DNA can be collected by swabbing an item or by
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  Speaker 1: taking or cutting directly from an item. Reference DNA samples
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  Speaker 1: can be collected directly from individuals. DNA can be used
• 5:52
  Speaker 1: to identify individuals, link individuals to crime scenes, link crime
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  Speaker 1: scenes as well as exclude individuals from DNA profiles that
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  Speaker 1: we obtain. Wilt will also testify about what trace evidence
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  Speaker 1: is and how it's collected for analysis. Trace biological evidence
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  Speaker 1: includes skin cells or hair. Skin cells are collected by
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  Speaker 1: swabbing areas of interest and hairs can be collected by
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  Speaker 1: by manually removing them from an item. Wilt will testify
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  Speaker 1: that she swabbed item 1, Ka-Bar Knife Sheath, for DNA collection.
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  Speaker 1: Wilt's testimony will include how the item was examined, what
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  Speaker 1: observations were made prior to collection, and how the different
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  Speaker 1: areas of item 1 were swabbed separately. Item 1-1, swab
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  Speaker 1: of front strap. Item 1.2, swab of edges on handle portion.
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  Speaker 1: Item 1.3, swab of edges on blade portion. item 1.4
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  Speaker 1: swab stain on the back. Wilt will testify that she
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  Speaker 1: forwarded the swabs from item 1 along with DNA analysis.
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  Speaker 1: Wilt's involvement regarding item 1 can be found in report 1,
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  Speaker 1: Bates pages 265 through 266. Report 1 contains several photos
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  Speaker 1: of item 1 that may be used to aid Wilt's testimony.
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  Speaker 1: Wilt swabbed many items for DNA analysis, in this case,
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  Speaker 1: which items are described in report 3, Bates pages 265 492-506.
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  Speaker 1: Report 8. Bates Pages 507-511. Report 9. Bates Pages 512-523.
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  Speaker 1: Report 14. Bates Pages 5647-5661. Report 22. Bates Pages 5684-5720.
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  Speaker 1: Report 29. Bates Pages 9309-9313. Report 33. Bates Pages 14-299,
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  Speaker 1: and 14-309, and Report 35, Bates Pages, 14-630 through 14-640. However,
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  Speaker 1: the state intends to explore Report 1 during Will's testimony
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  Speaker 1: more extensively. Exhibit S13, Amended Supplemental Expert Disclosure, Haley Youngling.
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  Speaker 1: The state has previously disclosed Haley Youngling, Forensic Scientist 1,
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  Speaker 1: as an expert witness in the field of forensic science,
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  Speaker 1: which includes, but in no way is limited to, latent prints,
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  Speaker 1: buccal swab collection, and scene processing. The state hereby incorporates
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  Speaker 1: its previous responses and attachments, fueled on December 18, 2024,
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  Speaker 1: and is hereby supplementing its responses as follows. Youngling may
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  Speaker 1: discuss the process of photographing crime scenes. The purpose of
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  Speaker 1: processing the crime scene is to collect as much information
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  Speaker 1: and evidence as possible in a pristine condition as possible.
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  Speaker 1: The process involves assessing the situation and the scene. observing
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  Speaker 1: the condition of the scene, documentation of the scene via photography,
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  Speaker 1: written observations, sketches, or diagrams, searching systematically for items or
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  Speaker 1: materials that may have evidentiary value, collecting items in a
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  Speaker 1: way that will preserve them and prevent alteration, contamination and tampering,
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  Speaker 1: and chemical or physical processing if needed to detect evidence
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  Speaker 1: that is not readily available. Items that may have evidentiary
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  Speaker 1: value are identified, documented, and collected. Effort is made to ensure...
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  Speaker 1: that items are preserved as found. The types and sizes
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  Speaker 1: of packaging are determined based on the type of evidence,
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  Speaker 1: cigarette butt, paper evidence envelope, paper note receipt, paper evidence envelope,
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  Speaker 1: computer and electronics components, paper evidence envelope or paper bag,
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  Speaker 1: depending on size and examination to be completed. Larger items
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  Speaker 1: like computer towers or monitors that do not fit into
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  Speaker 1: standard evidence bags may be identified with an evidence tag.
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  Speaker 1: Nitrile type glove, paper evidence envelope, Vacuum dust container, paper
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  Speaker 1: evidence bag. Items may be processed for latent prints on
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  Speaker 1: scene or collected for future processing in the laboratory. Latent
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  Speaker 1: print evidence can be developed on scene by using light enhancement,
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  Speaker 1: powder or blood enhancing chemicals, observed or developed prints are
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  Speaker 1: preserved with photography and or tape lifting. Preserved impressions can
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  Speaker 1: be used for further latent print analysis. DNA evidence may
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  Speaker 1: be collected at a crime scene if there is observable
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  Speaker 1: biological material in the form of blood, semen, saliva, hair
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  Speaker 1: or other tissue present. Some biological material may not be
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  Speaker 1: visible but may be collected for its possible presence. Possible
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  Speaker 1: DNA material refers to areas or items that are likely
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  Speaker 1: to have DNA based on the details of the case
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  Speaker 1: or known activities. Potential DNA material refers to areas or
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  Speaker 1: items that may have DNA based on how they may
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  Speaker 1: have been handled. Touch DNA. Biological DNA material on a
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  Speaker 1: smaller item is generally collected by collecting the entire item, e.g. shirt, weapon, bottle.
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  Speaker 1: Visible biological DNA material on structural surface, e.g. floor, wall,
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  Speaker 1: or on a large object, furniture. is generally collected by
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  Speaker 1: using one or two sterile cotton swabs simultaneously. The swabs
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  Speaker 1: may be moistened with sterile water prior to sample collection.
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  Speaker 1: After swabbing the surface, the swabs are allowed to air
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  Speaker 1: dry in porous packaging. Any biological DNA material on those
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  Speaker 1: swabs is preserved and can be used for future testing.
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  Speaker 1: Collection of possible and potential DNA are collected in the
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  Speaker 1: same method as described for visible DNA using sterile water
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  Speaker 1: and sterile swabs. DNA is genetic material contained in human
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  Speaker 1: cells that may be utilized for human identification. DNA may
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  Speaker 1: be present on an item in the form of biological
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  Speaker 1: materials such as blood, semen, and saliva, or may be
• 11:32
  Speaker 1: left on an item when it's handled, touched DNA. Biological
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  Speaker 1: evidence and possible potential DNA evidence is collected for preservation
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  Speaker 1: and may be sent on for further testing by qualified
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  Speaker 1: DNA crime scene personnel. Do not test for DNA specifically.
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  Speaker 1: All right, folks, we're going to wrap up right here.
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  Speaker 1: And in the next episode, we're going to pick up
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  Speaker 1: where we left off. All the information that goes with
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  Speaker 1: this episode can be found in the description box.