Judge calls it a day. Because of the possibility of snow, the trial won't resume until 10 a.m. Thursday. The judge and lawyers will work on instructions before the trial resumes.
Judge calls it a day. Because of the possibility of snow, the trial won't resume until 10 a.m. Thursday. The judge and lawyers will work on instructions before the trial resumes.
Abel: He reviewed the video of the suspicious man seen earlier in the day at Casey's, who came to the store about 4 a.m. and wanted to come inside. The van had a piece of body missing and he could see the license plate. It was a Dodge. The license plate was the same as Donahue's van that he crashed during the pursuit.
The suspicous person had a distinctive walk - he waddled. Feet are shoulder width apart as he walks.
They are playing video of Donahue taking stolen items out to his van but then he comes back inside and is walking around the store. This is after he put the employees in the cooler and before Halverson arrives.
He takes more items when he comes back up to the front counter.
Abel: Paperwork found in van with names of Marcus and Michael Gomeyer, Gilbert Reynolds and Donahue.
Donahue is 6 foot and weighed about 170 lbs.
Van was registered to him. His sister lived in Ryan.
Michael Gomeyer, 60, previous owner of van. He lives in Chicago. He wasn't in Linn Co in June 2021.
Michael L. Gomeyer, 24, Black male, 5 foot 10, lives in Chicago. He wasn't in Linn Co. in June 2021.
Marcus Gomeyer, Black male, 5 foot 8, lives in Chicago at same address as Michael L. Gomeyer. He wasn't in Linn in June 2021.
Gilbert Reynolds, 68, Black male, lives in Chicago at same address as Marcus Gomeyer. He wasn't in Linn in June 2021.
Most of these photos have been shown duing previous testimony.
Abel is identifying photos of the inside of Casey's store.
Abel: Processed crime scene June 20, 2021. Scene was secured before he arrived. He changed them entering and exiting only through the south door, not front door to make crime scene more secure.
Linn Co. Sheriff's Sgt./Detective Yon Abel takes the stand.
He interviewed Donahue.
Not sure on the spellings of those names because they are witnesses or suspects in this case.
Stiefel asked if a different Michael Gomeyer, with different birth date, came up as possible match to prints.
Kruger: No.
Kruger: Items not matched to defendant were ran through Iowa and FBI data bases. There were no matches.
Anyone that have a conviction for a felony would be in FBI database.
Michael Gomeyer has a conviction and would be in database but prints didn't come back to him.
Gilbert Reynolds had a convition and would be in data base but prints didn't match him.
Those were names the defense keeps asking bringing up.
We are back.
Judge calls for break. Be back in 15 or so min.
Maybanks is making an offer of proof outside presence of jury.
Kruger under redirect: Print on magazine matching Donahue - he can rule out anybody else. It belonged to Donahue.
When he was given print to examine, he wasn't told who it might match.
This print on magazine has areas of high quality.
Kruger: None of the other prints he was given to exam matched Donahue or were not suitable for identification.
Many prints from cigar box - 7 didn't match Donahue, 3 couldn't be identified.
Kruger under cross: He's not a certified latent print examiner. He has training and experience on it.
Kruger: He knew Donahue was the suspect.
There were two fingerprints on magazine. One print didn't match Donahue or another known print.
There were other prints on cigarette carton that didn't match Donahue.
He was given three or four prints to identify. Other prints were not of any value.
The photo shows the 17 characteristic points on the photo of the prints.
Kruger: There are two unique points in his ridge detail.
Kruger is identifying the print taken from the magazine and Donahue's print.
Kruger: Prints taken from magazine of Sig Sauer was submitted for identification. Print matched Donahue. He noted 17 ridge characteristics that matched known prints of Donahue. This was a partial print and he had more than double the characteristics needed to make quality identification.
It matched Donahue's left index finger.
Kruger: Out of the Cigarette cartons stolen there one print of value to compare. It didn't belong to Donahue. He was excluded.
CR police officer Kraig Kruger, a crime scene investigator, takes the stand.
He will testify about fingerprints found on evidence in this case.
They are bringing in the jury.
It looks like it might be longer. Hang in there. Hopefully, we will get going in another 15 min. or so.
The trial will resume in a few minutes. The judge is taking up some issues with the attorneys outside the presence of the jury.
Judge calls for lunch. Be back at 1:17 pm
Beuter is excused.
Beuter under redirect: The person picked up by thermal camera was an law enforcement officer.
Beuter: He retraced route of canine track with a drone on June 23.
He also retrieved bullet fragment from UIHC officials that was in Halverson and talked to him.
Beuter under cross: 11:29 p.m. June 20, 2021 thermal camera picked up something. Could have been human.
He didn't find out who was the law enforcement officer that showed Christianson a photo on June 21. He contact different departments but couldn't find anyone who did show a photo. He doesn't know if the photo was of Donahue or someone else.
Beuter is identifying photos taken by drone of items found in cornfields and ditch.
Beuter: Received a call about cows mowing on upper Boulder Road. Law enforcement heard them and checked it out. Also had drones in area.
He said they learned Donahue had a sister in Ryan, north of Coggon. Sister is Latrise Jones. Delaware Co deputies talked to her. Donahue wasn't at her home. Beuter was there for about 20 min.
Beuter: He called out the drone team to help search for Donahue. He is part of drone team.
The perimeter was north from Hwy 13 and then about two miles east from Aldridge Road east two miles. 5 miles by 2 miles wide.
Marion officer said a person told him he thought he saw someone crossing Hwy 13. The person who reported wasn't identified. Between Nugent and Monticello Road crossing Hwy 13.
The drones were up about half hour after that. Drones searching area was using thermal camera. Nobody found. Others were on the ground searching area and residences, along with barns or other building.
Linn Co. Sheriff's Lt. Dave Beuter takes the stand
Beuter is in charge of criminal division.
Payne: He wrote search warrant on June 23 to obtain DNA sample from Donahue for any testing.
Payne under cross: Donahue cooperated with getting DNA sample.
Payne is excused.
Linn Co. Sheriff's Sgt./Detective Tim Payne takes the stand
Payne: During cornfield searches, he walked along Aldridge Road and found a pair of tan Timberland boots and hooded sweatshirt in the ditch. These items belonged to Donahue and came into evidence on Tuesday.
Photo of grass matted down - it's initially what caught Payne's eye to look in ditch. There was also a folded business card in ditch.
Grote is excused.
Grote: On June 22, he was with O'Brien when they searched cornfields.
Cell phone. loose change, movie and Subway cards, library card for Christianson. Some items spread out in line going NE, away from Aldridge Road.
Grote: The cornfield came up him about mid-thigh to his waist. If someone was there, it would be easy to see them.
Linn Co. Sheriff's Sgt./Detective Corey Grote takes the stand.
O'Brien on re-direct: Pawn receipt date - Nov. 11, 2020.
O'Brien is excused.
O'Brien under cross: Found pawn shop receipt of Michael Gomeyer. Gomeyer was a previous owner of van.
The defense continues to ask about a Michael and Marcus Gomeyer and Gilbert Reynolds, but none of the witneses have known them.
O'Brien: She doesn't know about any investigation into those three men. She thinks Sgt. Abel may know.
We are back.
Judge calls for break. Be back in 15 min.
O'Brien: They found about $16, including change, in the cornfields.
Photo of cornfield where they found some of the items.
Library card of Christianson's was found near cell phone.
Subway rewards card was partially bury under the dirt and then found a movie gift card.
Cellphone charger found in other cornfield.
These items were found in three different cornfields in search area.
O'Brien is showing the jurors the Sig Sauer pistol. The gun doesn't have bullets in it.
She sat in with another deputy when Donahue was interviewed on June 21 after his arrest.
On June 22, they went back to area where he was arrested and searched for broken corn stalks - where Bingo lost the track on June 20 - any evidence from the robbery. they did a line search. The officers were spread out and all walked forward to search.
They searched around the house Donahue ran by when Omar was pursuing him on foot.
They found a cell phone, loose change, empty roll of quarters, library card, other cards in the area.
They also used drones.
Found broken stalks to locate direction of travel - path went NW- they then found phone charger, loose change, lighter, $10 bill and loose change.
Photos:
Glove compartment - breath alcohol test for another person.
Tax return for Donahue
O'Brien is identifying photos of van. Damage to front right side of van, Inside both airbags were deployed. Keys were left in ignition after Donahue fled on foot.
Disposable face masks, carton of cigarettes, garbage bag with items, gift cards, cigars, earbuds, rolls of quarters, car registration and title of van in center console.
Vehicle registration 6/18/21.
Halverson's Glock and Sig Sauer pistol owned by Donahue. Both on floorboard.
O'Brien: Wrote search warrant for suspect's 2003 Dodge Caravan van. She ran license plate to see who was the owner. Donahue was the owner of the van.
She executed warrant on June 21, 2021. The van was at a towing company. Donahue hadn't been arrested yet.
Found 8 cartons of cigarettes, cigars, phone chargers, Casey's gift cards, garbage bag with items, employees' personal belongings, Halverson's firearm with light attached - Glock 22 - on driver's side floorboard. Another gun - Sig Sauer, also a 40 caliber, which according to Tuesday's testimony, was used by Donahue to shoot Halverson seven times.
Registration in van - Stanley Donahue. There were keys in the van, key fob. Tax retur, two Illinois plates in trunk area. Those were for another car belonging to Donahue.
Linn Co. Sheriff's Sgt./Detective Heather O'Brien takes the stand.
Jacob Christianson, former Casey's employee who testified last week, takes the stand. The prosecution has recalled him to address some things.
Christianson said his car was the gray one in the parking. The defense brought up that question the other day.
Christianson said he was able to see Donahue's face in the store.
Christianson is excused.
Good morning all! The trial will get started in a few minutes. The judge is going over some things with the attorneys.