Results were inconclusive or unidentified in almost all reports, analyses, and conclusions.
BELL COUNTY, Texas — Day 15 of the Cedric Marks trial began with forensic scientists who did multiple reports on finger prints found on items belonging to Jenna Scott and her friend, Michael Swearingin.
Marks is accused of killing Scott and Swearingin in 2019. Marks is the man accused of murdering Scott and Swearingin back in 2019.
Stephanie Meek was a forensic scientists with the Texas Department of Public Safety. She analyzed and compare prints. She presented her findings in a lab report dated May 5, 2020.
Bonny Manno was appointed friction ridge analyst after Meek became a specialist in quality assurance. Manno produced two more reports.
Even when Marks’ fingerprints were compared with nine other sets, the comparisons proved to be inconclusive.
Manno claims that this is due to insufficient exemplifiers, or poor latent print quality.
Patricia Hafkey who is a Texas Department of Public Safety forensic biologist collected and tested for DNA items including the clothing off Scott and Swearingin’s bodies after they were found. Also, swabs were taken from vehicles and from items belonging to suspects and victims.
Stephen Favela was a trace-evidence forensic scientist at the Texas Department of Public Safety, Austin. He conducted a series of tests on hair.
Two reports were released: one on November 12, 2022, and the other on January 5, 2023.
The prosecution made a motion for the admission of the most recent report, which had just been received on the 15th day of the trial. Marks objected, stating that this was an late submission. The judge initially refused to accept the final test results.
Favela found hair fragments, animal hairs, and body hair on vehicles and items from the home of suspects and victims in this case. The evidence was found in the vehicles and other items of the suspects’ and victims’ homes.
The initial report stated that hair strands had been found in the trunk a white Toyota RAV4 which was registered to Marks’ former girlfriend Rebecca Adney.
The report of Nov. 17 2022 says, “Some possible fragments or head hairs look similar to Jenna Scott’s hair and Michael Swearingin’s hair.”
Favela traced hair strands from the victims to a towel that was found in the suitcase of Marks’ wife, Ginell McConough.
The forensic experts testified that even though the samples of hair looked similar, there was no guarantee.
Duskie only spoke to the prosecution and defense after recess. No reporters were present.
On Monday next week, we will begin the fourth week of trial at the Bell County Justice.
6 News said previously that the start time on Monday would be 10:30 am. However, Monday’s start time is 9 a.m. Wednesday starts later, at 10:30 am.