Photo from puamelia, Creative Commons
Crime Scene Investigators from the San Bernardino Sheriffs testified during the trial of Lawrence Rivera, the accused murderer of Kristina Garcia, on Jan. 18. Garcia’s body was found unburied and in the open off the Yermo Cutoff Road on May 22, 2002.
One of the investigators, Deborah Harris, talked about blood stains inside Rivera’s Mitsubishi sedan. The stains were found on or near the front and rear passenger seats. There were also areas on the front side passenger door that had looked like they were spot-cleaned. Initial tests tested positive for blood as well.
The other investigator, Daniel Gregonis, said that the blood samples taken from the vehicle matched the DNA of Kristina Garcia. The chances of it being another Caucasian woman was one in six billion, which given the population of the Earth, means that it was 99.99999999 percent positive that it was her blood. Material scraped from underneath Garcia’s fingernails also showed a match with Rivera, perhaps after scratching him.
When police initially questioned Rivera, he had a number of visible cuts and scratches which he had attributed to a tree.
Rivera’s attorney Jim Terrell had asked that a pair of socks and a cigarette box found near Garcia’s body be sampled, but the request was denied since there was already DNA evidence. Also, those socks and the box of cigarettes could have come from anywhere.
Terrell also asked that the jury not be told about Rivera’s theft of $2,000 from the little shop where he worked at in Fort Irwin.
A man who was passing out Jesus flyers was called on the stand to testify against Lawrence Rivera, the alleged killer of Kristina Garcia. Rivera is accused of killing Garcia in 2002. The man passing out the flyers identified Garcia as being the man whom he passed flyers to at Garcia’s Lenwood apartment the day [...]
Barstow prepares to salute our veterans – Barstow will be observing Veterans Day on Thursday, November 11.
Veterans Day Observance:
When: 11 a.m., Thursday
Where: Mountain View Cemetery at 37067 Irwin Road
Veterans, and of course representatives from local military bases, and elected officials will be honoring veterans at a special ceremony at the Mountain View Cemetery.
Guest speakers include [...]
