Inventory of Items Found and Analysis

Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department Oxford Mississippi CAPS/Homicide Division Detective Terrence Nelson Case #: 129152-36A-1998 -- Taylor Evidence Records #: HYC - 012695 Examiner: Brian P. Lansing Forensics Services Laboratory Report Mississippi Crime Lab Jackson, MS 39201 Evidence Items Submitted 2/20/98: Item# 012695-0001 -- one standard black leather bifold menís wallet, recovered from victim D. Taylor Item# 012695-0002 -- one green fanny pack measuring 10 in. x 7 in. x 6 in., recovered from exhumation near body of C. Taylor Evidence Items Submitted 2/21/98: Item# 012695-0003 -- one Wenger Genuine Swiss Army Knife, Master Fisherman Item# 012695-0004 -- one Shrade-Walden lockback knife, Uncle Henry Item# 012695-0005 -- one Wenger Genuine Swiss Army Knife, Timberline in black ballistic cloth pouch Item# 012695-0006 -- one Remington 581-S Sportsman Rifle .22 gauge, no clip, aluminum hard case with sling Item# 012695-0007 -- one Winchester 94 30-30 lever action rifle, aluminum hard case with sling Evidence Items Submitted 3/4/98: Item# 012695-0008 -- one 21" Samsonite blue leather tote bag Item# 012695-0009 -- one 28" Samsonite hard side pullman suitcase - blue Item# 012695-0010 -- one 28" Samsonite hard side pullman suitcase - gray Item# 012695-0011 -- one canvas duffle bag -- natural Item# 012695-0012 -- one Samsonite hard side cosmetic case Item# 012695-0013 -- one Samsonite gray softside garment bag Item# 012695-0014 -- one black leather skate bag, torn Item# 012695-0015 -- one black leather skate bag, missing handle Item# 012695-0016 -- one dark blue leather skate bag, torn Item# 012695-0016 -- one dark blue leather skate bag Results of Examination: Evidence Items Submitted 2/20/98: Item# 012695-0001 -- one standard black leather bifold menís wallet, recovered from victim D. Taylor This item has one latent thumb print of sufficient quality for identification. Print is found on the inner right side of bifold. Positive identification with the deceased D. Taylor. Item turned over to hematology lab for serum analysis. Item# 012695-0002 -- one green fanny pack measuring 10 in. x 7 in. x 6 in., recovered from exhumation near body of C. Taylor This item has no latent prints of sufficient quality for identification. Item turned over to hematology lab for serum analysis.   Evidence Items Submitted 2/21/98: Item# 012695-0003 -- one Wenger Genuine Swiss Army Knife, Master Fisherman Well used and maintained multi-function knife with fish scaler, hook disgorger, line guide, cap lifter, can opener, locking screwdriver and phillipshead, wire stripper, scissors, reamer, awl, nail file and tweezer. Locking stainless steel blade is 3.5 inches in length. A right index finger print is identified as belonging to Shane Taylor. Two fish scale fragments were recovered wedged in the hilt. Removal of the handle disclosed dried material that is identified as fish blood. There is a small nick on the lower edge of the handle measuring .3 cm and shows no evidence of serum or embedded material under microscopic analysis. Item turned over to hematology lab for further testing. Item# 012695-0004 -- one Shrade-Walden lockback knife, Uncle Henry Well used and maintained single blade lockback knife. Blade length 4". Stainless steel #127 blade with pitting and rust staining near the guard. Microscopic examination shows several nicks to the blade tip area. Blade is dull. No evidence of serum. No identifiable prints. Item turned over to hematology lab for further testing. Item# 012695-0005 -- one Wenger Genuine Swiss Army Knife, Timberline in black ballistic cloth pouch Well maintained single blade lockback knife with 4" clip blade and phillipshead screwdriver. The blade shows few scratch patterns and no nicks. No identifiable prints. No evidence of serum or rust. One partial fish scale wedged in hilt. There is a small 1 cm hole in the pouch flap consistent with a tear from this blade. Item turned over to hematology lab for further testing. Item# 012695-0006 -- one Remington 581-S Sportsman Rifle .22 gauge, no clip, aluminum hard case with sling This examiner tested for prints only. The rifle is a blot action, full size stock, 24" steel barrel rifle. The rifle was wrapped in oil cloth and is clean showing no prints or evidence of firing. The aluminum hard case has a right middle finger and thumb print identified as belonging to James Taylor. No other anomalies or prints noted. Item turned over to ballistics lab for further testing. Item# 012695-0007 -- one Winchester 94 30-30 lever action rifle, aluminum hard case with sling This examiner tested for prints only. The rifle is a 30-30 lever action rifle with walnut stock, mounted scope, 20" steel barrel rifle. The rifle was wrapped in oil cloth and is clean showing no prints or evidence of firing. The aluminum hard case has no prints of sufficient quality for identification. Item turned over to ballistics lab for further testing. Evidence Items Submitted 3/4/98: Item# 012695-0008 -- one 21" Samsonite blue leather tote bag Item is muddy and in poor condition evidencing prolonged submersion in water. There are no tears in the surface. The handle is well worn. There are no prints of sufficient quality for identification. Item turned over to hematology lab for further analysis. Item# 012695-0009 -- one 28" Samsonite hard side pullman suitcase - blue Item is muddy, one side evidencing prolonged submersion in water with mold growth at the water line. The mold is consistent with the location samples taken with the item. The surface is scratched with several pitted dents. It appears the item was dragged or dropped over rough surfaces, likely the rocky bed of the stream. One metal hinge is broken and dented. This appears consistent with being dropped from a height onto a hard, irregular surface or smashed forcefully against an irregular hard surface. There are no prints of sufficient quality for identification. Item turned over to hematology lab for further analysis. Item# 012695-0010 -- one 28" Samsonite hard side pullman suitcase - gray Item is muddy, the external case has numerous scratches and pitted dents. There is mold growth consistent with the location samples taken with item. There is no other evident damage. No identifiable prints were found. Item turned over to hematology lab for further analysis. Item# 012695-0011 -- one canvas duffle bag -- natural Item is approximately 23 inches in height with a diameter of 13 inches. Covered with mud consistent with samples taken from location with item. There is plant material embedded in the handle grommets sent to lab for further testing. The item does not appear to have been submerged in water, but does show soil and water stains on one side consistent with being on the ground in one position for an extended time. There are no prints. Item turned over to lab for further testing. Item# 012695-0012 -- one Samsonite hard side cosmetic case Item is only slightly dirt encrusted with no evidence of submersion in water. No identifiable prints. No obvious damage. Item turned over to hematology lab for further testing. Item# 012695-0013 -- one Samsonite gray softside garment bag Item is in fairly good condition. No evidence of submersion or prolonged exposure to weather. This is consistent with the sheltered location where the item was found under the bridge. No identifiable prints. Item turned over to hematology lab for further testing. Item# 012695-0014 -- one black leather skate bag, torn Item is in extremely poor condition with a number of puncture marks and a large gaping tear measuring 8 inches in length on the side of the bag. The punctures are consistent with canine incisors and are consistent with the reported chewing on this item by the discoverer's dog. Four dog hairs are found in the ragged edges of the tear. These match the samples submitted of the discoverer's dog. Four good prints are taken from this item. A left hand palm print on the side positively identified as that of Tucker Baines. A left hand ring finger print, a right index finger and right middle finger print also positively identified as those of Tucker Baines. Item turned over to lab for further testing. Item# 012695-0015 -- one black leather skate bag, missing handle Item is in extremely poor condition with a number of small tears, mud encrusted, the handle is missing and appears to have been forcefully torn off leaving gaping holes in the surface. There are no identifiable prints on this item. Item turned over to lab for further testing. Item# 012695-0016 -- one dark blue leather skate bag, torn Item is in poor condition with a gaping tear running diagonally for 6.5 inches across the side. No identifiable prints. Item turned over to lab for further testing. Item# 012695-0016 -- one dark blue leather skate bag Item is in fair condition appearing to have been somewhat sheltered from the elements consistent with the location in which it was found. There is a water and earth stain on the lower edge of the side of the bag consistent with prolonged ground contact. Mold growth is consistent with the samples found on location with the items. No identifiable prints were found. Item turned over to lab for further testing. //Brian P. Lansing Senior Examiner