Direct Exam: Jay Clark

She began working for Jill Widmer at Luxottica in 2005, starting as her assistant and then advancing to her production coordinator. She worked with her until Jill retired in June 2008. She lives in Franklin Township and has lived in Warren County for two months.   As Jill's assistant she met the family, including Ryan, his twin brother Aryn and Kyle, the younger brother.   She was invited to go to their lake house many times. She met Ryan prior to Sarah meeting him and he never lost his temper or got angry. When there were family get-togethers that she attended, she saw Ryan drink, but not excessively. His behavior never changed when he had been drinking;   he was still laid back and calm.

She first met Sarah at a gathering at Jill's house and also spent time with her and Ryan at the lake house. She said Sarah was a "sweet girl" and she and Ryan appeared to be a happy couple. They were very lovable with each other, giggling, teasing, and joking.   She never saw Ryan lose his temper with Sarah.  

She attended Sarah's bachelorette party which began at their house on Crested Owl Court. They had a lot of fun and everyone got along. She attended their wedding and it was a very beautiful event. Sarah was beaming and she never saw a happier couple. Sarah had talked Ryan into taking ballroom dancing lessons for their first dance, and it was "very cute". They danced beautifully together.

She spent a lot of time with the family at their lake house at Lake Carrington, near Danville, Kentucky, where Jill owned a two-bedroom cabin.   While she was there, she never saw Ryan get angry with Sarah.

She never heard Sarah complain about financial issues or that she made more money than Ryan. They all joked about Sarah not being able to walk out of Target without spending $100. It was a running joke and everyone always laughed about it. She said Sarah never complained about Ryan being controlling or a tight wad.

The week end before she went on a trip to St. Louis with her mom , they all were at the family's cabin relaxing.   Ryan was "very loveable" toward Sarah and did anything she asked. If she asked for a glass of water, he got it, "you know, very sweet."   During that weekend at the cabin they didn't do any activities--just laid around and relaxed.   It was just beginning to get dark when Sarah fell asleep in the lawn chair.   She thought it was kind of odd and commented to the others how Sarah could fall asleep

within inches of everyone talking and laughing. She knew about the weekend trip Sarah was planning with her mom, and Ryan didn't seem upset about it at all.

Clark handed her some papers which she looked over and then identified as her Verizon cell phone records. Asked if she gave Ryan a phone to use she said "yes", to help him and his mother out financially. She already had her number, her mother's number and her mother-in-law's number on it so she just added another number to her account. She never placed any restrictions on it and said he could call whoever he wanted and talk for as long as he wanted.

She and Sarah exchanged text messages the night she died. They had a brief conversation and Sarah texted her that she "wasn't feeling well".   She had a bad headache so they ended the conversation. Nothing further.

Cross Exam: John Arnold

Arnold began by asking about the Dateline episode in regards to her phone records. Did she give him the cell phone before or after the Dateline episode aired? She replied before, but then said she wasn't sure when the episode aired. Arnold walked over to her and abruptly swiped the records from her.

Arnold pointed out that the first phone call for that number was Sept. 18, 2009 and Clark said he could explain. Arnold snapped, "I don't need his explanation," but the judge called them both to the bench. After a discussion, the judge told Liles to disregard the question.

Arnold reiterated that she went to their wedding and asked if Ryan's father was at the wedding.   She replied "no".   Asked if Ryan was very close to his father, she said she didn't know their relationship; "It was none of my business".

Asked if Jill had a drinking problem, she replied, "I don't know what you call a drinking problem".  Arnold then asked if Jill drank a lot, and Liles replied, "It depends on what you call a lot." He asked if they were very good friends and she replied, "Yes, she's my friend". He then asked if they were partying at the cabin that weekend and she said she wouldn't call it partying. She wasn't drinking and neither

was Jill because she was sick.

She said she never knew of Ryan monitoring Sarah's spending online or to call her after she made a purchase.  She said she never discussed finances with Ryan.

Regarding Sarah falling asleep in the lawn chair, Arnold asked what time it got dark at the lake. Liles replied she didn't know because she didn't wear a watch.  Sarah was asleep until Ryan woke her to go to bed about 11:00 p.m.

Arnold asked if there were phone calls to Iowa on her phone records. She said she didn't know because she didn't look at them that closely, so Arnold handed them to her to look through. After she was finished reviewing them, Arnold asked if there were several calls between Sept. 18, 2009 and December 2009. She said there was, and said the plan was a family share package with unlimited calls and texts.  She didn't know if Ryan was contacted by many people after the Dateline episode. She talked to him 2 or 3 times a week. She said she wasn't a "follower" of his website but would look at it from time to time.

During his last questions, Arnold seemed to be getting irritated because he "barked" at the witness. "Do you know whose DNA was found under her fingernails?"Answer: No. "Do you know anything about what happened; were you at the Widmer home that night?" Answer: No.   Nothing further.

Re-Direct: Jay Clark

In regards to finances, Liles said her husband teased her about spending habits while they were talking at the lake house but she didn't recall Ryan saying anything about Sarah's spending habits. Clark then asked if Sarah ever said anything to her about Ryan complaining about her spending and she replied, "no".   Nothing further.