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Home Trial Testimony - Day 3
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Trial Testimony - Day 3
Written by Mike Mayleben   
Saturday, 12 September 2009 19:29
Wednesday  March 25th


PROSECUTION WITNESS:

Dr. Aneesa Marie Das, sleep specialist at The Ohio State University

...Das goes over her training and credentials
...The judge asks the doctor to slow down for the court reporter's benefit.
...has also trained in pulmonary, or lung, diseases. She is an expert on sleep disorders.
...is licensed to practice medicine in Ohio, North Carolina and Georgia, also board-certified

Das gives an overview of normal sleep (e.g., REM, deep sleep, etc.).

Prosecutor Arnold follows with questions regarding sleeping and what causes people to wake up out of their sleep.

...Lack of oxygen (hypoxia) wakes people with sleep disorders up. (Think snoring, for example.)

Anything in your mouth, a gag reflex will call you to wake up out of your sleep,” Das says. “Water in your airway will cause one to wake up. If you are drowning, you are going to have water in your airway and it will be virtually impossible for someone to fall asleep and not wake up if that is happening.”

...If you are drowning, you will also have lack of oxygen in blood.
...Would need alcohol/drugs, etc. to not wake up if drowning, Das says.

Prosecutor Arnold continues to ask Das about sleeping habits and medical records of Sarah.

Was there any indication that she had a sleeping disorder? Arnold asks.

“No,” Das says.

“There was no evidence of any heart disease or brain disease?” Arnold asks.

“Correct,” Das says.

As a critical care physician, what are some things that cause the death of a patient? Arnold asks Das.

“Number one, drugs or alcohol, number two is a pulmonary aneurysm or a brain aneurysm, when there’s a rupture in your brain,” Das says. “All of those were ruled out based on the doctor’s report.”

Das says a neurological exam conducted June 20 (during a routine exam) showed that nothing was abnormal. She has the document in court...

The doctor also explained other tests.

“We would look for a family history. We look for a past diagnosis of coronary disease,” Das says.

...She talks about the toxocology screen. Sarah was negative for alcohol, sedatives, sleeping agents, hypnotics. Only positive result was for caffeine, a stimulant.

...Nothing in Sarah's medical records suggested she suffered from a sleep disorder Das specified, "Nothing in these records to suggest that."

...Falling asleep without drugs in the system, one is unlikely to stay asleep if they slide down into water. From a sleep perspective, that would be unlikely, Das says.

"Do you believe that she could have fallen asleep and drowned?" Arnold asks Das.
“Upon extensive review of her records, there’s no data that will suggest that,” Dr. Das says.

Das says, aside from accidents, otherwise healthy young people most frequently die from drug/alcohol OD, blood clot or aneurysm. Clot and aneurysm not present in Sarah, says Das.  Very unlikely for someone Sarah's age without family history to have pulmonary disease, Das says.

...Das talked about abnormal heart arrhythmia, and a number of relatively rare factors not seen in Sarah. Also, no family history for things of that sort.

...No past diagnosis, detection during autopsy or family history for contributing factors for possible causes of sudden death cited by Das.

...Family history always considered when examining patients for seizures, Das says. That is, they must first rule that out before moving on to other tests. Das says no data suggests that Sarah suffered seizure. "These are not common things," she says. But she would still look for things to help her rule out that possibility, but she sees no data to support that claim.

Withdrawal from alcohol could cause seizures, Das says, but Sarah was negative for alcoholism.

...80 percent of people with narcolepsy also have condition called cataplexy.

Cataplexy - from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:  Cataplexy is a medical condition which often affects people who have narcolepsy, a disorder whose principal signs are EDS, sleep attacks, sleep paralysis, hypnagogic hallucinations and disturbed night-time sleep. Cataplexy is sometimes confused with epilepsy.....

Sleep deprivation fairly common, but would not cause a person to not wake up if drowning.

Heart attack would not likely cause drowning in tub, either, but Sarah did not suffer heart attack.

Seizures last typically less than 5 minutes, usually 1-2 minutes.


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CROSS EXAMINATION:

"You never treated Sarah Widmer as a patient?" Rittgers asks.
“Absolutely did not,” Das says.

Primary physicians typically refer patients to Das, she says.

Rittgers says that Sarah reported to her doctor that she felt tired all day that she slept a lot and the doctor didn’t treat it. Rittgers shows the courtroom documents from the doctor’s office showing Sarah’s complaint of sleeping.

If Sarah told her doctor that she's tired all the time and the doctor didn't treat her, is it possible that she had some underlying pathology?   "Yes," Das says.

Rittgers shows enlarged copy of chart from exam year prior to Sarah's death. Das has seen this, she says.

Rittgers shows the courtroom documents from the doctor’s office showing Sarah’s complaint of sleeping.  Routine exam, told doc she felt tired all the time, sleeps a lot during day, no weight change.
Family physician did not refer Sarah to a specialist.

Would one of the recognized causes of excessive sleep disorder be a neurological problem?

Not typically, Das says. Alzheimer's or Parkinson's or Depression can cause sleepiness.

“And you're not a trained forensic pathologist,” Rittgers asks Das.
“That’s correct,” Das says.

Das says she is not trained in forensic pathology, nor does she read literature on that topic (Rittgers is holding up what he describes as "an authoritative text"). Prosecution objects, both sides huddle at the bench.

Rittgers approaches Das and shows her the textbook, which she says she hasn't read and cannot offer any opinion on it. It's Medical Legal Investigations of Death in its 4th edition.

Rittgers places a series of excerpts from the book on the projector and reads the excerpts.

“Page 333 of the book states Epilepsy in and of itself can be responsible for sudden and unexpected death.  Loss of consciousness and muscle control permits occurrence of incidents such as drowning.” Rittgers reads.

“Do you agree with that,” Rittgers asks.

“Yes,” Das says.

He continues to read...

Epilepsy can be responsible for one single tonic convulsion (i.e., one big convulsion, not termors usually associated).

...Das says Sarah was not diagnosed with epilepsy.

...Absence of tongue biting or incontinence does not rule out epilepsy, per the book.

...Exam of brain in known epileptics shows no characteristic changes or lesion to make objective diagnosis.

"In known epileptics, yes," Das says.

“In rare instances, ostensibly healthy, robust persons have the functional equivalent of fatal syncope without demonstrable cause. The investigation of such deaths fails to uncover relevant medical history,” Rittgers reads.

“Do you agree with that?” Rittgers asks.

“Yes,” says Dr. Das.

Rittgers explains to the jury that if there’s a possibility that Sarah’s physician didn’t send her to a specialist like Das, then you can’t say that Sarah didn't have a seizure.

Dr. Das agrees with his statement.

Complete, competent autopsies can disclose no abnormalities, the book says, and Das agrees.

Episode of emotional stress -- anger, fear, joy, apprehension -- can precipitate possibly lethal arrhythmia in people with heart disease, but such surges can have identical effects in hearts with no anatomical lesion.

Can first symptom of heart condition be death?  It can be, Das says.

Das smirks as Rittger reads a statement about "scared to death" or "frightened to death" and hesitates to answer because she says he has left out important information.

Das asks if she can ask a question, and Rittgers and the judge quickly answer, "No."
"That's just the doctor in me," Das says

Prosecution objects when Rittgers asks if person could become literally scared to death if they woke up in water, drowning.

Das talks about how heart stoppage works. Heart is quivering, she says, not pumping blood.

Das argues with Rittgers about study cited in textbook, because she doesn't know the particulars of the study.

Study was about ventricular fibrillation.

----------------------

REDIRECT:

Prosecutor Arnold reads from a statement about fatal epileptic seizures, which says that typical, previous events present.

Das agrees. She says sleep disorder possible, and most common disorder is sleep apnea. (Sealed off airway, as in snoring, more common in men than women.)

"Let's says she did have sleep apnea, that doesn't mean anything here," Das says. "She's already shown she can wake up from it."


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NEXT WITNESS:


David Marcus - physician for Tri-Health and Mercy Hospitals

He's been an ER doc for 32 years and had treated Sarah at the ER on the night of her death.

...Learned that the life squad had attempted CPR, her color was "dusky" which is indicative of lack of oxygen. He examined her, inserted IV, intubated her. Had no difficulty with these procedures.

Dr. Marcus is the doctor who pronounced Sarah dead.

Some bloody fluid suctioned from her nose. Thought there was quite a bit, which he thought was unusual. Never saw that before with a drowning.

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CROSS EXAM:

Marcus says he's never seen so much blood or fluid from the mouth, where enough was present to suction. He had seen seven prior drowning victims.

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NEXT WITNESS:


Amy L. Costello - RN for Tri-Health

...Worked in an emergency room for 16 years. Was on duty the night Sarah died.
A registered nurse for 16 years and one of the few people who observed the body of Sarah Widmer.

...Costello describes attempts to revive Sarah with CPR, meds.  Mostly procedural stuff for the jury's benefit.  Costello's primary responsibility was charting during these events.

...Costello had a brief interaction with Ryan at the hospital after Sarah had been admitted.

“I asked him what happened,” Costello says.

“He (Ryan) said that he found his wife face up in the bathtub and that she had drowned,” she says. “I asked him several times, face up?”

“And what was his response,” Prosecutor John Arnold asks.

“Yes,” Costello confirms.

Costello claims she asked him several times because Ryan told other officials that he found his wife face down in the bathtub.

(According to the 9-1-1 call, Ryan says that he found his wife face down in the bathtub. The entire five minute 9-1-1 call was played to the entire courtroom on Tuesday.)

...Ryan was wearing T-shirt and shorts, but not wet. Sarah not clothed, wet hair, no other moisture on body, Costello says.

...Costello says she questioned possibility of Sarah falling asleep in the tub and drowning. Costello says she's fallen asleep there but woke up because the water was cold.

--------------------------------------------

CROSS EXAM:


Costello says she doesn't know how much time passed between when Sarah arrived at the ER and when pulled from tub. Sarah brought in nude, but covered by sheet.


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NEXT WITNESS:


Doyle Burke - Chief Investigator for Warren County Coroner's Office


Burke speaks to police or hospital staff when any death is reported. If a response is needed, he conducts a scene investigation to determine whether an autopsy is needed. Any suspicious, traumatic or unnatural death could be subject to autopsy.

He's worked there about two years, and a Dayton police officer for 29 years. Patrolman and detective, including 22 years on homicide.

Police arrived after three minutes, medics two minutes after that.

Burke arrived at Bethesda Arrow Springs about 11:50 p.m., about 9 or 10 minutes after Sarah was pronounced dead.

...He spoke with medics, nurses and investigated Sarah's body himself. Body dry, no signs of pruning.

...Pruning remains present for "a little while," Burke says. Would have thought it would still be present when he saw her, which he says alarmed him. He makes only external observations, does not manipulate body. Bagged hands to preserve any trace evidence on hands. Did not see broken nails.

...Burke IDs photo of Sarah and Ryan in courtroom.

...Burke spoke to Ryan, who told him that only he and Sarah at home that night. Burke trying to find out what's going on, at that point. Asked about home, layout, etc.

Ryan told him he was watching football downstairs, Sarah said she was going up to take bath.
"Defendant just interjected, 'I was afraid she would fall asleep in the tub,'" Burke said.

...Burke thought it was odd he was afraid of that but remained downstairs to watch football.

...Ryan told Burke that he stayed downstairs about an hour before going upstairs to bed.

...Ryan told Burke he found Sarah floating face down with head under faucet.

...Not a huge tub, but rounded, oval tub, somewhat large, Burke says.

...Ryan told Burke he pulled Sarah from tub, drained water, and began CPR.

...Ryan said he'd been certified in CPR, but some time before.

...Noticed Sarah's cell phone on vanity, so called 911. He told Burke he noticed Sarah's phone while performing CPR.

...Ryan tells him tub was full to overflow level, but water not running.

...Any water coming out of nose, mouth? No, but pink mucus coming from nose, Ryan told him.

...Burke's first question was why drain water? Ryan said 911 told him to pull her out, and he had just drained tub.

...Burke asks whether he pulled her from tub before or after calling 911, and Ryan said after.

...Asked why he was afraid she would fall asleep in tub? Ryan said she hadn't fallen asleep in tub before, but fell asleep in other locations. That was Burke's last contact with Ryan that night.

...Burke says he pulls his 4-year-old from tub every night, and water gets all over. Has also pulled dead body from water. "Term dead weight used for a reason," he says. "It's not a workable load."

Burke had no further contact with Ryan from that point

---------------------------------------------


CROSS EXAM:


Burke sits with fingers touching in front of face while waiting for Charlie Rittgers to ask him first question.

...Rittgers introduces self, asks how many investigators work for coroner. Three part-time, Burke says.

...Burke spoke that night to Sarah's mother. Asked her if there were any marital problems.

...Prosecution objects when Rittgers asks if she said no. Jury instructed to disregard.

...No tape recorder present during interview, but Burke took notes.

...Burke didn't interview Ryan's mother, but she was present during Ryan's interview.

...Ryan anxious, fidgety, wearing cargo shorts, sitting next to his mother, sitting with knees drawn into chest. Not crying at time, but Burke couldn't say if he had been crying. Can't say what normal is in this situation, Burke says. Burke would have to know the baseline for normal with Ryan. Everyone reacts different. Not screaming, ranting, and not docile.

...Burke spoke with Ryan and both mothers only 3 or 4 minutes. Less time than his testimony about it, Burke says.

...Burke asked if Ryan would consent to search of home, and he didn't hesitate to sign consent form, Burke says.

...Burke noticed no signs of trauma during visible exam of Sarah.

...Burke says victim might not be able to defend self from attack from behind. But every physical attack different, he says.

...Rittgers asks if Sarah couldn't have grabbed Ryan's hands if he attacked her from behind. He reaches behind his own neck to demonstrate. Burke says it's not physically impossible, but possibly not logistically feasible. Arm rotation, etc. Often nothing under fingernails in those types of assaults, he says.

...Not sure how much struggle there would have been in this physical assault, Burke says. Rittgers asks if things might be missing from side of tub if such an assault took place.

...Burke says scene could have been altered. Says you can't take defendant's word at face value in his line of work.

...Rittgers is looking over his notes.

...Burke says his recollection of interview 100 percent accurate, but mistakes certainly possible.

...Burke says he's now aware that Ryan told officers that his wife "often" fell asleep in tub.

...Burke says Ryan did not tell him exactly when Sarah got into tub, so it's possible that she waited to get into water after going upstairs.

...Burke has listened to the 911 call as part of his investigation. Doesn't recall if Ryan told dispatcher he drained tub. What struck him was that Ryan said he attempted CPR while she was in water.

...Does now remember Ryan said he drained tub.

...Burke says Ryan told him that night that he drained the water; dispatcher told him to pull her out.

...Rittgers asked Burke about his response if he were to find a loved one floating in a bathtub.

...Might he pull only the torso from the water in that situation, and Burke said that might be a natural response.

...Burke did not take room temperature at house. Assumed air conditioning was on -- it was Aug. 11 -- but not sure if it was or not.

...Burke did not interview anyone about Sarah's sleeping habits.

...Not aware if Sarah used any bath salts, which Rittgers says could speed up evaporation.

...Agrees it would be difficult to remove lifeless body from bathtub, and he says Ryan might have had a lot of contact with Sarah's body, which weighed 142 lbs, to pull her from tub.

...Studies have shown people can do amazing things while under stress (e.g., feats of strength).

...Burke agreed with Rittgers's question about the feats of strength. Prosecutors objected, but Bronson overruled.

----------------------------------------------------------------


REDIRECT:  

...Burke says Ryan said he found Sarah face-up to nurse and face-down to him.


=================================================================

LUNCH BREAK

=================================================================
=================================================================

NEXT WITNESS:


Dr. John Becker - Dentist and Sarah's employer

Another dentist, Ben Messmer, practices with him, and a receptionist and an assistant worked at the office when Sarah did.

Sarah graduated from Raymond Walters dental hygiene school in June 2006, and she began work there in July 2006.   Sarah worked Monday-Thursday, full time, with benefits.

Becker says Sarah was very fastidious in her habits at work. Always thorough and precise in infection control standards.  Sarah was bubbly, enthusiastic, enjoyed what she did, Becker says.  Sarah worked through lunch twice per week and left early, Becker says.

On days when she took a lunch break she would bring food, eat quickly and go out to car to take a nap. The other two days she would work through lunch without taking nap. No problem oversleeping during lunch or otherwise falling asleep while working, Becker says.

Sarah did not socialize much with other women in office, both of whom were much older than her, Becker says. But she was friendly with them, he says. Becker and other dentist did not socialize with Sarah or Ryan.

Becker met Ryan at office Christmas party, when employers and partners go out to dinner and go to Becker home for dessert and games.

Becker attended Widmers's wedding, and he also spoke to Ryan once when he picked up Sarah.

Becker knew Ryan only though some brief social interactions, but says he knew Ryan's smoking and drinking beer bothered Sarah. She'd mentioned that to him before. Sarah complained when Ryan bought a kegerator, because she would not be able to track how much he drank.

Sarah had asked about life insurance available through her employer benefits program, Becker says.

She'd asked about retirement plan and life insurance, he says. Reason she gave for life insurace seemed odd to him. She said if something happened to her she didn't want her mother to have to pay for her funeral, Becker says. That was in late July, he says.

He thought it was odd because Sarah didn't phrase it as "if something happened to us," Becker says.

--------------------------------------------

CROSS EXAM:


Was Sarah private about her business?  Becker says yes.

Sarah would typically wear scrub pants and usually a tank top and carry her uniform jacket, Becker says. Arms exposed? Yes. No bruises on arms, black eye, busted lips? No, no signs of abuse. No indication of marital problems or controlling behavior by Ryan. Becker not sure if Ryan called often while Sarah worked.

Defense attorney Robert Diezch asks if Becker remembers saying that Sarah became less bubbly after her father died, and he says yes.

...Becker says it's not unusual for newlyweds to ask about life insurance.

Sarah had recently returned from trip to Saint Louis with mother prior to her death. No signs of trouble after that, he says

Sarah mentioned sore throat, stomach ache on day she died, but nothing else out of the ordinary for her, Becker says. Never mentioned Ryan had problems with anger or drinking, just that she didn't like the kegerator.

-------------------------------------------------

RE-DIRECT:

...asked about Life Insurance, Becker says Ryan was "really on her ass about this," and urging her to get life insurance, Becker says

Sarah never discussed financial problems, Becker says. Typically didn't talk about private life. Other employees had commented about Sarah's sleeping in car, but Becker said he was not concerned. Didn't impact her work.


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NEXT WITNESS:


Annette Davis, Forensic Scientist at Miami Regional Crime Lab.

Davis is explaining to the jury how her job is different from CSI.

“We did chemical testing to indicate the presence of blood.  The testing that we do is fairly sensitive.”

...Davis said she examined Lysol wipe collected from bathroom. Tested negative for blood.

...Blood might be detected on wipe or other items from bathtub, depending on how much blood, how much water, but nothing she tested showed presence of blood.

...Davis tested bathroom rug, and a dark stain on bottom tested postive for blood and fecal material.

...Bloodstains found under Sarah on bedroom rug soaked through carpet, which she says could indicate that rug had been wet.  The blood was not a concentrated stain, but diluted, likely with water, Davis says.

“It was more concentrated on the one side and it soaked through the package material that it was carried in. This indicates the carpet could’ve been wet,” she says.

...There was DNA found under Sarah’s fingernails that belong to her and an unknown woman.
...Davis compared that DNA to samples provided by two ER nurses, Officer Lisa Elliott and Sarah's mother.
...None matched the sample under Sarah's fingernails.


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CROSS EXAM:

Davis mentions that no other samples of evidence had blood on them other than the carpet. She also mentions that she found hair on different items, but the hair samples could’ve been there long before Sarah died.


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NEXT WITNESS:



William Hilliard, Criminalist with Cincinnati Police


...Investigates major crimes, processes scene and collects evidence.
Going through credentials...

...Hilliard has examined bathtubs for evidence in the past. Dust for prints, etc
...Explains what fingerprints are and how they leave marks on surfaces.

...Photo shown of bathtub with fingerprint dusting present, and pair of gloved hands holding tape measure. Hilliard took the photo. He found human fingerprints on top edge of tub, from a small person, but can't tell if man or woman.

...Found a void area, or wipe marks, on portion of that area....top inside edge of the tub. Prints suggests grabbing in downward motion, Hilliard says.

...Also found apparent male handprints on top edge of tub, sort of toward outside edge, based on photo shown on projector. Hilliard doesn't know when any of these prints might have been made.   Hilliard IDs what he says is a forearm impression.

...Hilliard says the forearm impression likely left by male, because hair follicles on impression or print.

...“You are not able to conclude that this forearm print was made before this one, this palm print was made before that one,” asks a defense attorney.

“No sir,” says Hillard.

...Hilliard was not able to collect prints that matched Ryan or Sarah. Not that they necessarily belonged to someone else, but he can't definitely match them to either.

-----------------------------------------------


CROSS EXAM:


...Hilliard cannot say for sure who left those prints. Latent prints can last "a very long time," he says.

...Prints on the tub could theoretically last forever. In fact, he agrees that researchers found King Tut's prints in his tomb.

...Hilliard says he found two palm prints, numerous others throughout tub. Didn't photo all of them.

"It's not unusual to find many palm and forearm prints in the bathtub," Hilliard says. "People use it."

...Hilliard confirms number of void spots throughout tub (i.e., spots without latent prints present).

...Hilliard not sure if bottles found on edge of tub might have caused the void, or if something else.

...Hilliard says it's not unusual for people to clean their tub with wipes. "People use wipes, people use rags," he says.

-----------------------------

REDIRECT:


Hilliard says prints collected have no value as far as ID purposes, but can show where a person's hands were placed on tub.

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NEXT WITNESS:   Lt. Jeff Braley - Hamilton Township police officer


He sat with prosecutors throughout the proceedings. He helps them with evidence and other issues during the trial.


...Braley called to scene Aug. 11 by officers who thought Sarah's death appeared to be suspicious. He walked through house that night to look at possible crime scene. Saw nothing out of the ordinary.

...Braley thought he'd find evidence of drug/alcohol OD, despite other officers not finding any, but did not.

...Saw very small amount of water, characterized as droplets, on bathtub drain.  Nothing else in bathroom damp or moist.

...Found no traces of moisture on bathroom floor or other items collected there, Braley says.

...Found nothing unusual, nor signs of moisture or dampness, in shower also in master bathroom.

...Braley examined magazines found on floor of bathroom. Wrinkled, but not wet, he says.  Photographing and collecting evidence began after the written consent at 12:35 am.

...Braley recovered some unspecified dry items from a pink bag, the type that personal toiletries are typically kept in.

...Examined reddish-pink stains on carpet. Knew it was blood, but not sure what else, if anything. Could've been vomit, related to medication. Looked for remnants of pills.

...Found some red stains on foam underneath carpet, but not on wood flooring beneath.

...An unknown brown substance found to side of one of the blood stains, Braley says.
...He took part in photographing scene, collecting evidence.
...Collected carpet samples of areas where bodily fluids found.
...Braley looked for damp spots on bedroom by placing palm to floor

...Found no other staining to indicate possible dampness from water, Braley says.

...Braley identifies photos taken inside the house. Officers stopped collecting evidence around 2 a.m. the night of Sarah's death.

...Blueprints recovered from home the day after Sarah's death are entered into evidence.
These diagrams have provided the enlargements shown throughout the trial, Braley says.

...Braley dusted bathtub for fingerprints the day after Sarah's death. Same day tub was removed.

...Braley says he noted prints that suggested hands being pulled downward, fingers pointing up, toward bottom of the tub.

...Braley demonstrates, using the bathtub that is sitting in front of jury, the position of the handprints he observed there.

...Police collected Sarah's cell phone as evidence.

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CROSS EXAM:


...Consent form signed by Ryan shown on overhead screen. Signed at 12:35 a.m

...Braley says police walked from room to room, looking around. Then officers waited to receive consent form to permit them to photograph scene and gather evidence.

...Braley asked Officer Short to photograph evidence, and he says nothing was touched during photographing, to the best of his knowledge.

...Braley says air conditioner on inside house. Photos took about 20-30 minutes.

...Braley says police began to collect evidence from bathroom after photos taken. Can't remember what time this occurred, but says evidence log likely would have.

...Believes this might have been around 1:15 a.m.

If Sarah's hair wet, would you expect to find wet spot under her head?  "Yes", he says. No sign of struggle in any rooms, Braley says.

Rittgers is asking about the process of dusting for fingerprints. Braley says he did not touch sides of tub, but stepped into it to brush dust onto sides.

...Bathtub stoppers removed, traps swabbed for evidence.

...No evidence of heavy wear and/or tear to bathroom cabinets near the bathtub, Braley says.

...Braley spoke to Burke, the coroner's investigator, about the case.

...Ryan's cell phone records shown to Braley, who's asked to flip to page 16.
Three-second call made to 911 from that number, abt. 10:46 p.m. then Braley asked to look at Sarah's cell phone records.

...A second 911 call made moments later made from Sarah's phone.

...Duration of that call 391 seconds....6 1/2 minutes.

...Braley says he's reviewed their cell phone records before. Both calls made within 1 minute.

...Next phone call made from Ryan's phone at 11:07 p.m., and 12 more made after that until 11:38 p.m.
...All those calls made to either Sarah's mother or Ryan's mother.

-----------------------------

PROSECUTION REDIRECT:


...Officers wore gloves as they examined the scene and collected evidence.

=================================================================


NEXT WITNESS:  Ruth Ann Steward - Sarah Widmer's mother


“Sarah was very happy and bubbly. She always wanted to give things to people. She tried to make people happy.”

"When I had a rough time she was there for me," she says. "She was my baby."
Steward speaks quietly, seems sad, but not crying or overtly emotional.

...Steward claims she wasn’t aware of Sarah having any medical problems and she doesn’t remember Sarah being the person that lost track of time. Sinus headaches sometimes at change of seasons, she says.

...Can't recall if Sarah ever fell asleep in tub, but loved taking baths and soaking in the tub.

...Did your daughter have difficulty sleeping through the night?  “No,” Steward says.

...What about life insurance, did she mention that to you?  “No, not that I’m aware of,” Steward says.  

“We shopped all the time,” says Mrs. Steward.

...She went on to discuss how sometimes Ryan would get a little upset about Sarah’s shopping habits. It indicated to Steward that he thought Sarah spent too much money, but Steward says for a period of time Sarah was the only one making a substantial amount of money in the relationship.

...Steward mentions how the two of them took a trip to St. Louis to visit family the Thursday before Sarah died. They returned home on Sunday.   Sarah fell asleep coming home. Her kids always fell asleep if not driving.

...Spoke with her Monday, no complaints about headache, other illness. It was the last time she spoke to her daughter.

...Steward then explains the night she found out her daughter died. She begins to cry on the witness stand.
Ryan called her from the ambulance and said Sarah fell and she needed her. “When I got to the hospital I thought that she was still alive."  The nurse asked if she'd talked to the doctor, and said Sarah was already gone so "the nurse let me hold her hand and say goodbye to her,” she says.

...The prosecutor then asks Steward about Ryan’s actions at the hospital.

“He didn’t say anything. He just sat with his elbows on his knees and his head down,” she says.

“I asked him what happened. He said that he tried to save her." she says.

"Mrs. Steward, who paid for Sarah's funeral?"  Prosecutor Vieux asks.

"I did," she says, choking back tears.

=====================================================  


The defense declines to cross examine Steward, and the judge says she will be the last witness for the day.