Jeffrey Wogenstahl’s evidentiary hearing continued on Tuesday, October 16, 2024, with an expert’s unequivocal rejection of the state’s theories about Amber Garrett’s death. Brian S. Clark, an expert on Forensics and Investigations, was clear that no matter how the prosecutor chose to speculate, there was no evidence to support theories that Jeff’s car or apartment were linked to the murder.

Clark’s report supporting his claims can be viewed here, with an addendum to the report here.

Mellisa Ellis testified that she saw the victim’s mother, Peggy, in the early hours of Sunday, November 24, 1991. Peggy was with a man that the witness did not recognize, and seemed distraught. (See also information about the affidavits of Ellis and her late husband.)

Jeff’s trial lawyer, Mark Krumbein, stated that at the time of the trial he was not shown police notes recording sightings of the victim after the time when Jeff was taken into custody. Krumbein agreed that these records would have helped him to build a defense if he had been given them.

Krumbein also expressed surprise that a FBI expert ‘supposedly found a hair or two’ in the victim’s underwear. He added
“I was dumbfounded that in a case of this magnitude that [previously] the county coroner couldn’t find hairs on such small articles of clothing that, like a 10-year-old girl would wear it, knowing that that was a death penalty for a murder case.”

The hearing continues.

Note: The paragraph beginning “Krumbein also expressed surprise” was added on November 15, 2024.