Jury views graphic photos of crime scene in Dustin Jefferson murder trial

TOLEDO — The jury in Dustin Jefferson's first-degree murder trial viewed photos of the graphic crime scene and the body of Kerry O'Clair Jefferson Monday, as a criminalist testified about what the blood evidence revealed to him about the incident.

Criminalist Mike Halverson with Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation testified that after being stabbed, O'Clair Jefferson moved from the bed to the office area, where she died from two fatal neck wounds that pierced her jugular vein and esophagus. There was blood spatter and drips of blood on the flooring and items on the floor like a clothes basket to indicate her movement in an upright position after being stabbed.

Jefferson, 38, is accused of aiding and abetting in the killing of his wife, according to a criminal complaint. His mother, Ginger Jefferson, was convicted last year of killing her daughter-in-law last year.

O'Clair Jefferson, 32, died from the two stab wounds. She also suffered blunt force injuries to her face and head, according to testimony.

Court ended early Monday after the state rested and the defense put on only one witness. Sixth Judicial District Judge Mary Chicchelly and Assistant Iowa Attorney General Laura Roan and Tom Gaul, Jefferson's lawyer, will work on jury instructions this afternoon and closing arguments will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday in Tama County District Court.

Halverson also testified about blood found on clothing and shoes of Ginger and Dustin Jefferson's. There was relatively small amounts of blood found on their clothing.

Blood was found on the sole of Jefferson's left sandal, near the toe area, that matched O'Clair Jefferson's DNA, Halverson said. Another spatter stain was on the top of the left sandal, but nothing on his right sandal. Halverson couldn't say if the spatter was the result of impact, because it was a small amount.

The defense claimed Jefferson never went inside the house when O'Clair Jefferson was killed. Jefferson told police his mother was inside the house, but he stayed outside, unaware of what his mother was doing. Halverson said Jefferson's T-shirt had no blood on the front. But there was a blood stain on the back of the shirt, which Halverson referred to as a transfer stain, meaning he could have brushed against another object with blood or been in contact with another person who had blood on them.

According to testimony, Jefferson said he was sitting in a chair outside the house when his mother came out with bloody hands, then ran off. There was no mention of Jefferson touching his mother.

The defense's sole witness Monday, Laurie Davenport, Jefferson's sister-in-law, testified about a phone call she received from Amber Navarro after Ginger Jefferson came to Navarro's house with blood on her hands and confessed to killing O'Clair Jefferson.

Davenport testified she was working in Marshalltown at the time and Navarro, in a panicked tone, told her O'Clair Jefferson might be dead. Davenport could hear Ginger in the background, saying, 'I stabbed her twice in the neck.' Navarro repeated what Ginger said, but Davenport said she could clearly hear her.

Davenport said Ginger wanted to go to her house, but she told her no. Then Ginger wanted money for a bus ticket and Davenport told her no again.

Gaul asked if Ginger mentioned Dustin during the call. Davenport said he wasn't mentioned.