Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial: DNA tests on weapons, deleted data recovered from Bowers' phone
FBI forensic examiner takes the stand on Day 8 of the Robert Bowers trial in Pittsburgh
FBI forensic examiner takes the stand on Day 8 of the Robert Bowers trial in Pittsburgh
FBI forensic examiner takes the stand on Day 8 of the Robert Bowers trial in Pittsburgh
Day 8 of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial capped a shortened second week for the proceeding, but it was packed with new information for jurors.
The jury on Thursday heard from an FBI DNA testing expert who examined evidence in the case.
Marcy Plaza is a forensic examiner in the DNA casework unit at the FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia. She testified that she examined evidence and compared it with DNA samples from defendant Robert Bowers and the 11 victims who the defense team admits Bowers killed.
For a Glock pistol recovered at the crime scene, her data lists "very strong support for inclusion" for Bowers being the source of a DNA swab of textured areas on the slide and grip of the pistol.
The testing showed 6 septillion times more likelihood that Bowers was the DNA contributor than anyone else. The witness explained that the figure has 24 zeros following the number 6.
During her testimony, the prosecution had the Colt AR-15 semiautomatic rifle used in the killing of the synagogue shooting victims displayed for the jurors. They got a close look as the safely secured weapon was brought in front of the jury box to show where DNA swab samples were taken on the rifle.
For three DNA swabbings of the AR-15 rifle, the likelihood ratio that it was Bowers' DNA was 6 septillion, 8.2 quintillion, and 2.5 septillion, respectively. All of the figures constitute "very strong support for inclusion" of Bowers for all three swab samples.
The DNA sample location with the 2.5 septillion likelihood ratio for Bowers also had other individuals' DNA in addition to Bowers. For that swabbing, victim Irving Younger's DNA was listed as "very strong support" for Younger simultaneously being a lesser source of DNA for that sampling point.
Many other items of evidence tested for DNA also showed "very strong support" for Bowers being the source.
That included another Glock handgun and various canvas bags containing what appeared to be ammunition magazines.
Bowers' cellphone was scoured by an FBI forensics expert for data, including erased information.
The jury heard Thursday from the FBI expert who worked to retrieve data from Bowers' cellphone.
Curtis Thomas is an FBI electronics engineering expert and a digital electronics examiner. His work includes the forensic examination of cellphones.
Thomas testified that software cookies on Bowers' phone indicated his using the social media platform called Gab and his accessing that website just before the synagogue shooting.
Gab is the site where Bowers posted the message, "Screw your optics, I'm going in," just before he entered the synagogue and started killing.
Data retrieved by the FBI investigator included what had been deleted images, including Bowers' Google profile photo.
Other images recovered by the FBI on Bowers' phone included:
- A photo of two handguns, a wallet, keys, an ammunition magazine, and other items.
- Images of tax and banking documents with Bowers' name.
- A photo appearing to show a target from a firing range and the term "dot torture," which is the name of a marksmanship drill.
- A picture of a sidearm and holster on someone's hip, and other images at different angles of that handgun.
- A photo of a shotgun and shotgun shells.
- Several retrieved deleted selfie photos showing Bowers giving the "OK" style hand sign that has become associated with the slogan "white power."
Thomas testified the data retrieved from Bowers' phone was a smaller amount than he would normally expect to find.
He says there wasn't a factory reset done recently and suggested that could mean there was data deleted manually by the user.
Phone data identified Robert Bowers as the user of the phone.
Thomas testified all contacts on Bowers' phone were deleted, Only nine were retrievable, and only one of those was a personal contact entered by the user of the phone.
The investigator found all the text messages on Bowers' phone had been deleted.
Pittsburgh police SWAT Officer Anthony Burke was the late afternoon witness.
The jury heard Burke describe being shot in the hand by Bowers as Burke reached to his mentor and fellow SWAT Officer Tim Matson, who had just been shot by the defendant.
Testimony resumes Monday. Judge Robert Colville has indicated the trial will not be in session every other Friday.