Evidence introduced in Pettaway trial - 13abc.com Toledo (OH) News, Weather and Sports

Evidence introduced in Pettaway trial

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13abc.com Alexis Means - email

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TOLEDO, Ohio -

Photo's of Lisa Straub's purse emptied on her bed. Pictures of the master bedroom ransacked.

Cameo Pettaway is accused killing Lisa Straub and Johnny Clarke in Straub's parents springfield township home

The couple was found duct taped with bags over their heads. The jury got a look at the black pants found under Lisa Straub's head. The bags and black duct tape used to tie up and suffocate the couple. And the clothing worn by Johnny Clarke.

A special agent with the bureau of criminal investigations took the stand today. He along with sheriff's investigators collected the evidence at the crime scene.

"We're wearing a tychem suit or tyvek suit," said BCI special agent Edward Biederstedt.

Prosecutors again brought up the cigarette found at the scene with Pettaways DNA on it, but Pettaway's defense team says the cigarette was moved. They showed pictures of the cigarette. One showing the cigarette close the wall and another showing the cigarette slightly away from the wall.

"I understand your testimony was that you picked up that cigarette butt with a plastic pair of tweezers and examine it and then put it back down, said Pettaway's lawyer.  I did, said special agent Biederstedt.  So Detective Phil Williams could photograph it, said the lawyer.  Yes, responded the agent"

They questioned the picture of the wallet found on Johnny Clarke's stomach.

"Did you take that photo, asked Pettaway's lawyer . I did I know where you're going with it yes, said special agent Biederstedt. The orientation of his wallet is vertical across his belly at that point, Right, questioned the lawyer. Yes I agree with that, said the BCI agent. Defendants exhibit D did you take that photo, asked the lawyer. I did, responded the BCI agent. The exhibit depicts Johnny from a little bit of a distance but the wallet again in a vertical position, said Pettaway's lawyer. Correct that is correct," said agent Bierderstedt.

The defense also claims other evidence was tampered with.

"Defendants exhibit B while it is in the horizontal position it shows a piece of paper protruding from the wallet is that right," asked Pettaway's lawyer.

"That is correct," said agent Bierderstedt.

"And in exhibits C and D that piece of paper is either missing or shoved back inside the wallet or something, right?" questioned the lawyer.

"That is correct," said the BCI agent.

"I'm sure you have an explanation. Here's the question: How or why was the wallet manipulated?", asked Pettaway's lawyer.

"The wallet was manipulated by me. I was looking at the contents of the wallet to see for identification to see if there's money in the wallet to see what's ever in the wallet. There's no purpose of why I changed the orientation of the wallet," said the agent.

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