Joseph and Summer’s wedding, 2007 — Summer dancing with Chase and Cathy Jarvis. At trial, Michael McStay testified: “I’m told I met him at my brother’s wedding — I don’t remember that — back in ’07. The first time I met him, that I actually recall in person, is on that Saturday when I went down there, the 13th, I believe it was.” (RT 5672:7–10.)Trial Exhibit 29 (DRW_003…) — just inside the front door of the residence, as photographed by investigators. The sandals and children’s items lie where they were found. The pale areas on the carpet are the stains the State would later attribute to bleach.Trial Exhibit 29, enlarged — the same entryway, up close. Alongside the pale staining attributed to bleach, distinct reddish-brown staining is visible on both the carpet and the adjoining tile. The record reflects no collection or testing of these stains. The State photographed them, entered the photograph as an exhibit — and left it at that. Judge for yourself what an investigation owed this spot.Trial Exhibit 47 — the kitchen island countertop. The black light lies in plain view beside a toothbrush and children’s items. The State suggested to the jury that the killer used it to check for blood — and accidentally left it behind.Trial Exhibit 49 — a drawer in that same island. On the left side: another black light, virtually identical, stored among the family’s own household items. The family kept a black light in the kitchen. Both photographs are the State’s own exhibits — and the second one was never reconciled with the inference built on the first.
