STATEMENT OF FACTS - University of Illinois Springfield
STATEMENT OF FACTS - University of Illinois Springfield
STATEMENT OF FACTS - University of Illinois Springfield
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On cross-examination, Trooper Miller admitted that none <strong>of</strong> the buckets had<br />
lids on them and anyone in the building had access to the buckets. The buckets<br />
remained in the task force building for a couple <strong>of</strong> months while the sifting took<br />
place. (Vol. LVIX, R. 2614-17) Trooper Miller had been involved in the case since<br />
November <strong>of</strong> 1996 and knew that items <strong>of</strong> clothing could be important. Miller<br />
could not remember if there was any security at the site. (Vol. LVIX, R. 2625-29)<br />
Mike Mannix testified that an individual had to have permission to be in the<br />
building and that the building had a burglar alarm. (Vol. LXIV, R. 2660)<br />
Moultrie County Deputy Chris Sims helped sift the contents <strong>of</strong> buckets <strong>of</strong><br />
dirt that were collected from the lot at Miracle Motors. (Vol. LIV, R. 423-24)<br />
Deputy Sims found a button in bucket 38(c) on March 24, 1998. (Vol. LIV, R.<br />
426-28) Deputy Sims put the button into an evidence bag and handed it to Mike<br />
Mannix for safe keeping. (Vol. LIV, R. 429)<br />
In all, there were over 20 people at Miracle Motors during the search and<br />
not all <strong>of</strong> them were from law enforcement. (Vol. LIV, R. 433-34) Deputy Sims<br />
was there when the buckets were removed from the lot at Miracle Motors but he<br />
did not see who moved bucket 38(c). (Vol. LIV, R. 434-35) Sims could not recall<br />
who was present when he found the button in bucket 38(c). (Vol. LIV, R. 436-37)<br />
Sims did not know if the buckets were sealed after leaving Miracle Motors and<br />
before they were sifted. (Vol. LIV, R. 437-38)<br />
Detective Roger Ryan, who helped sift through buckets <strong>of</strong> dirt taken from<br />
the property, discovered a rivet from a pair <strong>of</strong> Paris Sports Club jeans in bucket<br />
38-(o) and gave it to Officer Mike Mannix. (Vol. LVIII, R. 1348-52)<br />
Detective Ryan stated there were twenty people involved in the search<br />
including members <strong>of</strong> the Macon County State’s Attorney’s <strong>of</strong>fice. (Vol. LVIII, R.<br />
1355-56) The sifting <strong>of</strong> the buckets occurred in a warehouse on West Main Street<br />
in Decatur. Bucket 38-(o) was not sealed in any way from the time it was taken<br />
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