STATEMENT OF FACTS - University of Illinois Springfield

uttons found at Miracle Motors could have been excluded as being consistent
with the buttons found on the partial jeans. (Vol. LXIII, R. 2414-15)
In addition to examining the buttons and rivets from the jeans, Kidd was
also asked to make comparisons between the buttons found on a white blouse
that was worn by Karyn and a button found during the search at Miracle Motors.
(Vol. LXII, R. 2381-82) The buttons on the blouse and the button found at Miracle
Motors, were both plastic with a cotton and polyester cover. The cloth cover
looked white to the naked eye and colorless under the microscope. The button
found at Miracle Motors was dirty and looked as if it had been close to a heat
because of some partial melting of the plastic. Based on Kidd’s examination of the
materials and six of the buttons, she concluded that the button found at Miracle
Motors and the buttons from Karyn’s blouse were consistent with one another.
(Vol. LXII, R. 2383-90)
On cross-examination, Kidd admitted that the polyester cotton blend found
on the buttons she examined was very common. In addition, Ms. Kidd could not
tell if the melting damage she found on the buttons was done intentionally or not.
(Vol. LXIII, R. 2395) Kidd did not determine what type of plastic was used in
manufacturing the button, therefore, she did not know what the melting point
would have been for that button. (Vol. LXIII, R. 2400) There is nothing on the
sleeve to identify the manufacturer of the blouse and thus the buttons could have
come from any blouse that used the same type of buttons. Kidd had no way of
knowing how many such buttons were in existence. (Vol. LXIII, R. 2411-12) Kidd
did no testing to determine the age of the buttons in question. (Vol. LXIII, R.
2414)
Defense Evidence
The defense had Kidd compare several items found at the Miracle Motors lot
with items worn by Karyn on the day she disappeared. Kidd compared Exhibit 22,
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