Senior investigator Steven Anderson, pictured on the right, continued his third day of testimony on Tuesday. Anderson was the investigator tasked with gathering and testing evidence at the residence of Calvin and Michele Harris following her disappearance in 2001. (Photo by Wendy Post)
Senior investigator Steven Anderson took the stand in the second-degree murder trial for Calvin Harris on Tuesday for what was his third day of testimony. Anderson was the investigator that went into the Harris’ Spencer, N.Y. residence following Michele Harris’ disappearance in 2001 and processed evidence – to include taking sample of bloodstains found in the alcove area and garage.
In testimony on Tuesday, Anderson talked about the stains that were found and their locations, and described the presumptive tests performed to determine if the stains were blood, and of how he swabbed them and sent them to the lab for testing.
On a rug discovered in the alcove area, Anderson testified that 82 stains were found on the bottom of the rug, and that of the 82 stains, 51 tested positive for blood.
The rug was part of the evidence presented on Tuesday, as the prosecution continued to present their case in front of Judge Richard Mott in the Schoharie County courthouse.
With six books containing investigative reports from the Harris residence relative to Anderson’s testimony resting on a table at the front of the courtroom in Schoharie, it is no surprise that Anderson’s testimony is spanning over several days.
On Tuesday, Anderson also testified about the bloodstains found in the garage. Anderson testified that he found more than 100 stains – with most being smaller than one millimeter in size.
The largest stain, Anderson testified, was approximately one inch by a half an inch, although he later testified that this stain was a cluster of smaller stains.
The prosecution described the blood found in the garage as being contained to a three foot by six-foot area, with some of the stains appearing as though a clean up had taken place.
The defense has disputed the clean up theory, as the mop and bucket, and some of the sink traps in the home were tested and found to be negative for traces of blood.
The defense also argued that there was no trace evidence found in Michele’s van, Calvin Harris’ truck, or on any of the ATV’s at the residence. The investigators even removed the truck bed from Harris’ truck to see if there was trace evidence underneath it.
The prosecution maintains that Calvin Harris murdered his wife as she entered their home during the evening of Sept. 11, 2001. The defense continues to claim that someone else was responsible for Michele’s death, and that they have evidence that will prove this theory.
Prosecution testimony will be continuing throughout the remainder of the week in the fourth second-degree murder trial for Calvin Harris, who remains charged in connection with his wife’s disappearance in September of 2001.
The testimony in this fourth trial remains the same as that heard in the previous trials, with Judge Richard Mott, who is moving things along, being appointed to decide Harris’ fate in what is now a bench trial.
The defense has yet to call their witnesses, which could happen as early as next week. They are still waiting on a ruling that would allow them to enter in evidence they claim would change the direction of the trial and exonerate their client, Calvin Harris.
