CHAIN OF CUSTODY

Forensic Processing of the Mitsubishi Stopped

McElroy’s follow-up report states that investigators observed possible blood on the Mitsubishi’s back seat and seat belts, along with dried red stains in the trunk area that tested presumptively positive for possible human blood.

The report further states that processing of the vehicle was stopped and the Mitsubishi was left locked and secured in the CSU processing bay at Investigator Stokes’s request. This raises questions about why the examination was interrupted, what evidence had already been collected, and whether the vehicle was later fully processed.

Derik Brown’s Three Cellphones Released in Unsealed Bags

McElroy’s original follow-up report states that on June 11, 2020, Investigator Stokes transferred three cellphones and personal property belonging to Derik Brown in unsealed bags. McElroy then placed the items in his assigned evidence locker.

The unsealed condition creates a documented chain-of-custody concern regarding who had access to the phones before they were secured, whether the devices or their data remained protected, and whether a complete transfer and handling record exists.