Testimony has ended in the Des Moines County Courthouse trial of Dennis Duane Richards Richards, 59. Richards is charged with second-degree murder in connection with
the Jan. 4 death of his 46-year-old fiancee and former wife, Cyd
Charisse Richards. He also is on trial for second-degree arson on
allegations he burned the woman's house shortly
after he killed her. Joe Lestina, a special agent from the Iowa State Fire Marshal's Office,
gave the jury a thorough review of how the arson investigation was
conducted.
One piece of evidence in particular, an empty gallon bottle of Gatorade seized from Richards' DMC 99 apartment tested positive for gasoline residue. Lestina said fire cause and origin experts ruled out everything that could cause an accidental fire, including a lightning strike and electrical malfunction. Data collected from the scene indicated pointed the fire, which started in the woman's basement, was intentionally set "using an open flame on an ordinary combustible material," he said.
For more, see thehawkeye.com.
One piece of evidence in particular, an empty gallon bottle of Gatorade seized from Richards' DMC 99 apartment tested positive for gasoline residue. Lestina said fire cause and origin experts ruled out everything that could cause an accidental fire, including a lightning strike and electrical malfunction. Data collected from the scene indicated pointed the fire, which started in the woman's basement, was intentionally set "using an open flame on an ordinary combustible material," he said.
For more, see thehawkeye.com.
Leave a comment