Forensic experts testify in Ellicott murder case | News, Sports, Work

MAYVILLE – Four state police experts, some of whom work in research labs in the state capital, have gone on trial in the homicide of an Ellicott man who was shot to death early last year.

The first to testify was Steven Packard, a crime scene investigator with the state police in Batavia, who was brought to the witness stand.

Packard is cooperating with the Medical Forensic Investigations Unit and processed three shotguns and one folding knife recovered from 2256 Willard St. Ext. where Scott Blake was shot and killed on January 6, 2023. His stepson, Tucker Richard, who was 18 at the time of the shooting, has been charged with second-degree murder in Blake’s death.

Packard explained the procedure for processing the evidence.

Next up was Victoria O’Connor. She is a firearms forensics officer at the State Police Investigative Center in Albany.

O’Connor tested the weapons found at the scene, as well as the shell casings found. She confirmed that the two guns that were not broken were in working order. One of the three guns was removed in three parts.

Following Packard was Kimberly Stoddard, a forensic serologist at the State Police Forensic Investigation Center in Albany.

As a forensic serologist, she analyzes blood and biological evidence.

Stoddard said she found smears taken from guns, jammed doors, items of clothing and Blake’s hands.

She noted that swabs tested positive for blood from the trigger of one of the guns, as well as from the jammed door.

Public defender Nathaniel Barone asked if she had determined whose blood it was, to which Stoddard said she could not because she is not a DNA analyst.

After Stoddard, Vanessa Richmond, a forensic scientist with the state police forensics lab in Albany, took the witness stand.

Richmond is a serologist and DNA analyst. She was able to develop a DNA profile of both Blake and Richard.

During her statement on the witness stand, she noted that various parts of the weapons provided to their office, as well as a folding knife, had been tested.

The investigation led her to believe that Blake’s DNA was on the grip, foregrip and barrel of the gun.

At the same time, Richard’s DNA was also on the handle and barrel.

As for the folding knife, Blake’s DNA was identified on the blade.

Richard’s DNA was not on the blade, but on the handle of the folding knife.

During opening statements on Oct. 21, Barone said Blake kicked Richard’s bedroom door and hit it with the shotgun, causing it to break.

In response, Richard grabbed a pocketknife and stabbed Richard, angering his stepfather even more.

Richard later shot and killed Blake in another room of the house. Barone claimed it was done in self-defense.

As of Wednesday, 12 people have testified on behalf of the prosecution.

The court hearing is scheduled to resume Thursday morning.