An expert witness testified today in the murder trial of Timothy McVay, even though it won't officially start until next week. Forensic scientist, Sarah Walbridge-Jones, is a prosecution witness whose European vacation coincides with the trial. And that's why she testified this week.
The 40-year-old McVay from Rock Island is accused of killing his ex-girlfriend, 29-year-old Carrie Olson, and concealing her death. Her body was found in Hastings, Minnesota, three months after she went missing in late 2013.
Walbridge-Jones worked in the Minnesota crime lab at the time, and testified that fibers found in Olson's hair are consistent with a carpet sample collected by Rock Island police.
But defense attorney, Aaron Dyer, says she can't say how the fibers got in Olson's hair, what type of carpet they're from, and there's no way to identify the manufacturer.
Prosecutors did not say where the carpet sample came from.
McVay's bench trial is scheduled to begin Monday with opening statements.
