Forensic scientists testified Tuesday that most of the blood taken from a crime scene in February 2013 was that of 3-year-old Andraia Boles.
Tuesday was the second day of the murder trial of the child’s father, Torres Boles.
He is charged with two counts of murder, three counts of cruelty to children and one count of deprivation of a child, which resulted in the death Andraia Boles at their Bannon Court home Feb.26-27, 2013.
Assistant District Attorney Melissa Poole still was presenting the state’s case Tuesday morning. Her first of three witnesses were forensic biologists with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, who testified about evidence collected from the scene by Hinesville Police Department Det. Elizabeth Jackson.
During her testimony Monday, Jackson spent more than an hour presenting it, displaying some for the jurors.
Among the items were dirty Tickle Me Elmo pajamas that Andraia Boles likely was wearing before her death, soiled socks and objects and photos that showed what may be blood.
Jackson had testified she had taken 10 possible blood samples.
GBI biologists Tara Ransom, Barbara Retzer and Rachel Duke testified the samples were blood and all but one was from Andraia Boles.
Before lunch, the state called HPD Det. Doug Snider, the case’s lead investigator.
Jurors got a glimpse of what took place that day in February as they listened to taped conversations between Snider and Boles.
They heard a distraught Boles cry as Snider told him his daughter had died. Boles was heard saying his life was over, that he had no reason to live.
It was unclear when the defense would start its case.
Monday morning, six men and six women were chosen for the jury along with two alternates.
Poole said during opening statements that the state would show Andraia Boles died of blunt-force trauma and that the injuries were the result of Torres Boles’ punishment.
Boles’ public defender, John Ely, said the defense would prove his client was not with the child at the time of her death. He added that the actions of the child’s mother, Candice Boles, before emergency personnel were called would cast doubt about his client’s culpability.
Candice Boles, the wife and co-defendant, will be tried later. She is charged with being party to murder and one count of cruelty to children.
Among the first witnesses was the child’s grandmother, Gaynell Jacobs. She cried as the state showed a photo of Andraia Boles. She said she had not seen the girl or her older sister, Darria Boles, for some time. She and the girls’ father did not get along. She said she often told her daughter Candice Boles she disagreed with how Torres Boles treated the girls.
The state then called first responders, officers, paramedics and Dr. Bobby Herrington, a physician at Liberty Regional Medical Center.
All described finding the child cold, with no vital signs and substantial swelling to her head.
Herrington said the child’s core temperature was 84 degrees. He added that the child had rectal tearing. As he described her injuries the jury saw photos of her battered body.
Torres Boles shifted in his seat and looked away from the monitor.
The trial is expected to last until today and is being presented before Liberty County Superior Court Judge Paul Rose.