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Kilpatrick called his DNA expert, Dr. Harriet Victor, to the witness stand. Most of what she said was non-controversial. Ossie’s DNA report indicated that he could be related to Zachary Coleman, but it did not prove conclusively that he was. But the DNA traces found in the bathtub proved that Harrison Coleman was the victim who was washed down the drain. “We were able to ascertain that the DNA came from Harrison Coleman with an almost 93% certainty,” she explained.
“He probably bathed there. Couldn’t he have left DNA on a previous occasion?”
“He could have, but it would’ve been obliterated by the bio-cremation process. There were barely traces of the victim. No one else’s DNA could’ve survived.”
“Where did you find a DNA sample for matching?” Kilpatrick asked.
“Harrison left genetic material with a company called Past Lives. They use it to provide ancestry reports. Apparently Harrison wanted to know more about where he came from.”
“Can you explain to the jury how the body was destroyed?”
“Yes. It’s not that complicated, and it could be done with common materials easily obtained at most home and garden stores.”
“Was it dangerous?”
“Somewhat. The killer probably wore a chemical retardant suit. And stripped the corpse naked.”
“Where did the clothes go?”
“I can’t be sure, but in all likelihood, the killer hung them up and put them in the closet where Harrison kept several other outfits. The killer used lye in concentrated powder form. He likely let the water in the tub get very hot, till the skin turned red. Then he’d toss in several scoops of the lye. Let the water run till the tub was almost full. Then he must’ve covered the tub.”
“With what?”
“Some kind of drape. Maybe a rubber sheet. That would be the best thing and not hard to find or carry. He would need to seal the tub shut, perhaps with duct tape. We did find adhesive residue on the tub.” She drew in her breath. “At that point, all the killer had to do was sit back and wait. The bio-cremation would break down everything—skin, muscle, tissues, even the teeth. At a cellular level.”
“How long would that take?”
“Maybe fifteen, sixteen hours.”
“The killer stayed that long?”
“Or left and came back. I can’t say. The process would leave a green, or possibly brown residue that we didn’t observe in the tub, though we later detected a little of it chemically. Presumably the killer drained the tub and washed away the residue. The only remains would be a bleached powder. You could crush it in your fist. Pound it to dust.”
“Did you find any of this dust?”
“Yes. Scattered traces in the tub. The final remains of Harrison Coleman.”
Dan watched the jurors’ reactions. They were repulsed by the thought.
“Have you heard of anyone doing this before?”
“Yes. It’s based on alkaline hydrolysis. Sometimes used in mortuaries and other places. But I’ve never seen it used by a private citizen to eliminate traces of a crime.”
“No more questions. Mr. Pike?”
He didn’t particularly want to cross and prolong the jurors’ exposure to this subject, but a few questions needed to be asked. “Did you find any chemical traces on the syringe?”
“Yes. Ketamine.”
Which apparently everyone had. Ketamine had been used in Camila’s case as well. “What is that?”
“A tranquilizer. Can be used as a painkiller or anesthetic. Or in excessive doses, a paralyzing poison.”
“How quickly would it take effect?”
“Almost immediately. At first, the victim wouldn’t be able to move. Death would follow.”
“Painless?”
“Far from it. The victim would feel as if he were burning alive from the inside out. He might not be able to move, but he would feel it, just the same. And once the body was immobilized—the killer would be able to do anything with him he wanted. Like place him in the bathtub. And chemically destroy his body. While he was still—”
“Please just answer the question. We don’t need any embellishment.” He changed the subject. “Were you present when Quint brought the syringe to the police station?”
“No, I was in my lab.”
“Did anyone else have contact with the syringe before you did?”
“Or course. Many people. The admitting officer, the lead detective. My assistant. And of course, the killer.”
“You don’t know for a fact that the killer used the syringe, do you?”
“I found traces of—”
“But many people had contact with that syringe before you did, right? Like police officers?”
“True.”
“Objection,” Kilpatrick said. “Relevance.”
Seriously? “I’m demonstrating that there is significant reason to doubt the story the prosecution is feeding the jury.”
“Doubt?” Judge Smulders blinked. “That’s important, right?”
“Very important, your honor. The defense is all about the doubt.”
Smulders shrugged. “Then I guess I’ll have to allow this one.”
“Thank you, your honor. No more questions.”