A DNA analyst testified Thursday afternoon that a hair found in the window frame of the driver’s door belonged to Ashley Baumann. Baumann, 26, of Merrill, is on trial in connection with a June 2012 crash that killed two people. She faces seven felony charges, including two counts of homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle in the deaths of Misty Glisch and Jessica Hartwig.
State Crime Lab senior analyst Jennifer Honkanen said she tested 27 items provided by investigators, including 14 swaps with the possible presence of blood. The driver side airbag did not provide any DNA evidence.
Surviving passenger Jerrica Woller was the source of most of the identifiable DNA samples. Her DNA was found in four blood stains on the passenger side rear seatbelt, where she said she was sitting in the vehicle. She was also identified as the source of blood stains found throughout the inside of the vehicle, including on the driver’s seat, front passenger seat, and both doors on the passenger side.
Honkanen said she received DNA samples from all four women for comparison in analyzing the evidence.
The prosecution also called the Marathon County Sheriff’s detective who examined records from Misty Glisch’s cell phone. Included in the date extracted from the phone were a number of photos taken between 2:37 a.m. and 2:56 a.m. on June 7, 2012. Pictured taken inside the vehicle between 2:54 and 2:56 show Woller and Glisch belted into the back seat and Baumann and Hartwig in the front seat, with Baumann in the driver’s seat.
A GPS specialist with the Department of Transportation presented an analysis of the coordinates from which the photos were taken. The last several photos were all taken from the same coordinates, indicating the vehicle had stopped.
The prosecution has not yet rested its case, but is expected to early tomorrow. Defense attorney Wright Laufenberg said he expects to wrap up the defense case tomorrow as well.