SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)— On the afternoon of day three of The State of Texas v. Ryan Joaquin Renfroe, three forensic scientists and three associates of Jakob Jones were called to the stand to give testimonies.

Forensic Scientist

The First witness to come to the stand was Jason White, a forensic scientist who works for the DPS labs in Lubbock, Texas, which did the DNA testing on the items sent to them from the San Angelo Police Department.

The items that were submitted were a handgun, a bullet magazine, a gun holster, buccal swabs, and blood cards. Through testing, White found that Renfroe's DNA was in the DNA profiles of the handgun and the gun holster. White pointed out that the amount of Renfroe's DNA on the holster was very significant. White then was dismissed.

The second forensic scientist who was called onto the stand was Sarah Hall. She works in the DPS labs in Austin, Texas. She did the testing on the GPR kits (gunpowder residue) and found that Renfroe had gunpowder residue on him and Chambers did not.  Hall was then dismissed.

The last forensic scientist to take the stand in today's session was Dr. Luisa Florez, a forensic pathologist. She performed the autopsy on Jones. She said Jones had gunshot wounds under the right eye, an entry wound on his ribs with an exit wound on his back, and an entry wound on his right arm. Florez said there was a piece of glass in Jones' wound under his eye. Florez said that the gunshot to the chest broke some ribs exited through his back and into his right arm.

Florez said that the chest and arm injuries would have kept Jones alive and mobile but the gunshot injury under the eye would have dropped him right away and left him unconscious. The toxicology report Florez did on Jones said that he only had alcohol in his system. Florez pointed out it was 1.5x higher than the legal driving limit. Florez was then dismissed.

Witness' of the events

The first associate of Jones that was called up was Haylea Murrell. She is the younger sister of Jakob Jones. Murrell talked about how there was a road rage accident with Renfroe that occurred on Main Street. Murrell said her brother was driving close to Renfroe and then his truck stopped working. She then said that her brother pulled over to fix his truck. She then said Renfroe did a U-turn and started driving towards the parked car, so she, Wilson, and Chambers took off running. Said her brother fixed the truck and then picked them up. Murrell is then dismissed, and another witness is called up.

The next associate of Jones to take the stand was Hevyn Laurence who was there at the shooting. Laurence claims to have met Jones on the day of his death. Laurance said Chambers, Wilson, and Jones picked her up from an Angelo State University parking lot to pop fireworks out in Grape Creek.

Laurence said on the way back into town from popping fireworks, they stopped by the downtown bars so Chambers could get a drink. Laurence said Jones and Renfroe were texting back and forth about meeting up to fight. Then she said that Cody came back into the truck, and they started driving around looking for Renfroe because Jones and Renfroe had agreed to fight each other with no weapons.

Laurence said when they found Renfroe in the alleyway of a bar downtown, Jones got out of the truck ready to fight. She claimed Jones had no weapons on him and no one else got down from the truck. Laurance claims to have heard Jones yell "NO NO," before getting shot for the first time. Laurence then testified that she saw Renfroe holding and aiming a gun at Jones. Laurence said Renfroe shot Jones again in the face because Jones tried to wrestle the gun away and he dropped unconscious, and then Wilson told Chambers to drive away. Chambers then dropped off Wilson and Laurance at a police car near Food King. The witness was then dismissed.

The last witness to testify today was Cody Chambers, best friend of Jones. Chambers was with Jones during the road rage incident on Main Street and the New Year's Eve shooting. Chambers remembers Renfroe driving in front of Jones and Jones was tailgating Renfroe because Renfroe was driving around 15 mph. Chambers claimed that Jones only tailgated Renfroe for a short amount of time before Jones' truck broke down. Chambers said when they pulled over Renfroe made a U-turn and started driving at them. Chambers claims he has a bad past and wasn't going to stick around to see what that driver was going to do so he took off running. Chambers said when he got back to Jones fixing his truck they left. Chambers said that Jones made a joke about them running away and nothing happened.

Chambers then testified that he knew of Renfroe because Jones told him about an incident that happened in Grape Creek between Jones and Renfroe. Chambers then said after finding out who Renfroe was, that he messaged Renfroe that messing with Jones is like messing with him. Chambers said I did this in hopes of him leaving my best friend alone.

Chambers then started talking about the night of Jones' death. Chambers, Wilson, and Jones went to Angelo State University to pick up a friend named Hevyn Lawrence. Chambers then said that the group went towards Grape Creek to pop fireworks. Chambers claimed he couldn't remember exactly when, but at some point in the night Renfroe was messaging Jones and Chambers about meeting up to fight. Chambers said when they got into town, he wanted to stop by a bar downtown, but they already had the "final call" and weren't letting anyone in.

Chambers claims he then went back into his truck and that's when the group started looking for Renfroe. Renfroe claimed to be in the alley of a downtown bar. When Chambers found where Renfroe was, Chambers testified that Jones got out of his truck, and then a few seconds later he heard a gunshot. Chambers then turned around and could not see either Renfroe or Jones. Chambers claimed Wilson yelled for them to leave. Chambers then dropped Laurence and Wilson at the police car near Food King. Chambers then said he drove back to the crime scene gun in hand ready to save his best friend or get himself hurt.

Chambers then was dismissed. Court was also dismissed and will start again on Nov. 20 at 8:45 A.M.

Previous Trial Coverage

Law enforcement testifies in New Year’s Day murder trial

Trial begins for man accused of New Year’s Day murder

Pub manager, deceased’s friend testify in New Year’s Day murder trial

Pre-Trial Coverage

Grand jury indicts man for New Year’s killing

Details emerge in San Angelo New Year’s killing

San Angelo man arrested on murder charge

WATCH: Police investigate death in downtown San Angelo New Year’s Day

News Source : https://www.conchovalleyhomepage.com/news/forensic-scientist-and-witness-of-the-murder-take-the-stand-in-the-renfroe-murder-trial/