Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 1, 1991 TAG: 9103010773
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: FAIRFAX LENGTH: Medium
"In my opinion this one hair removed from the floor exhibited the same characteristics as the finer hairs received from hairbrushes," Special Agent Douglas Deedrick, an expert in the FBI Hair and Fiber Unit, testified Thursday in Fairfax County Circuit Court.
In a nearly full day of testimony, Deedrick detailed the things he found in Hughes' car that match hairs and fibers found in Melissa's environment.
The single hair, rabbit fur and clothing fibers taken from Hughes' car are microscopically the same as those on Melissa's hairbrush, her nightshirt, her mother's blazer and a pink coat left at home, he said.
Commonwealth's Attorney Robert F. Horan Jr. has said hair and fiber evidence is crucial in the case against Hughes, who is charged with abducting Melissa from a Christmas party at her Lorton apartment complex on Dec. 3, 1989.
Horan is attempting to prove that Melissa, who has never been found, was in the car Hughes drove that night.
Hughes, 25, of Woodbridge, was hired as a groundskeeper at Melissa's apartment complex three weeks before her disappearance.
He is charged with abducting the girl with the intent to defile. He could be sentenced to life in prison if convicted.
Horan asked the FBI expert Thursday whether it was possible for there to have been so many blue fibers on the car seat if the child was wearing the pink ski jacket she was last seen wearing, implying that the coat was removed.
Deedrick said that in his opinion the sweater came in direct contact with the seat.
Under cross-examination, Deedrick said he could not say whether the hip-length coat was removed, or whether it could have been hiked up in the back.
Deedrick also said dyed rabbit fur hairs found on the passenger seat match the coat her mother, Tammy Brannen, was wearing the night of the party.
The rabbit hair also is consistent with fur found on Melissa's nightshirt and a blazer worn by her mother.
More than 50 blue acrylic fibers found in the passenger seat and one in the driver's seat match blue acrylic fibers found on Melissa's hairbrush, a coat and a blue blazer, he testified.
Deedrick said the blue fibers and 10 red cotton fibers found on the passenger seat are consistent with an outfit from J.C. Penney, which is like the one Melissa was wearing that night.
Defense attorney Peter D. Greenspun, who has said the acrylic fibers found on the car seat could have come from thousands of sources, asked Deedrick why he did not search for other clothing in Hughes's house that could have matched the acrylic and cotton found in the car, and why the FBI did not ask Hughes' wife or stepchild for hair samples.
Deedrick gave no explanation.
by CNB