Condition of murder victims body described during Longoria trial in Great Bend

By Matt Unruh ~ Great Bend Post

GREAT BEND – The presentation of evidence continues Friday in the Adam Longoria Capital Murder trial. He’s is accused in the killing of 14-year-old Alicia Debolt.

Joel Cross, a foreman for Venture Corporation took the stand Friday morning, stating that he was the first witness to come across the body at the Venture Asphalt Plant near Dundee. He said he thought it was a mannequin at first because it had no human like features. He said when he realized it was a body, he immediately alerted his supervisor.

Also questioned Friday was Cory Latham, a Crime Scene Investigator from the KBI crime lab in Great Bend. He observed the crime scene where Debolt’s body was found. He described the condition of the body that her arms and legs were in a position that is common in fire deaths. He said they found a black plastic screw on lid near the head of the body, and jewelry on and around the body. He also said he found duct tape on her right ankle, and possibly on her face as well. Latham said he had no doubt that the body was burned at the scene where it was found, considering its condition and the condition of the soil surrounding the body.

Also, John Nachtman with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation testified Friday. He said he organized a search in the roadside ditch between the Venture Plant in Dundee and Great Bend along Highway 56 on August 30th, 2010. He said a cell phone was found in the ditch, where its battery and case were found separated from the cell phone in the ditch. It was positively identified as Alicia Debolt’s phone.

During cross-examination from the defense, Nachtman said they couldn’t identify who, when, and how the phone got where it was.

Eva Brown, Longoria’s former live-in girlfriend also testified Friday. She was questioned about Longoria’s activities the night Debolt was last seen on August 21st 2010. She said that night he left home and came back on two occasions, the first time he stopped by briefly to change, washed his old clothes, and leave again. She said he smelled like gas at that point. He came home over an hour later and took a shower around 1am. Brown said she also smelled gas in her car the next day, and saw stains on Longoria’s clothes. He threw away the jeans, and asked Brown to dispose of the shirt, which she did. In January, while Longoria was already in custody, Brown said he made a request to her.

The state continues with their side of the Capital Murder case in Great Bend.