COUCH NO. 1

COUCH NO. 2

COUCH NO. 3

Photos of these three couches were included with Preston's crime scene photos, which one these couches belongs to Preston? Hint: If you look VERY closely you might see SOMETHING silver between two cushions on Preston's couch. When Sgt. Gafford came to talk with Preston, he made a note in his report about seeing a pair of silver rim eyeglasses on the couch but at that time he gave little thought about them. Wonder why Officer Hale didn't list the eyeglasses, later identified as belonging to the female victim, along with the other items he turned into the HPD property division? Is it possible the eyeglasses were planted?

Even in this close-up of Preston's couch, it is difficult to identify the object between the couch cushions as eyeglasses belonging to the female victim. Wonder where the "blood" is that was on these eyeglasses when introduced at trial? Wonder where the photo is showing these eyeglasses at the scene of the crime?

This is the knife and sheath seized from Preston's apartment. The knife was tested, not in the lab, but in the courtroom before the judge, the prosecuting and defense lawyers just before the "forensic expert" was to testify. The "rumored" results - positive for animal blood not human blood and the judge allowed the knife to be introduced at trial as the murder weapon. (See "Great Moments in Forensic Science" article)

What happened to the sheet on Preston's bed? It was never turned into the HPD property division. It was stained with fresh semen. Did Sgt. Gafford contaminate the vaginal swab from the female victim when he hand-delivered the swab to the crime lab?

The items of interest in this photo are the maroon shirt and the small clear plastic bag containing a green leafy substance. The maroon shirt was listed with the items that Officer Hale original collected from Preston's apartment but the green leafy substance showed up later just like the eyeglasses.

These blue jeans were sent to the crime lab the be tested for blood of the victims. The crime lab found blood but not enough to determine if human blood and not enough to type.  It would seem to be a "no brainer" that if these blue jeans were worn by the murder, there would be blood all over them.

Officer Hale seized two navy blue shirts from Preston's apartment. One was sent to the crime lab for testing. Again the crime lab found blood but not enough to determine if human blood and not enough to type. Another "no brainer".

Dirt path between Fuddrucker's Restaurant and Preston's apartment complex where the two victims were found.

This Busch beer can was found at the crime scene. Officer Hale reported, "It appeared that this can had not been there long as there was not a layer of dust on it. It did have a small amount of condensation on the exterior." Officer Hale did not find any latent prints on the can. A witness saw Douglas Swanson with both victims shortly before the murders. Doug's favorite brew was Busch beer. In 1991 Douglas Swanson was arrested and convicted of aggravated sexual assault with a deadly weapon. He is now serving a life sentence at Ferguson Prison in Midway, Texas.

White purse shoulder strap was used by female victim as a belt. This item was retained by the HPD Crime Lab without examination.

Marcell Taylor, age three, found dead at the crime scene.

Marcell Taylor with two stab wounds exposed.

Marcell Taylor - What is that wrapped around this child's left foot?  There was no mention of this in Officer Hale's report or any other officer's report.

Shandra (Shawn) Charles, age fifteen, was found barely alive at the crime scene and taken to the hospital where she died shortly thereafter. This photo was taken at the morgue.

Shandra (Shawn) Charles at morgue.