OTTAWA – Two former officials from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation took the stand in the second day of the trial of Ralph Corey, 51, of Arizona. He is charged with the 2000 kidnapping and attempted rape of a teenager in Ottawa. Mary Koch was a forensic scientist from 1993 to 2005. She testified that various items of clothing from the attack were examined for sources of DNA. The actual scientist who did the DNA testing then took the stand. Sidney Schuller worked at the KBI from 1991 to 2008. She held several positions, including that of DNA technical leader. She is also a DNA expert witness in Kansas courts. She tested several items of clothing, and developed several DNA profiles. She eliminated one other suspect in the case, but she did not comment on Ralph Corey’s DNA apparently being found on some evidence. Under cross-examination by defense attorney John Boyd, Schuller admitted she left the KBI in 2008 under a cloud. In matters unrelated to this case, a KBI internal inquiry determined Schuller had possibly falsified documents and made misleading statements. The last witness of the day was retired Ottawa Police detective Rick Geist. He testified while processing the car of the victim, he found it unusual that the front driver’s seat was laid back, which fits the description of some events given by the victim. Geist said he traveled to Arizona last year to talk to Corey after a DNA match linked him to the 2000 sexual assault. Corey denies any involvement in the case.
Wednesday, June 20, 6:40 pm