OTTAWA — — Jurors in a trial for a former county employee accused of sex crimes with a child under 14 heard the first of lengthy DNA testimony in Franklin County District Court this morning and afternoon. Eric Scrutchfield faces charges of rape, aggravated criminal sodomy and lewd and lacivious behavior in incidents that police say occurred while his wife ran a child-care center in Ottawa. This morning, KBI forensics analyst Shannon Brink discussed preliminary tests of DNA samples from underwear from a six-year-old girl at the time of the incidents. Her testimony didn’t offer any attempts at identifying who the DNA came from. This afternoon, KBI forensic biologist Lance Antle testified most samples weren’t conclusive, but one sample contained DNA from just the victim and Scrutchfield. DNA testimony was to continue today. The trial has been interrupted twice – once for last week’s blizzard, and the other so a juror could attend a funeral.
Tuesday, March 5, 6 a.m.; update, 1:30 p.m.
