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DNA test results reported at murder trial

By Gretchen Dowler 3 min read

Day three of the jury trial against Oscar Hernandez Diaz who is accused of killing Abraham Olvera continued Wednesday morning with several witnesses including a BCI DNA expert and the DNA reports of the murder weapon.

Oscar Hernandez Diaz, 42, and his brother Isaac Hernandez Diaz, 35, both of 300-A Dale St., Marietta, were arrested and charged in May 2022 with the murder of Olvera. Isaac Diaz took a plea deal in February and pleaded guilty to attempted felonious assault for his involvement with the murder of Olvera.

Marietta Police Captain Ryan Huffman testified Wednesday morning as he recalled the events of May 21, 2022, the night Abraham Olvera was killed. He was part of the beginning stages of collecting evidence from the Dale Street Apartments. The second witness called, Marietta Police Captain Aaron Nedeff, who was the interim Police Chief at the time of the incident, also touched on the collection of evidence during that night.

Photos of the crime scene were shown to the court and the jury during the continuation of the trial Wednesday. Huffman, Nedeff and third witness Officer M.J. Metts all confirmed or denied evidence found within those photos shown to the court and jury.

When asked by Defense Attorney Raymond Smith if Huffman knew if he was talking to witness or suspect, he responded saying "sometimes you don't know if you're talking to a witness or a suspect" and that it's case dependent upon arresting a suspect.

Another witness, Michael Knighten, with Greenleaf Landscaping, recalled the events of that night in May as he was called by Isaac Hernandez Diaz frantically asking if Knighten would appear at the scene and provide them some clarity.

According to Metts, there was a trail of blood leading from 320 Dale St. Apt. F, the Olvera apartment, to 300 Dale St. Apt. A, the Hernandez Diaz apartment. Isaac and Oscar were inside their apartment but would not answer the door, leading Knighten to arrive on the scene and get the brothers out of their apartment for questioning and aid to their wounds.

Dr. Richard Danford, a professor of Spanish and Portuguese and Vice President of Student Life at Marietta College, was the last witness called Wednesday, and recounted his steps as well. Danford was called as an emergency interpreter to the scene of the crime and helped law enforcement and the suspects communicate due to the language barrier between the two.

The jury also heard from BCI DNA expert Vanity Maldonado to report the DNA testing results from the scene of the crime as well as the murder weapon.

Maldonado reported that two rounds of testing took place and the findings concluded that Isaac Hernandez Diaz's DNA was found on three of the four of the stains found on the katana-style sword, the door handle leading into 320 Dale St. Apt. F (the Olvera apartment), and the bedroom window at 320 Dale St. Apt. F. The remaining stain on the blade showed a DNA mixture with the majority of the DNA belonging to Oscar Hernandez Diaz.

Testimony continues at 9 a.m. today.

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