Forensics: No evidence of rape

February 10, 2009 12:50 pm

— NORWICH _ In the George Ford Jr. murder trial Tuesday, a state police forensic scientist testified that he found no semen on any evidence tested in connection with the death of 12-year-old Shyanne Somers.
Ford, 43, is charged with second-degree murder for allegedly running the girl, over with his truck on July 8, 2007, in the town of South Otselic. Shyanne had been asked to baby-sit earlier that night by Ford. They both lived on state Route 26.
Testifying for the prosecution, Richard Brunt testified that clothing and two tires on Ford’s truck contained blood, but that tests showed no semen anywhere.
On Monday, Lt. James Lloyd, of the Chenango County Sheriff's Department, said GPS records contradict Ford's statement to police that Shyanne's death was accidental and happened when he was turning the truck around.
Police know where the girl died because they found blood, Lloyd said.
Ford is a contractor from Piscataway, N.J. and seasonal resident of South Otselic. If convicted, he faces a maximum sent of 25 years to life in prison.
As the trial broke for lunch, state police scientist Urfan Mukhtar was preparing to tell the court about his DNA analysis in the case.