Christa Worthington murder: Missing evidence found, to be tested (capecodtimes.com) Excerpt

What is McCowen asking for?

Barnstable Superior Court Associate Justice Mark C. Gildea Jr. on May 22 approved the order McCowen sought to conduct DNA tests and fabric analysis of a blue and white sweater that was worn by Jeremy Frazier the night of the murder, according to court documents. Gildea concluded that McCowen’s request met all the first-step criteria for the court order. McCowen testified that Frazier was with him at Worthington’s home and was the one who stabbed Worthington with a kitchen knife.

“Anything could have happened. I know I didn’t kill her,” McCowen told state police at the time of his arrest, according to the facts quoted directly in the commonwealth’s response to McCowen’s motion in March, submitted by Cape and Islands District Attorney Robert J. Galibois and Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth A. Sweeney.

Frazier had provided an alibi for the night of the murder, Jan. 6, 2002, that was backed up by a friend. He provided a different accounting of that night, although admitted he and McCowen had been together at an Orleans bar earlier.

Sweater was 'lost evidence'

Frazier turned in the sweater in May 2005 but it was only found a year and a half ago in a state police barracks, McCowen’s attorney, Gary Pelletier, told the Times recently. “The sweater went missing as lost evidence,” he said, and was found in Massachusetts State Police custody, not in the police crime lab as would be expected. A request for discovery of the original evidence list prompted the search for the sweater about a year and a half ago, around February 2023, he said.

Why does McCowen want Jeremy Frazier's sweater tested?

Also submitted for the court-ordered testing were blue and white fibers found in Worthington’s vaginal area and under fingernails of both her hands. “A DNA and/or fiber match would constitute highly exculpatory and material evidence,” McCowen’s motion for funds on Sept. 13, 2023, to cover the testing stated.

“The DNA of Christopher McCowen and known third parties, including, but not limited to, Jeremy Frazier,” was shipped by the state police crime lab to a Lorton, Virginia facility, Bode Technology Group, separately from the other items covered in the order. A fiber comparison analysis will be performed after the DNA testing at the Microtrace Laboratory in Elgin, Illinois.

Pelletier said the court approved authorization of $5,000 to pay two forensic experts, Eric Carita and Carl Ladd, who will supervise the DNA testing and another $5,000 for a forensic fiber analyst, Jack Hietpas. “Hietpas will analyze results from a laboratory fiber comparison test to determine if the blue and white fibers on Worthington’s body match the blue and white fibers on Jeremy Frazier’s sweater,” the original order stated.

Fiber match could mean a new trial

Pelletier said a match of the fibers could result in a new trial. He said previous testing of the fibers from Worthington’s body may have been inconclusive. The DNA from the sweater may not be conclusive as evidence because Frazier may have washed it before turning it in, he added. Pelletier has not received a notice that the testing has been concluded and a tentative hearing on the results scheduled for Aug. 20 may not occur.

In his email to the Times, McCowen said there are certain things he couldn’t talk about, such as the DNA and the sweater, and referred the questions to his lawyer. He said he could not say who could have committed the murder “because as we all know they (state police) rushed to judgement in so many areas."