GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ)- An emotional day two of testimony in the George Burch murder trial included statements from law enforcement, a medical expert, as well as family and friends of the victim.
Eight witnesses took the stand for a lengthy day of testimony.
Most of the morning Tuesday was spent discussing the condition that Nicole VanderHeyden’s body was found in.
Dane County Chief Medical Examiner Doctor Agnieszka Rogalska performed the autopsy.
According to her testimony, VanderHeyden was murdered in a different location then where her body was found.
Graphic photos of VanderHeyden’s body were shown to the courtroom. Those photos highlighted 241 internal and external injuries.
Dr. Rogalska testified that VanderHeyden died from blunt force trauma and strangulation, but is not able to determine the primary cause of death. She explained to the jury that the ligature was placed around her neck while she was alive. She said the medical examination confirms she was also alive when head injury occurred.
Dr. Rogalska said that some of the injuries that VanderHeyden suffered are consistent with some form of sexual abuse, and other injuries are defensive wounds.
The medical examiner also testified that VanderHeyden had a blood alochol content of .107 at the time of her death.
When questioned by Defense Attorney Lee Schuchart if the injuries were caused by one or two individuals, Rogalska said it is not possible to tell from the injuries alone.
The defense claims that Burch and VanderHeyden had consensual sex, but it was VanderHeyden’s boyfriend Douglas Detrie that found them and killed her.
Detrie is expected to testify.
In the afternoon, the jury heard testimony from a friend of Nicole VanderHeyden who was babysitting her and Detrie’s son the night she went missing.
Dallas Kennedy testified that she did not know Nicole’s boyfriend Doug Detrie very well, but did have conversation with him when Nicole went missing.
She said Detrie showed her a text conversation between him and Nicole that seemed argumentative.
Kennedy told the court that she tried to call Nicole many times that night, but her phone was off.
Emotional testimony was heard from Nicole VanderHeyden’s sister Heather Meyer.
Meyer testified that she had a great relationship with her sister and communicated back and forth with Nicole’s boyfriend Doug Detrie after Nicole went missing.
Meyer told the court that she did not know Doug very well, but heard from him that her sister was missing.
The state also called Brown County Sheriff Lieutenant Jim Valley to testify about the finding of VanderHeyden’s clothes on the side of County GV.
Valley said they located a shirt, pants and underwear that was blood stained. Valley said they also found a shoe, a purse and a lanyard that had a photo of Nicole.
The state will continue to call witnesses on Wednesday.
George Burch, is accused of killing Nicole VanderHeyden and leaving her body in a Bellevue field in May 2016.
Prosecutors say Burch’s cell phone activity ties him to multiple key sites from the night of VanderHeyden’s death.
Burch’s attorneys, after their client testifies, plan to introduce evidence that points the finger at VanderHeyden’s boyfriend Douglass Detrie.
Prosecutors say Fitbit evidence clears Detrie.
Court records indicate as many as 130 witnesses could be called over the next two weeks.
