Testimony from a detective and medical examiner who investigated the deaths of MSU student Katherine A. Brown and three others began Wednesday’s trial of Troy Brake, who is charged and being held in connection with the deaths.
Brown, her boyfriend, Jeremy Zimmer, 20; Zimmer’s brother Tyler, 17; and his mother Sharmaine Zimmer, 52, were found dead in the Zimmer’s Wright Township home Sept. 29, 2008.
Detective Steve McCarthy explained the state of the Wright home upon his arrival, saying the fire burned the home from inside out. McCarthy, who also is Ottawa County’s only fire investigator, said he and other investigators spent about a week probing the home for evidence and found the four bodies.
Three witnesses were called at the trial and detailed their findings at the Wright home the morning the deaths were discovered. They answered questions related to photos submitted as evidence by prosecution.
Dale Wiersma, a medical examiner investigator for Muskegon, Allegan and Ottawa counties, said he arrived at the Wright Township home to examine the bodies, which he then prepared for examination by forensic pathologists. Brown, he said, was found without clothing on her lower body, which had been severely damaged.
Forensic pathologist David Start was expected to testify later in the day.
For more on this story, see Thursday’s edition of The State News and check statenews.com for updates.
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