DeKALB – Jonathan Hurst’s murder trial continued this week with questions regarding evidence collection and technical difficulties.

Patricia and Robert Wilson were found beaten to death in their homes on Aug. 14, 2016. Hurst is accused of committing the murders.

On Monday, the trial resumed with witness testimony from former Detective Jackie Lane of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office.

Lane, accredited with overseeing evidence collection from the Wilson residence, said that “a couple hundred” pieces of evidence were noted at the initial crime scene and spoke to the reliability of the chain of evidence.

The defense counsel then called into question the security and significance of chosen evidence.

During cross examination, Hurst’s legal counsel Attorney Charles Criswell noted potential weapons – including knives and hammers – that were not submitted as evidence or tested for any DNA. Criswell also noted an estimated “30 plus” firearms and boxes of ammunition were not submitted to evidence and suggested that they illustrate a story separate from a “burglary” narrative.

In his testimony, former Detective John Holiday of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office shared his interview experience with Hurst before and after his arrest.

Monday, court concluded when technical difficulties prevented the state from sharing Hurst’s initial interview from 2020.

Tuesday, in a video shared with the court, Holiday and Detective Josh Duehning are seen making contact with Hurst on Feb. 24, 2020, at a residence he allegedly shared with his aunt in Cincinnati, Ohio. Hurst spoke with the detectives regarding his move from Chicago, employment and family.

Hurst said he was “going on a walk across Illinois” during the latter end of August 2016. Hurst was shown a map, a photo of the Wilson residence as well a “Crime Stopper” flyer by interviewers but claimed he had not been to Sycamore.

In a second video shared with the court, Hurst, now in custody, is seen being interviewed by Holiday again.

After acknowledgement of Miranda Rights, Holiday asked Hurst to share what he knew about the deaths of Robert and Patricia Wilson – to which Hurst maintained his innocence stating “I didn’t do it.”

“I want you to tell your story, or else the evidence will tell your story,” Holiday said in the interview.

Hurst, in response, said “I don’t have a story for you” before requesting legal counsel.

Testimony and cross examination continued with discussion surrounding the route of Hurst’s “walk.”

The context of the walk speaks to how Hurst said he ended up in the suburbs.

In his initial interview with Holiday, Hurst said he loosely followed a trail near his Lincoln Park residence and did not know exactly where the path went. In his statements, Hurst recounts this trail may have followed a highway for some time, in which he said he ended up “somewhere in the suburbs.”

Holiday shared that this general path followed North Avenue – from the defendant’s Lincoln Park residence – turning into Route 64 and leading through Sycamore. Noted in this testimony, the court learned that Hurst voluntarily handed over his personal cell phone as well as a business record of his overnight booking at an extended stay hotel in Elmhurst on Aug. 12, 2016.

Further cross examination by the defense raised questions surrounding the collection of evidence. Specifically, Criswell noted a knife found in close proximity to victim Robert Wilson that was not collected as evidence nor tested for potential DNA.

After the conclusion of Holiday’s testimony, expert witnesses Illinois State Police forensic scientist Jennifer Mulrean and retired Illinois State Police forensic scientist Edward Rottman took the stand offering information surrounding biological evidence and fingerprint examination.

Mulrean discussed “swabbings” given by the Sycamore Special Task Force from the Wilson residence including eight “potential DNA” swabs from a Gatorade bottle, car key, gear shifter and steering wheel. Additionally, Mulrean noted receiving sexual assault evidence kits for both Patricia and Robert Wilson.

Rottman shared that approximately “60 plus” pieces of evidence were processed at his respective lab, “21 plus” fingerprint lifts were received from the crime lab and “30 some” items were gathered to take further swabs from.

The trial is currently set to continue through this week. The next trial date is 9 a.m. Wednesday at the DeKalb County Courthouse.