Jurors Get Glimpse at Crime Scene Photos

Jurors witness graphic images Wednesday afternoon in the murder trial of Terrell Nowlin in the July death of Tyler Hardin. Prosecutors also presented details of how DNA testing proved his wife Heather’s daughter, Markea was fathered by Tyler Hardin and evidence found at the scene.

Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office Evidence Technician Craig Knox took jurors through the collection of evidence at a property on Tipton Road where the shallow grave of Tyler Harden was found on July 18 of last year. The jury viewed a 9mm shell casing, bullet found at the scene and saw the graphic images of Hardin’s decomposing body.

"The body was lying face down," said Knox. "His hands were under his body. The body was in severe decomposition. It had signs of animals and insects."

Knox described a path to the shallow grave where it appeared something had been drug and what was thought to be smoothed footprints. It lead investigators to theorize that whoever was walking may have put something over their shoes because there was no tread. The defense disagrees.

"Its’ possible those shoes could have been a smooth surface deck shoe," questioned Defense Attorney Kirk McVay.

The defense wanted prosecutors to produce other evidence not brought to court found in Nowlin’s wife’s car. The items included clothes stained with red and muddy pants. Earlier in the day, Terrell’s girlfriend from Columbus and mother of his son testified she never knew he was married but did know he believed Markea to be his daughter until DNA proved otherwise.

"He was very heartbroken," said Savanna Cooper.

She also said Terrell had purchased a semi automatic gun after his car was broken into.She testified he kept it in a blue case. The same case his father’s girlfriend reported seeing with him the weekend of July 10 when Hardin was murdered. It’s also the case Nowlin asked Cooper to remove prior to detective’s visits.

"He told me to take the gun to my parents house and put it in the safe," said Cooper. "I made it to City Financial on 161 but I was crying because I didn’t know what was going on. I called my dad and he came and got the gun."

Cooper’s father, Randall testified he put the gun in his safe and turned it over to detectives when asked. Detective Todd Mahle testified that when he searched Heather Nowlin’s apartment they found a pair of white sneakers, that Terrell was seen wearing the weekend of the murder and bleach used to clean clothing.