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Forensic scientist and murder witness takes the stand in the Renfroe murder trial

Online Niel November 21, 2024

SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Home Page)— On the afternoon of the third day of The State of Texas v. Ryan Joaquin Renfroe, three forensic scientists and three associates of Jakob Jones were called to the stand to testify.

criminologist

The first witness to take the stand was Jason White, a forensic scientist who works for DPS Labs in Lubbock, Texas, who did the DNA testing on the items sent by the San Angelo Police Department.

The items that were deposited were a handgun, a bullet magazine, a gun holster, mouth swabs and blood cards. Through tests, White discovered that Renfroe’s DNA was in the DNA profiles of the handgun and the gun holster. White pointed out that the amount of Renfroe’s DNA on the holster was very significant. White was then fired.

The second forensic scientist to be called to the stand was Sarah Hall. He works in the DPS labs in Austin, Texas. She did the GPR (gunpowder residue) kit testing and found that Renfroe had gunpowder residue on him and Chambers did not. Hall was then fired.

The last criminalist to take the stand in today’s session was dr. Luisa Florez, medical examiner. She performed the autopsy on Jones. She said Jones had gunshot wounds below his right eye, an entry wound to his ribs with an exit wound to his back and an entry wound to his right arm. Florez said there was a piece of glass in Jones’ wound below his eye. Florez said the gunshot to the chest broke ribs that protruded through his back and into his right arm.

Florez said the chest and arm wounds would have kept Jones alive and mobile, but the gunshot wounds below the eye would have knocked him out immediately and rendered him unconscious. The toxicology report Florez gave Jones said he only had alcohol in his system. Florez pointed out that it was 1.5 times the legal driving limit. Florez was then dismissed.

Witness the events

The first associate of Jones to be called was Haylea Murrell. She is the younger sister of Jakob Jones. Murrell talked about how there was a traffic accident with Renfroe that happened on Main Street. Murrell said her brother was driving close to Renfroe and then his truck stopped working. She then said her brother stopped to fix his truck. She then said Renfroe made a U-turn and started driving toward the parked car, so she, Wilson and Chambers took off running. She said her brother fixed the truck and then took them. Murrell is then dismissed and another witness is called.

The next Jones associate to take the stand was Hevyn Laurence, who was there at the shooting. Laurence claims to have met Jones on the day of his death. Laurance said Chambers, Wilson and Jones took it from a parking lot at Angelo State University to set off fireworks in Grape Creek.

Laurence said on the way back to town after the fireworks, they stopped at downtown bars so Chambers could have a drink. Laurence said Jones and Renfroe were texting back and forth about meeting to fight. He then said Cody got back in the truck and they started driving around looking for Renfroe because Jones and Renfroe had agreed to fight each other unarmed.

Laurence said when they found Renfroe in the driveway of a downtown bar, Jones got out of the truck ready to fight. She claimed Jones had no weapons on him and that no one else got out of the truck. Laurance claims he heard Jones yell “NO NO” before he was shot the first time. Laurence then testified that he saw Renfroe holding and pointing a gun at Jones. Laurence said Renfroe shot Jones in the face again as Jones tried to fight the gun and fell unconscious, and Wilson then told Chambers to leave. Chambers then left Wilson and Laurance at a police car near the Food King. The witness was then dismissed.

The last witness to testify today was Cody Chambers, Jones’ best friend. Chambers was with Jones during the road rage incident on Main Street and the New Year’s Eve shooting. Chambers recalls Renfroe driving in front of Jones and Jones following Renfroe because Renfroe was driving around 15 mph. Chambers claimed Jones only held Renfroe for a short time before Jones’ truck broke down. Chambers said when they stopped, Renfroe made a U-turn and started driving toward them. Chambers claims he has a bad past and wasn’t going to stick around to see what the driver was going to do, so he took off running. Chambers said when he returned to Jones to fix his truck, they left. Chambers said Jones made a joke about them running and nothing happened.

Chambers then testified that he knew about Renfroe because Jones told him about an incident that happened in Grape Creek between Jones and Renfroe. Chambers then told him that after learning who Renfroe was, he sent Renfroe a message that messing with Jones was like playing with him. Chambers said I did this in hopes that he would leave my best friend alone.

Chambers then began talking about the night of Jones’ death. Chambers, Wilson and Jones went to Angelo State University to pick up a friend named Hevyn Lawrence. Chambers said the group then went to Grape Creek to set off fireworks. Chambers claimed he doesn’t remember exactly when, but at some point during the night, Renfroe texted Jones and Chambers about meeting up to fight. Chambers said that when they got to town, he wanted to stop at a downtown bar, but they already had “final call” and weren’t letting anyone in.

Chambers claims he then returned to his truck and that’s when the group began looking for Renfroe. Renfroe claimed to be in the alley of a downtown bar. When Chambers discovered where Renfroe was, Chambers testified that Jones got out of the truck and then seconds later heard a gunshot. Chambers then turned around and could not see either Renfroe or Jones. Chambers claimed Wilson yelled at them to leave. Chambers then threw Laurence and Wilson into the police car next to the Food King. Chambers then said he returned to the crime scene with the gun in hand, ready to save his best friend or hurt himself.

Chambers was then fired. Court was also adjourned and will resume on November 20 at 8:45am