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Inside 09. Sam's Desk and Chair in Den
Sam's desk and chair; drawers on den/study floor from right side of desk; metal file box containing miscellaneous personal papers. In his criminal investigative analysis requested by the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's office for the 2000 trial, retired FBI agent Gregg McCrary said "The crime scene photographs and initial police reports indicate that the killer made a feeble attempt to make the crime scene appear to be a "for profit" burglary, possibly with a drug-related motive... Burglars rarely take the time to stack some drawers, selectively dump the contents of other drawers, or search a wallet at a crime scene as was done at this scene. The reason is that it is too high risk an environment, especially when the crime scene is a murder scene. The same is true for the alleged search of Dr. Sheppard's medical bag. It is unlikely that after committing a homicide and being interrupted by the husband of the victim that a homicidally crazed drug-addict would either take the time or have the ability to selectively identify morphine ampules and Demerol among the contents of a medical bag."
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Inside 10. Close-up of Marilyn's Watch on Den Floor
Close-up of den/study floor by Sam's desk showing a woman's wrist watch. Cleveland Detective Robert Schottke testified in the 1954 trial that "To the rear of the desk in the den was a green metal box which was tipped on its side. In front of this box was several tools. There appeared to be a plug wrench, hammer, some type of pins, and among these tools was a yellow gold lady's wrist watch." He reported that they later learned this was Marilyn's watch. Coroner Gerber testified in 1954 that her watch was covered in blood.
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Inside 11. North Room in Basement, Camera Facing East
View of the north room in the basement; the door shown leads to the cellar.
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Inside 12. North Room of Basement, Camera Facing Northwest
North and west walls of north room in basement showing Sam's punching bag. During the Coroner's Inquest, Sam testified that he took his son and the Ahern children to the basement on July 3rd because they wanted to see his punching bag. Because they were too small to reach the bag, Sam found a bushel basket, turned it over, and allowed them to stand on it and hit the punching bag.
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Inside 13. North Room in Basement, Ash Pit
Southwest portion of north room in basement showing open fireplace ash pit door underneath first floor fireplace.
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Inside 14. Carpet Spots in Northeast Corner of Living Room
In the 2000 trial, retired Police Detective Henry Dombrowski testified about his visits to the Sheppard home on July 23, 26, 27 and August 2 and 5, 1954 (from Dr. Sam Sheppard on Trial by Jack P. DeSario and Bill Mason, 2003, pp. 120-122). Dombrowski spoke about the search for blood spots throughout the Sheppard home. He said that many of the spots were not visible to the unaided eye but did show under luminol spray and portable spotlight. He noted that any spot created by a substance with iron in it, including cola or tea, would show up under the spotlight. In his 1955 Affidavit, Dr. Paul Leeland Kirk, professor of criminalistics and forensic expert for the Sheppard defense team, stated that the spots were a blood trail left by the Marilyn's killer. These photos detail some of the experiments Kirk performed to help him interpret the blood evidence.
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Inside 15. Officers Indicating Spots on Stairs from Kitchen to First Floor Landing
Steps leading from kitchen to landing of stairway between first and second floors; officers indicating spots on steps and risers that yielded positive reactions typical for blood.
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Inside 16. Close-up View of Carpet Spots in Front of Daybed / Studio Couch
Markings on carpet in front of daybed / studio couch at south end of living room indicate spots that yielded reactions typical for blood.
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