Jennifer Bales
Hamilton County Medical Examiner Dr. James Metcalfe testified Tuesday afternoon that a man killed in his fishing boat had multiple blows to the head and his neck was broken.
The witness said Donald Rogers, 46, also has a broken nose and a bloody haze over one eye. He said one of the blows to an eye was so hard that it broke the skull.
Dr. Metcalfe also told the jury in the courtroom of Judge Don Poole there was damage to the victim's brain and also blows to the side and back of his head.
The state rested its case late Tuesday afternoon following the testimony of the medical examiner.
Chance Loftis is standing trial for murder and aggravated animal cruelty.
Attorney Mary Sullivan Moore asked for a directed verdict of acquittal, saying there had been no proof that the murder happened in Hamilton County. Judge Poole denied the request, saying a woman living in Hamilton County heard the pair charged in the slaying paddling to a nearby dock.
Earlier, a female friend of Loftis told the jury that he closed the door behind him and told her that he and Travis Jenkins had "beat a man to death" on a boat off Johnson Road.
Jennifer Bales said she was the one who gave the pair a ride to the river on the afternoon of Aug. 24, 2012. The victim was found dead in his boat near a dock. His dog, Braxton, was dead in the water nearby.
Jenkins, who told the jury that Loftis was the culprit, faces the same charges as Loftis.
Ms. Bales said she met the pair through Crystal Wilson, who she said had dated both of them in the past.
She said Loftis "is a very nice person when he wants to be," while she said she she didn't like Jenkins. She said, "He was disrespectful. His demeanor was erratic."
The witness said the pair paid her $10 to take them to the river after they said they wanted to get away following recent turmoil at the Jenkins home. Ms. Bales said Jenkins had threatened to kill his mother and his girlfriend at the time he got in a fight with the mother.
She said Loftis and Jenkins after the ruckus at home were talking about taking out their frustrations "with a backyard brawl." She said, "I thought it was a testosterone thing. They were venting."
Instead, she said, they decided to accept Rogers' offer of an excursion on his boat and a campout.
She said Loftis called her at 2 a.m. after the incident on the boat and she agreed to drive the hour's trip to get him. She said when he got in the vehicle he was talking about his hands and rubbing them, but she said she did not see any marks on him.
She said it was after they had gotten out of the vehicle that he went into a room and told her what had happened.
It was testified that Ms. Bales earlier told investigators that Loftis said it was Jenkins who had beat up the riverman and killed his dog.
Ms. Bales said she became frantic and scared when Loftis started talking about trying to clean out the victim's airway. She said. "This doesn't happen to people like me who punch a time clock."
Chance Loftis