NO BREAKS EDITION: Bloody Sword Murder Trial - NM v. Isaac Apodaca - Day 3

A foreign DNA profile under the victim's fingernails. Zero prints on the weapon. And the day the puppet master narrative fell completely apart. We are back on the ground in Santa Fe for Day 3 of the New Mexico trial of Isaac Apodaca, the man accused of being the accessory mastermind behind the gruesome sword murder of Grace Jennings. The state has built its entire case on a typed trail of text messages, arguing that Isaac used his words to manipulate his girlfriend, Kiara McCulley, into wielding a 36-inch Amazon-ordered blade. But on Day 3, the scientific and forensic evidence takes the stand, and the prosecution's proxy killer theory faces a devastating physical reality. While the state tries to argue accessory liability, the science tells an entirely different story. My late father always fought for the principle that a courtroom is not a colosseum. We are watchdogs for the process itself, and we must hold the state to the rigorous standards of accomplice causation. Day 3 brought a series of insurmountable forensic gaps. Medical examiner Dr. Emily Helmrich reveals that the severe head and neck cuts on Grace Jennings were postmortem, occurring after her heart had stopped beating. Then, forensic scientists drop a double-barreled bombshell: Kiara McCulley's fingerprints and DNA are all over the 36-inch sword, but Isaac Apodaca is completely excluded. Instead, the DNA under Grace's fingernails belongs to an unknown foreign male. Isaac's only trace is a weak, easily transferred DNA mixture on a pair of pants inside a shared laundry hamper. When the science speaks, the process holds its shape. WITNESS & HEARING GUIDE 00:00 — Hearing: Admissibility of Jail Calls — State and defense lock horns over playing recorded calls where Isaac claims his girlfriend acted alone. 06:21 — The Jail Calls — The state plays snippets of recorded jail phone calls where Isaac insists he is innocent and Kiara acted alone. 49:59 — Dr. Emily Helmrich, forensic pathologist — Dr. Helmrich describes the brutal sharp force injuries and concludes the victim was slain with a sword. 1:18:52 — Helmrich Direct: The Autopsy Gaps — Dr. Helmrich reveals that the severe neck cuts, including a severed carotid artery, occurred after Grace had died. 2:08:50 — Dr. Emily Helmrich Cross-Examination — Defense establishes that Grace had severe defensive hand cuts, showing she fought back while her heart was pumping. 2:46:38 — Hearing: Stripping Phone Privileges — Prosecutors reveal Isaac discussed trial details with his mother, and the judge strips his phone privileges. 2:56:44 — Jeffrey Smith, forensic scientist — The 37-year veteran examiner reveals he identified Kiara McCulley's prints on the sword, but found zero prints of Isaac. 3:34:09 — Rosalyn Archuleta, DNA supervisor — Archuleta reveals Grace's blood on the blue sweater and Kiara's DNA on the sword's handle, while Isaac's DNA is absent. 4:34:20 — Archuleta Direct: The Unknown Male — In a major twist, a foreign unknown male DNA profile was found under Grace's fingernails, completely excluding Isaac. 4:46:34 — Rosalyn Archuleta Cross-Examination — Defense establishes that Isaac is excluded from the bloody weapon and that his weak pants match is consistent with transfer DNA. 5:37:52 — Hearing: Anointed Doors — State alerts the court that the defendant's mother was seen anointing courthouse doors with holy oil. --- COMPLETE CASE COVERAGE justiceisaprocess.com SUBSCRIBE for daily trial coverage and hit the notification bell so you never miss testimony. JOIN to unlock the Case Notebook powered by NotebookLM, where you can chat with the evidence, ask questions about the testimony, and go deeper than any comment section allows.