47. The Expert

Summary

• The chapter begins in a 1970 courtroom setting with Prosecutor Eric Chastain questioning the sheriff about the discovery of Chase Andrews’s body, the doctor’s examination, and the initial investigation.
• The sheriff shared that at the crime scene there were no footprints, no fingerprints, and no vehicle tracks, leading him to believe it was a crime scene rather than an accident. He further testified that red wool fibers from Miss Clark’s hat were found on Chase’s clothing that night.
• Tom Milton, the cross-examiner, asked the sheriff if any outside experts were consulted about the evidence of footprints being wiped out. The sheriff defended his observations, saying he is the expert trained in such examination and stood by his conclusion.
• Tom pointed out a potential scenario where the tide, being a natural phenomenon of the marsh where the body was found, could possibly have wiped away any footprints. He suggested that it could have been a likely occurrence on the night of the incident, based on the tide table evidence he presented.
• The Sheriff admitted that it’s possible for high tides to wipe out footprints to some extent, but there would still be little suggestion of a crime. He added that there was no cover-up evidence found either in support of his argument.
• Tom Milton continued by inquiring about the fire tower’s open grate, if it had any of Miss Clark’s fingerprints or strands of hair, to which the sheriff said no. Tom emphasized there is no evidence proving Miss Clark was on that tower that night.
• Towards the end of the chapter, Tom expresses a point that the grates in question on the tower were often unsecured owing to kids playing there, so much so that the Sheriff's office submitted a written request for securing the tower's grates, three months before Chase's death.
• The sheriff affirmed the submission, and read the document out loud in court, emphasizing its final line, "I must repeat, these grates are very dangerous and if action is not taken, a serious injury or even death will occur."