Court hears blood pattern evidence and arrest of accused in Garland trial

Warning: story contains graphic and disturbing content. 

A small bloody handprint found on a closet door in the home of grandparents Alvin and Kathy Liknes had DNA from their grandson Nathan O’Brien, the jury in the Douglas Garland murder trial heard Wednesday.

Garland, 57, is charged with the first-degree murders of the Liknes’ and five-year-old O’Brien after the three went missing from the grandparents’ Parkhill home on June 30, 2014.

Sgt. Jodi Arns, a blood pattern expert, testified along with O’Brien’s DNA in the handprint about two feet above the floor, there was also DNA matching that of Kathy Liknes.

On the opposite wall from the print on the closet door, another stain with O’Brien’s DNA.

Arns said the heavy blood stains in the spare bedroom upstairs matched Kathy Liknes’ DNA, with blood on the ground, door and bed.

“Kathy was on the floor at the time of impact,” Arns said, adding there was also blood on the bed that matched O’Brien’s.

She said the blood came from some sort of injury that dripped onto the bed, although she couldn’t determine what kind of injury it was.

Meanwhile, in the master bedroom, heavy blood stains indicated to Arns that Alvin Liknes had been struck near the ground next to his bed at least once.

She also said based on blood evidence in the stairwell leading to the garage that Alvin Liknes had been struck again near the ground.

Different blood stains were found throughout the home by investigators on the walls, floors and other objects.

Arns also testified there appeared to have been some sort of attempt to clean up blood found on the kitchen floor.

Garland’s DNA was never found in the home.

Nathan O'Brien, Alvin and Kathy Liknes

O’Brien’s mother, Jennifer, testified she and her other son Max were also planning to sleep over the night of June 29 after an estate sale at the home, but she took her son home that night because he was having trouble sleeping.

She arrived the next morning finding her parents and son gone.

GARLAND ARREST

Also taking the stand Wednesday were CPS officers Dale Linton and Richard Massicotte of the force’s Strike Unit, which conducts target surveillance.

The jury heard Garland became a target on July 11th and was spotted in the evening of July 13th at the Airdrie Walmart.

Massicotte said he purchased gloves, a towel and a flashlight at the store, but was also seen at a nearby park, going through a journal and talking to himself.

He eventually left the Walmart and drove around Veterans Blvd., Range Road 291 and Township Road 274 and Linton said his driving indicated he may have been checking to see if he was being pursued.

Then around 1 a.m., he parked his rented vehicle near his family farm and started walking towards his property through tall grass, not knowing CPS Strike Unit members were in the area.

He eventually started running when he saw police in the field, including two CPS constables who got separated.

HAWCS helicopter assisted in in the operation and court heard from Massicotte that Garland eventually ran towards a tree line, attempting to hide in the grass.

Officers closed in and Massicotte told the jury he yelled at Garland twice, telling him he knew he was there and to come out, which he eventually did and was arrested.

GARLAND FARM EVIDENCE

Earlier this week, jury heard how DNA from the Liknes’ and O’Brien was found on multiple items seized from the Garland property, including meat hooks, a hacksaw, rubber boots, rubber gloves and the shoe Garland was wearing when he was arrested.

Aerial photos taken July 1 appear to show two adult bodies face down in the ground by the farm’s outbuildings, with a smaller figure next to them.

In the Crown’s opening statement, they told the jury they would see aerial photos believed to be of the Liknes’ and O’Brien.

Kathy Liknes DNA was also found on the license plate of the Garland family truck.

A police detective testified this week about the path of a vehicle spotted driving in and out of Calgary the morning of the disappearance, with characteristics matching the Garland truck.

FAMILY CONNECTION

The Crown has said the incident stems from a grudge Garland kept for years over a patent for a pump he worked on with the Liknes’.

Garland’s sister, Patti, is the former common-law partner of Allen Liknes, Alvin’s son.

Garland upon arrest

 

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