Billy Chemirmir Trial: Alleged serial killer opts not to testify in own defense
DALLAS - Prosecutors continued to lay out their case against accused serial killer Billy Chemirmir on Thursday.
The case is over the 2018 death of 87-year-old Mary Brooks; one of 22 murders Chemirmir is accused of committing.
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The majority of Chemirmir’s alleged murders happened at senior living facilities, where prosecutors say he posed as a maintenance worker.
The prosecution rested its case against Chemirmir Thursday afternoon.
The defense also rested its case after Chemirmir opted not to testify in his own defense.
The jury will be read the jury charge Friday morning, followed by closing arguments.
On Thursday, the prosecutor presented DNA evidence that appears to link Chemirmir to another of his 22 alleged victims, 80-year-old Martha Williams. Williams was found dead inside her Plano home in January 2018.
It’s all in an effort to paint Chemirmir as being a serial killer who preyed on elderly women and made their deaths look like natural causes.
DNA forensic analyst Rachel Birch tested a pillow belonging to Williams at the time of her death.
It had a stain on it determined to be blood.
Birch testified that Williams was the likely contributor of the blood stain, and that testing also found that "Chemirmir cannot be excluded as the minor contributor on the opposite side of the pillow."
Birch also found partial DNA under Williams’ lefthand fingernail clippings.
She said tests determined Chemirmir could not be excluded as a possible contributor.
Then there's a blue latex glove found inside of Chemirmir's Nissan Altima, along with silverware found in the trunk Williams’ family said was missing from her house.
Birch testified the glove likely contained her DNA too
"The data would indicate with a high degree of confidence that she is the source of the major DNA contributor found that we're obtaining from inside glove number one," Birch said.
Under cross examination, the defense to cast doubt on the accuracy of the results, pointing out that DNA can deteriorate over time, adding that this had nothing to do with the death he’s on trial for.
[LAWYER: "I noticed today I didn't hear you say Mary Brooks' name, is that correct?]
"Ah, this is correct," Birch said.
The state has not been able to link Chemirmir to brooks through DNA, but the lead prosecution did question the manager of Diamond Gold and Exchange about whether Chemirmir would often sell women's jewelry.
The manager testified Chemirmir sold jewelry to him on January 31, 2018, the day Brooks was found dead.
Her jewelry was missing.
An FBI data analyst testified that Chemirmir's cell phone pinged near the Walmart where Brooks was shopping the day she died. Chermirmir's cell phone later pinged near her home, where she was found dead.
Chemirmir has already been convicted of murder in the death of Lu Harris.
Prosecutors are looking for a second life sentence for Chemirmir, making it less likely his sentence is thrown out on appeal.