5.Dave Lawrence — Direct/Cross (Part 2)
60 linesRICK HUBBARD: Lieutenant, after y'all finished identifying the remains of each and every bag, about what time did y'all wrap up and you leave that scene?
DAVE LAWRENCE: We ended up leaving about 10:30 p.m.
RICK HUBBARD: When did you get back to South Carolina?
DAVE LAWRENCE: We stayed somewhere in Merdian, Mississippi and then drove back the next day.
RICK HUBBARD: Lieutenant, in your 30 years, you ever had a case where children were left by their killer in such a remote area?
ROBERT MADSEN: Objection, Your Honor.
RICK HUBBARD: Character.
THE COURT: Recharacterize that, please.
RICK HUBBARD: Have you had a case where someone who has disposed of bodies have left them in such a remote area, children?
DAVE LAWRENCE: I have not.
RICK HUBBARD: In your 30 years, have you ever been called upon to open garbage bags to identify the remains of children until this case?
DAVE LAWRENCE: I have not.
RICK HUBBARD: In your 30 years?
DAVE LAWRENCE: And I've seen a lot of dead bodies.
RICK HUBBARD: Thank you, sir.
THE COURT: Mr. Madsen.
CROSS-EXAMINATION BY MR. MADSEN:
ROBERT MADSEN: Lieutenant Lawrence, you mentioned that, I guess, you do polygraphs now or have a contract after retiring?
DAVE LAWRENCE: I do.
ROBERT MADSEN: And that was part of your job at SLED?
DAVE LAWRENCE: A very small part of my job at SLED. I ran very few polygraphs while I was there.
ROBERT MADSEN: How long have you been a polygrapher?
DAVE LAWRENCE: Since 1993.
ROBERT MADSEN: And you took your polygrapher equipment with you to Mississippi?
DAVE LAWRENCE: I did.
ROBERT MADSEN: Never used it, correct?
DAVE LAWRENCE: Did not.
ROBERT MADSEN: No one asked you to use it?
DAVE LAWRENCE: Did not.
ROBERT MADSEN: And once you got there, I think you had an initial meeting on the 8th with the law enforcement there, correct?
DAVE LAWRENCE: That's correct.
ROBERT MADSEN: And then you met with Tim, Sr. and Julie Jones?
DAVE LAWRENCE: I did.
ROBERT MADSEN: And that's Tim's father and his stepmother?
DAVE LAWRENCE: That's correct.
ROBERT MADSEN: And y'all discussed Tim?
DAVE LAWRENCE: Yeah, that was very brief that we -- we just had a conversation.
ROBERT MADSEN: About Tim and, I guess, his family history?
DAVE LAWRENCE: Some, yeah.
ROBERT MADSEN: And this is all before you know that the children are dead, correct?
DAVE LAWRENCE: That was at the same time that Agent Creech -- or Agent Mackey and Sergeant Creech were conducting an interview with Mr. Jones.
ROBERT MADSEN: And Tim, Sr. and Julie were obviously concerned?
DAVE LAWRENCE: Well, they were there.
ROBERT MADSEN: And they answered any question that you asked them?
DAVE LAWRENCE: As I can recall.
ROBERT MADSEN: And, in fact, they did everything that you had asked them? You felt comfortable if you went back to them, they would have answered anything that you wanted, correct?
DAVE LAWRENCE: I don't know if I can say that. I can only say that -- I mean, it was a very brief conversation that we had and it was in general and it was smalltalk as well, too. Obviously, I think even at that time, they were trying to find out what was going on.
ROBERT MADSEN: And so then on the 9th, I believe you were with Tim when he was reviewing maps, maybe even Google Earth?
DAVE LAWRENCE: I was in the conference room whenever that was going on.
ROBERT MADSEN: And he was cooperative?
DAVE LAWRENCE: He was.
ROBERT MADSEN: And I think the Solicitor had asked you about this area in Alabama and you said that it was extremely rural?
DAVE LAWRENCE: That's correct.
ROBERT MADSEN: And that you went for miles without seeing any houses?
DAVE LAWRENCE: It was very sporadic. You know, I mean, we would see one occasionally, but yeah, there was like miles on end before you would see one.
ROBERT MADSEN: And it would have been difficult to find those children without Tim's help?
DAVE LAWRENCE: Yes, it would.
ROBERT MADSEN: No further questions.
RICK HUBBARD: Nothing further, Your Honor.
THE COURT: You may step down.