Sarah Carbaugh's Testimony
Witness Sarah Carbaugh testified to seeing a man, possibly muddy and bloody, walking along the highway away from the trail area later on February 13, 2017, suggesting he could be the killer fleeing the scene.
The Defense Argument:
Credibility Challenged
The defense attacked Carbaugh’s credibility, pointing to inconsistencies in her account during closing arguments. While specific discrepancies were not detailed, the challenge suggests her testimony was unreliable or vague, weakening its impact.
No DNA Found in Allen's Vehicle
Mr Allen retained the same Ford Focus that he was driving on the day of February 13, 2017. During their investigation, law enforcement analyzed his vehicle for traces of DNA evidence, and found none. For Sarah Carbaugh's testimony to hold true along with the state's timeline, the "muddy and bloody man" - if it were Allen - would have got into this vehicle in the bloody state. The lack of any DNA evidence linking the murders to Mr Allen's vehicle significantly weakens the state's case.
Eyewitness testimony is notoriously fallible, particularly years after the event. Without corroborating evidence tying Carbaugh’s sighting directly to Allen, her account is speculative and insufficient to support the prosecution’s case, especially given the defense’s challenge to her reliability.