GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. – The crux of the felony murder and attempted murder charges against Ryan Wilder hinge on proving that the squatters in the Alligator Boulevard home where Detective David White was killed were actively making meth.
During testimony Wednesday, a Drug Enforcement Administration agent made it clear that it was an active meth lab and said when investigators went in, the substances used were still chemically reacting.
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Several forensic chemists took the stand and said they found evidence of meth and meth residue.
"There's a Ziploc bag, a piece of foil and a vile that contains a small amount of residue," forensic chemist Peter Echevarria said.
"And did you test the substance contained in this exhibit?" asked prosecutor Steve Nelson.
"Yes, sir, I did," Echevarria said.
"What was the result of your testing?" Nelson asked.
"I found that the exhibit contained methamphetamine hydrochloride," Echevarria said.
During cross-examination, another forensic chemist told defense attorneys residue from a nightstand was too small to measure.
"Was that visualized?" defense attorney Ann Finnell said.
"In this case, it was a dark, burnt substance," forensic chemist Mirlande Germaine-Titus said.
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"OK, and based upon your experience, did you have an opinion that perhaps that might be methamphetamine residue?" Finnell asked.
"Oh no. I would run tests before I could identify the substance," Germaine-Titus said.
Testimony also revealed a pit bull locked in a bedroom of the home was highly agitated and attacked undercover detectives who entered after the shootings.
"It lunged at me, attempted to bite me," said Detective Guy Daniels, of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Narcotics Division. "Detective Moore actually was able to lasso it with the device that was given to us, and we actually had to physically pull the dog out of the house as it fought us."
"And did that animal fight you all the way out of the house?" Nelson asked.
"Absolutely. It knocked us down one time. It was very violent," Daniels said.
Wilder is the first of four charged in connection with White's killing in February 2012. Investigators said Ted Tilley shot and killed White and shot Detective Matt Hanlin in the arm before deputies shot and killed Tilley.
Wilder is charged with felony murder based on a drug trafficking charge. Under the charge, each person assisting in the death is responsible when someone is killed during the commission of a felony.
Jennifer Alder, Chasity Prescott and Jerry Daniels are all awaiting trial on murder and other charges.
White was a nine-year veteran of the force. He was a graduate of Middleburg High School and an Army veteran. He left behind a wife and two young children.
The state will likely rest Thursday and the defense is likely to present its case Friday. The trial is expected to end Monday.