By james art CANTON, N.Y. (WWNY) – A coroner’s testimony is taking center stage in a murder trial being held in St. Lawrence County Circuit Court. Adam Smith is accused of murdering Ronald “Huck” Durham and William Freeman in February and March 2023 respectively.
When court resumed Thursday morning, State Police Coroner Daniel Haley was still on the bench.
He recounted the searches of Frederick Wing’s Gouverneur residence, the home of suspect Adam Smith, and a detailed autopsy of Durham. The courtroom became heated as discussions turned to the search for Smith’s brown Ford F150.
Smith’s truck was impounded by the Cortland Police Department on February 11, 2023, the day Durham is believed to have been killed. Haley and his team inspected the truck on March 8.
Their investigation turned up several receipts for items, including a keepsake ring worth nearly $800 in Walmart and Apple gift cards purchased with $500 in cash at the Sandy Creek Dollar General. The gift cards themselves were also present. According to Tuesday’s testimony, that purchase was made with bloodied bills.
As evidence was presented, Haley pointed to what he believed to be bloodstains in a photo he had taken of the front mat on the driver’s side of the truck.
Haley also confirmed that the treads on the truck were “consistent” with tracks he saw at the crime scene at the cemetery where Durham was killed.
As we left the courtroom, Haley was examining items found in trash bags kept in the back of Smith’s truck. Some of them, such as a set of seat covers, a checkbook and a wallet containing Durham’s name, have blood stains. There was also a knife in the bag.
The case resumes on Friday.
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