State continues argument in third day of Markle murder trial
By SYDNEY KENT &
HOLLY GASKILL
During the third day of trial, testimony revealed that DNA evidence ties Anthony Castleman, 38, to the murder of his grandmother.
Castleman is charged with first-degree murder for the death of 72-year-old Bernice “Dianna” Eubank. Her body was found behind her rural Markle home on Nov. 12, 2023.
Reviewing DNA evidence results took approximately two hours on Wednesday between analysis of the evidence and a lengthy cross-examination. The defense, mother-and-daughter team Kristina and Katrina Lynn, objected to the state using the results from the investigation as evidence, which Special Judge Samuel Conrad overruled.
Dawn Combs, a forensic scientist with the Indiana State Police, presented a report of items submitted to her for DNA testing. Huntington County Prosecutor Jeremy Nix walked Combs through a series of questions intended to inform the jury of the many intricacies of DNA testing.
Combs said that in some cases, there is simply not enough DNA available to create a profile for comparison. This was the case for several pieces of evidence including one hunting-style knife, a kitchen-style knife, a stained white shirt and two pairs of shorts.
However, the following were interpreted to be positive results of both Castleman’s DNA and Eubank’s DNA: a swab from the inside of a pair of pants located in the debris pile where Eubank’s body was located, a silver knife collected from the debris pile, an additional pair of jeans and a BIC lighter. Results for one chef’s knife and an additional knife blade also strongly indicated the presence of Eubank’s DNA.
Castleman’s DNA, specifically sperm cells, were also reportedly located in the victim’s cervical/vaginal swabs, in the internal and external genitalia, in vaginal scar tissue and on her lower back and inner thighs. Castleman’s DNA was also located under Eubank’s fingernails on her left hand.
Combs advised she received the items on July 31 and concluded the report on Aug. 30, a detail the defense mentioned several times. Nix re-questioned the witness, clarifying that the time frame was sufficient for accurate work.
The state also called on eight law enforcement officers involved in the crime scene investigation — Detective Malcom Jones, Lt. David Jackson, Deputy Austin Smith and Deputy Tim Farthing from the Huntington County Sheriff’s Department, Detective Matt Teusch, Sgt. John Petro and Forensic Scientist Sean Matusko with the Indiana State Police, and Huntington City Police Department Detective Darius Hillman.
Jackson said he was dispatched to the scene originally on a missing person and welfare check but called for backup due to the nature of the report. He said he attempted to handle it as he would those cases, addressing the family calmly and assessing the property. He then reportedly instructed people to the road to secure the crime scene.
Smith said he assisted in securing the scene and spoke with two elderly neighbors, who described “what they believed was a sighting of Castleman.” Smith then secured the scene from the road until it was dismantled.
In cross-examination, the defense asked Jackson about the role of body cameras in the crime scene investigation. Jackson said body cameras were used unless muted while talking with other members of law enforcement. At a point where they “were standing around waiting for other resources to arrive,” the cameras were turned off.
In describing the Markle property, Jones and Teusch noted the distinct bleach smell when they entered the house. Teusch also noted a broken urn near the backyard shed debris where the body was found. Teusch said the urn appeared to have ashes scattered in a tilled portion of land about 10-15 ft. from the body. Several members of Eubank’s family identified this urn as her son’s during testimony on Tuesday.
Teusch and Hillman also described speaking with David Watson, Castleman’s cousin, on Nov. 12, who claimed Castleman had called 20 minutes earlier but Watson had deleted all call history. Hillman advised he did not believe Watson was being truthful due to his manner of answering questions and mannerisms.
Watson was also brought into the courtroom in handcuffs to testify on behalf of the state. Nix immediately clarified with Watson that his charges were unrelated to the current case. Watson confirmed that he originally told police false information, including a detailed story about a vehicle that allegedly picked Castleman up from his home on Nov. 12.
Watson told the jury that Castleman drove to his house in an unknown car and asked him for bleach. Watson said Castleman then came with Watson and his teenage son on several errands before ultimately driving to Marion, Ohio, to visit a second cousin — Michael Chick. To Watson’s knowledge, Castleman stayed in Ohio while Watson returned home later that evening.
The defense questioned why Watson was not initially honest with law enforcement, pointing out that he lied several times and indicating he was still being dishonest about knowing Castleman was driving his grandmother’s car.
“I felt something was off and I didn’t want to get in trouble,” Watson said, also explaining that he knew his trip to Ohio was against the rules of his probation. One juror asked Watson if he and Castleman had any conversations about Eubank, which he denied.
Chick mainly corroborated the version of events told by Watson — the three traveled to McDonald’s, Walmart, and back to Chick’s house before Watson and his son left. From there, Chick said he took Castleman to a bus stop and purchased a ticket in Chick’s name.
“I gave him the ticket,” Chick recalled. “I told him I loved him and I hoped things worked out.”
The two versions differed at one point — the defense asked Watson if he went to Chick’s to purchase suboxone. Watson denied this, however, Chick confirmed the information. Chick also said that during this time, Castleman asked him what he would do if he “did something wrong.” He reportedly responded that he would leave the area.
The defense used cross-examination with Chick to prove to the jury that Watson knew Castleman was driving his grandmother’s vehicle. In a statement to police, Chick advised that Watson said, “He just pulled up in his grandma’s car.” Chick denied saying this.
Natasha Harlamert also testified to seeing Castleman around 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 11, when he showed up at her home in Poneto. Castleman was reportedly smoking a cigarette on the porch, then stayed for approximately 15 minutes to catch up.
Harlamert said around 10:30 p.m. Nov. 11, Watson, also Harlamert’s ex-brother-in-law, told her that Castleman had left a vehicle at his house nearby and Watson didn’t know whose it was. Harlamert recalled seeing the vehicle earlier but thought it may have been Watson’s mother. Watson reportedly told her he had called the Wells County Sheriff’s Department who said it belonged to a “Bernice,” and Harlamert didn’t recognize the first name.
Harlamert said she called Tiffanee Cole, Castleman’s mother and Eubank’s daughter, that night to see if she knew about the vehicle, and Cole returned the call the following morning and told her it was Eubank’s.
Multiple testimonies affirmed that Cole told law enforcement at the crime scene that Eubank’s car had been seen in Poneto. Jackson reportedly called the Wells County Sheriff’s Department to keep an eye on the vehicle, and the HCSD later searched it.
According to Teusch, two Nov. 11 receipts showed gas bought at a Shell gas station on Dupont Road in Fort Wayne and marijuana in Reading, Michigan. Photographs of Castleman at either location were later secured. Petro testified that he collected a pair of pants and Eubank’s cell phone, case, and charger in a trash can, and a hunting knife beside Eubank’s vehicle.
Before recessing Wednesday evening, Judge Samuel Conrad stated that the court intended to finish proceedings this week. Nix said he believed the state would conclude its witness testimony Thursday morning. The trial will reconvene today at 8:30 a.m.
sydney@news-banner.com
holly@news-banner.com
