WORCESTER – The third week of Mathew Locke’s quadruple murder trial began Monday; prosecutors began presenting DNA evidence, and a defense attorney pressed a witness about the apparent alternative theory of the crime.

A forensic expert testified that a saliva component was detected in the private parts of the mother and daughter, who were found murdered in their home at 10 Old Warren Road, West Brookfield, on February 28, 2018. That evening the house next door faced intense defense scrutiny.

The woman, Christine Tatro, denied telling her ex-husband that the man who owned the house next door had left for an extended period of time on the evening of the crimes or returned smelling of fuel.

Neither the ex-husband nor the neighbor is required to testify in the case up to this point. Tatro stated that her relationship with her ex-husband was contentious.

Jury hears prelude to DNA evidence

Jurors heard the beginning of what is expected to be key forensic evidence against Locke Monday morning and afternoon.

Prosecutors said DNA evidence linked Locke, 38, to the murders of Sara Bermudez, 38, and her three children: 8-year-old Madison, 6-year-old James and 2-year-old Michael.

Locke is the cousin of Sara Bermudez’s husband, Moses, who was away on business at the time of the murders and testified at the trial.

State police forensic examiner Kelley King testified at length Monday about the items she tested in the master bedroom of the Bermudez home; where authorities found all four victims had been stabbed multiple times and set on fire.

The fire, which they claimed was started by diesel fuel, was not completely extinguished and prosecutors meticulously examined dozens of pieces of evidence found in the room.

King tested many items, from bloody and burnt pieces of clothing to a blood-covered piece of rope found partially burned at the scene.

As jurors watched silently, they witnessed dozens of blood stains on the walls, carpet, lamp and other items.

The focus of its expression turned out to be a component of saliva called amylase; He said he found it inside and outside the genitals of both Sara and Madison Bermudez.

King, who has worked at the lab for more than 15 years, told jurors at length about the process he uses to conduct his job, from sterilization and protective clothing to a simplified explanation of the tests he performs.

King stated that he tested swab samples collected from various parts of the mother and daughter’s bodies for semen and saliva.

No semen was found, he testified. He said amylase, an enzyme found in saliva, was found in swab samples taken from the internal and external vaginal areas of the mother and daughter.

King stated that he prepared samples from them and forwarded them to the DNA laboratory for further testing.

During cross-examination, Locke’s attorney, Jeffrey S. Brown, pressed King about his study and the importance of the test.

After harsh questioning, King admitted that the test he performed was a “screening” test that did not confirm the presence of saliva but indicated it might be present due to the detection of amylase.

He said the samples were sent to a DNA analyst for more definitive testing. This analyst is expected to testify later this week.

Brown also asked King about photos he took of positive screening tests for amylase. By projecting them onto a screen, he claimed that in at least one of the tests, a line did not appear where he specified.

King said his tests were accurate and confirmed by others. He acknowledged that he did not take photographs of some of the tests he used to reach his conclusions and said that was allowed under state police policy because another qualified person present confirmed the results.

It was difficult to see photos of the tests clearly from the courtroom gallery.

Controversial cross-examination

During the afternoon, jurors heard from Tatro, a woman with connections to both the Bermudez family and their immediate neighbors.

When questioned directly by prosecutors who called him, Tatro said he knew Sara and Moses Bermudez because he worked for one of Moses’ aunts at the Mason’s Grille in Warren.

Tatro testified that he recognized Sara and Moses Bermudez when they came to the restaurant and that their children had many play dates with the Bermudez children.

Tatro testified on February 28, 2018 that she and her husband had become estranged and were seeing other people while living with their children.

At the time, she said, she was seeing a man who lived next door to 10 Old Warren Road and spent the night there that prosecutors accused Locke of murdering the family.

Tatro told prosecutors that she and the man she was seeing went to bed around 8 p.m., slept through the night, and did not hear or notice anything strange.

During cross-examination, Brown peppered her with questions about different things she claimed she said to her ex-husband.

Tatro denied several questions, including allegations that she told her ex-husband that the man she was seeing left the house briefly that night and returned smelling of gasoline.

The timing of the statements she allegedly made to her ex-husband was unclear in the testimony, which was at times tense, contentious and contained references to numerous previous interviews with police.

Tatro told prosecutors that her relationship with her ex-husband was contentious and that she did not trust him at the time of the murders.

Brown suggested through questioning that Sara Bermudez sent an email to Tatro’s ex-husband regarding Tatro’s relationship with the neighbor, and that the neighbor became angry with Sara Bermudez.

He also asked Tatro if Moses Bermudez and his neighbor once got into a physical fight at Mason’s Grille.

“I’ve never witnessed anything like it,” Tatro replied.

After Brown’s questioning, prosecutors asked Tatro whether, with her ex-husband’s knowledge, she had a sleepover with her children at her neighbor’s house after the murders; Tatro said it was.

Tatro also said that his neighbor had heart problems and could not do long-term physical activity.

Brown, who asked a question that casts doubt on that claim, will have the opportunity to call his own witnesses after prosecutors hear the case.

The trial is expected to last until next week.

This article was first published on Telegram & Gazette: Mathew Locke trial: DNA evidence presented, defense theory revealed